The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1893-10-21
CHAPTER XVII.
sifsGIvINCs

I was still weighing Kayanegh's mysteri-
ous questions and dark insinuations, un-
able to draw any definite conclusions from
the conflicting doubts that agitated my
mind, when the door opened and Mere Lu-
cas- came in, her big mouth puckered up
with pain and tears running down her
cheeks.
what disasterl What terrible ca-
lamity. my poor dear friends" she exclaim-
ed, dropping on a chair as II overcome with
grief. And then rocking herself backward
and forward she whimpered oat her gItti
III long chain ofincoherent phrases broken
by sobs behind che blue apron which she
held to her eyes.
1t seemel to me as watched her impos
sible that such grief could be simulated;
that any one could summon such flow Of
tears from an unfeeling heart. But then
reflected the person chosen by the czar's
agent to execute so dangerous mission
must of necessity DO extremely subtle and
deceptive.
"The beautiful figures all torn down--the
whole work ruinedr' she went on. "The
work 1t has taken SO long to make, the
pride and Joy Of my dear master. would
rather the monsters had beaten me down
and crushed the life out Of me!'
Iasked myself il Mere Lucas was not ov
erdoing II now.
~And to say" she added, getting the bet
Ger of her tears and dropping her apron
ITO say that am the cause of 1t ALL"
docs he say SOP" asked quickly.
"Ahi ! would he had. Look you, my
poor dear friend, it is easier to bear blame,
when one deserves 1t, than forgiveness and
words of Kindness" She burst into tears
again as she repeated the words with which
%aras had tried to comfort her.
My judgment wavered-it was difficult
TO doubt the sincerity of her emotion.
1T Is my fault; say 1t, II" she cried,
striking her breast, adding, with dramatic
emphasis, "and 1t is truei What right had
TO leave the house when my master was
awayf What am here for but to protect
the house and my masters interestsi IL II
Fad happened while l was at home, Il
would have been a great misfortune, but nj
least should not have been culpable; no
one could have said suffered the mischief
20 be done"
docs any one say 30 now'" asked.
why, 1t is evident, my poor friend. Any
good for nothing watching his opportunity
might have opened the front door with q
bent nail and walked In. And, animal that
am, did not even look round the place
when came in to see that all was safe as
left It,"
Kavanagh's suggestive questions returned
forcibly to my mind, and found it was
quite conceivable that Q crafty person
should accuse herself Of pardonable fault
to screen herself from the suspicion of an
act Of baseness.
And to think that this Is my fault and
that / owe everything in the world to that
dear master. One would say that did 1t
expressly to show that there was no more
gratitude In the world" and the tears
starting from her eyes again she rose and
went out OF the room, whimpering: "IIeav-
ensl ! deserve to be turned out of doors,
and then what would become of mei"
l started, thinking that had key to
the mystery in that phrase Had not the
dread Of being cast adrift induced Mere
Lucas to connive at the destruction of the
groupi IL she had been warned of the fatal
consequences to Taras, which the produc.
tion Of this work must entail, would she
not, for his sake as we'll as her own. agree
10 this simple measure for averting such
terrible RESULT Gauging her disposition by
my own, I believed she would, and nv
hSart readily forgave her offense. But
seSugh affection for the old woman ia.