The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-12-09

FOLLOW ME, SHE SAID,
ms he followed her he assured himself
almost mechanically, that he wGs not
Unarmed.
The ascent was long, upseyeral flights
OF those dimly lighted stone steps. on
which the ascending footsteps seemed
TO echo gloomily. They passed several
stories, each with its own family illum-
mated corridor radiating away into
mysterious space, before they came to
q stop His guide turned 10 the right
and walked along corridor that seemed
TO lead towards the front of the man.
sion. Presently she paused at a door
and turned handle; Ames still follow.
ing her, found himself first in the small
hall of a private fat and then in draw.
ing-room which seemed to fling upon
his consciousness a sense Of somewhat
savage wealth as the electric light
flooded il at the touch of the woman's
hand.
Take off your coat she said, and
then she disappeared through further
door and left him staring curiously
around him. The room suggested
wealth, ease, even luxury, but there was
further suggestion of brutality, of
the barbarous, in it's oppulence, which
asserted itself with significance. As
Philo Ames turned to take of his coat
and lay il across remote chair, his
glance was arrested by one among n line
photographs upon the chimneypiece.
1t twas the face of a woman that
he had once known, the face
Of IA woman that the people
who talked of him, that the
people who talked of her, declared him
10 have known very well. Seeing the
photograph and remembering that
friendship, Ames saw some meaning in
his presence, in the adventure. He had
said many extrayagant things to her;
she was woman whose intimacy
tempted to eXtravagance; il was very
probable, indeed, that he had said some
such words TO her as had been repeated
TO him by his mysterious hostess. Well,
If he had he would stand by them now,
il only for the old sake's sake, he said to
himself, as he turned from the familiar
gallery of portraits. There were some
of his hostess, which failed. as photo
graphs always fail, TO renew the essence
of her beauty; there were several, too,
of man, big man of black favor,
strong, swarthy and, TO Ames' eye, for
bidding. But his study was inter
rupted by the sound of an opening door,
ha 10 col lt,tn
netamorphosis. The Lady of the En-
bankment had shed her street attire;
in place of the long black cloak and the
small black hat she wore now clinging
dress, white with the alluring whiteness
of the softest silk and the softest laces.
foppishly refined, provocatively negli-
gent, seeming more like a garment
slipped on for the laziness of some last
hour before bed after a ball than for
any more wideawake moment of the
four-and-twenty hours. Philo felt an
admiration of her in his heart which
must have betrayed itself in his eye.
for she smiled upon him royalty.
Well" she said, ''do you still think
that am beautiful?"
Z hiio hhlNS hdu ouly Olt duSNtE 10
make, and made IT, Indeed l do" he
said, with such absolute sincerity in his
voice that the woman's pale face flushed
with the unavoidable feminine pleasure
In praise. Ames was thinking 10 him
self chat he had never seen so lovely
Gods creature.
We'll" she said, after a pause, in
oh hn OF nI 1Nn o., ,l,s Il
hant, "am ! good enough to die for--at
least, am l good enough to risl. dying
for9"
Again Ames, In the honesty Of his
soul, had but one answer. Indeed YOU
are he affirmed, and The way in which
he uttered the common words made
them uncommon in sincerity.
She gave a laugh, exutant in satisfac.
tion. You will have your chance now,'
she said-"here and now"
Even the GOODNESS of philo's temper.
even the composure of his carriage,
could not prevent him from n start of
surprise at this menace Of imminent.
unseen danger. He looked watchfullv
at the door Of the room which the wom-
an had just left. She followed his
glance ard shook her head
Listen" she said. do you hear
mans step in the street, n mans step on
the stair; a horrid step that seems Ia
fill the street with its football. to shake
the air with it's tread; a step that makes
the listeners heart throb with fear and
lonthing?"
Moved 10y the passion in her voice,
Philo, obeying her, listened. NO" he
said, II hear nothing"
you will soon," she cried -"the tread
of the man J hate. the man TO whom
am bound. the man from whom YOU will 4
free me-
Philo felt that II hc were indeed deal.
ing with q madwoman IL were wisest to
humor her.
How can / serve you?' he asked.
quietly, wondering what she was going
20 say next. She pointed 10 the clock.