The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-07-13

me recoil at her touch, which was icy cold,
she added with an appealing smile, Il
beg pardon, but every sound goes through
me tonight.
"Are you not wellY' ! asked.
"I am never well" she returned; and
we went back TO the sofa and renewed our
forced and pitiful conversation.
| Promptly at 0 O'Clock Miss Knollys
came in. She was very pale and cast, as
usual, a sad and uneasy look at her sister
before she spoke TO me. Immediately
Lucetta rose, and, becoming very pale
herself, was hurryipg toward the door
when her sister stopped her.
lyon have forgotten, she said, to SAY
good night TO our guest.
Instantly Lucetta turned and, with
sudden, uncomfortable, impulse, seized
my hand pressed II convulsively.
hGood night, she cried, ~ hope you
will sleep well, and was gone before
could say word in response.
"Why does Lucetta go out OF the room
when you come inf" asked, determined
to know the reason for this peculiar con-
duct. "Have you any other guests in the
house?'
The reply came with unexpected .vehe-
mence. NO. she cried, "why should
you think so? There is none here but the
family" And she turned away with
certain dignity which cut short all fur
ther remarks "You must be very
tired, she said. "If you please we will
go now to your ROOM"
rose at once, glad of the prospect of
being relieved from these forced atten-
and we passed Immediately into the hall.
As we did so heard vocies, one Of them
shrill and full OF distress but the sound
was so quickly smothered by a closing
door that failed u discover whether
that tone Of suffering proceeded from a
man or a woman.
Miss Knollys, who was preceding me,
glanced back in some alarm. But as
gave no token OF having noticed anything
out OF the ordinary, she speedily resumed
her way upstairs. AS the sounds had
heard had proceeded from above did not
follow her with much alacrity. But re-
fiecting that whatever was gong on in
his house 1t could by no possibility have
any reference to myself, resumed my
courage which, however, perceptibly weak
ened when / found myself passing door
after door down a long hall TO a room as
remote as possible from what seemed to
be the living portion OF the house.
"Won't ] have any one near me, i be-
gan, as my young hostess paused and
waited for me TO join her on the threshold
Of the most forbidding room 1t lad ever
been my fortune to enter.
"Oh," she smiled, "you need not be
afraid. Nothing can happen to you here;
am only sorry that we are obliged to
offer you such mean lodging. But all
our other rooms are-are out of order, I"
she explained, firmly, "and to our great
regret, you win have to sleep in this one
for tonight"
"T3ut camot sleep with one OF your"
I persisted. 81 wont put you to any
inconvenience ! am not accustomed to
be put of by msyelf"
81 am sorry" she again repeated "but
| 1t Is quite impossible. IL could give you
the comforts yon are accustomed TO, /
| should be glad. But we are unfortunate,
| we girls, and" She said no more, but
began TO busy herself about the room,
which tried to see in as favorable light
| as / could. Perhaps she saw my failure
| in my face; perhaps she felt herself the
dreariness Of the gray discolored walls,
which the fire that had been Lit on the
hearth did not serve TO tighten, Tor she
| pointed to a bell-rope near the head Of
the bed and kindly remarked:
"If anything disturbs you, pull that;
| II communicates with my room, and /
| will come at once and speak to you.
glanced up at the rope, ran my eye
| along the wire communicating with 1t
| and saw that It was broken sheer of
before II even entered the WALL
81 am afraid you will not hear me-"
answered pointing to the break.
| She flushed deep scarlet and for q
moment looked as embarrassed as ever
| her sister had done.
| "I did not know, " she murmured. "The
house is so old everything is more or less
| out OF repair" And she made haste to
| quit the room.
ran after her in alarm.
"But there is no key to the door,"
| objected.
She came back with a look almost like
anger on her stern face.
"What do you fear?'' she cried. "Is
this public house where You would be
| liable to intrusion. You are in private
| dwelling, my dear, and good GodI' she
murmured, beneath her breath, but not
so low but that my excited sense caught
the words she uttered, "csn she have
y