The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-10-08
Continued from Yesterday.


But half crawling, half stumbling. Miss
Marion had dragged herself into my
arms, where sobbed with her as though
both our hearts would break.
That night when mistress Joined master
in the vigil she dared not refuse. l did
something that, IL Miss Marion had
known IT, would'hav driven me from her
service. ! crept into the study by great.
est stealth, and hid myself behind the red
curtain that oornored oil washstand.
Scarcely had taken up my stand than
Miss Marion entered with master behind
her. She was talking fast In SO strange
a voice that 4 peeped out to SEQ IL 1t ware
she She was saying: "You are 80 nerv-
Gus tonight Percy, tnat i shall give you
a swallow of wine to steady your nerves.
Here in this closet Is "a bottle OF your best
ciaret. all cobweby, which i have had
hate bring up for you.
Quick as a fash she stepped behind tho
portsre where was hidden, and. reach
ing up TO the shelf, took down rottle.
/ held my breath. But she was too ex-
cited see me. yet could not breathe,
even after she had gone for well i knew
/ had brought up no bottle; and with
horrid sick feeling l remem bered TINT
Miss Marion had sent me out TO gather
cobwebs that day, wherever couid hno
them.
Mr. Percy did not notice her, as with
trembling fingers she opened tho bottle
and poured the wine into the glass SD
unsteady that she spilled half OF IL;
"Ihere is only one glass, said She well
you shall drink my health, Percy. ana
-will-drink-yoursa afterward.
Mr.. Percy, seated in his chair. took the
glass and drained IL. A minute later his
head sank forward, and before Miss Mar
ion could lift the glass to her own lips ne
was lying there with his head on the tabio
breathing heavily.
Miss Marion took the hottie and liftod
IL to reilll the glass. and distinctly
heard her say, Together, Percy to-
gethor." But at this minute i, leaning
far out to see. must have lost my
balance, for l threw my hands back
quickly TO catch myself, and In doing so
upset bottle that stood on the shelf at
my side. 1t fell with crash.
With cry of fear, Miss Marion drop
ped the glass in her hand and rushed
from the room. giving me time TO make
my escape by the other door.
let Miss Marion undress herself alone
that night. for tho trembling in my arms
and knees was such that / dared not
go to her. But slept outsid, her door,
and when she tried to open it once In the
night gave 10 u little push shut again,
enough TO frighten her. poor thing, but
/ could not do otherwise, Knowing all j
did. And all nigh. the door of the
study loonsd before my eyes. Shut as
hind Iay-that OF which was too awful for
me 60 think! How lived till morning l
cannot tell at all.
1t was not my sweet-faced mistress that
came down TO breakfast next day, but
batchet- faced thing that 1 should never
have known.
"Kate, have you called your master
yet?' she asked me.
"No. Miss Marion" said hiding my
face behind the tea things L was carrying.
'Do so at once, said she, then hesi-
tatinR. she said quietly: "No. 1 will
cali him myself.
"Shail-shall / 90 with you, Miss Mar
ion?' asked. But she turned on me so
quickly, that shrank back and let her
poss alone up the hall.
Tbe next minute there was wild cry
in the house aud the voice of Miss Mar
ion rang out: Percy. Percy are you
awake? Percy. PercyP'
The other servants rs we'll as myself
heard it, too. and We crowded around
the door. There. in his armchair, sat
master, with his head leaning against
Miss Marion's scarlet morning robe and
she chatting his temples ana saying To
him: percy Percy Percy l am so
gladp'
Masters face was pale. but his eyes
were open. ana he smiled as she spoke to
him.
"Thapk you. " he SAID softly. "and for
give me- When you left me last night
must have fallen asleep: tainted, per-
haps. I.was so worn with - that horrid
vision Aud while ] slept for l did not
wake until l heard you calling dreampt
again. and saw the foolishness OF IL all
the awful wiokedness of it, Forgive
me. darling, and we will begin over
again. That hateful third Of October
S"all be turned into day of thaukssiv-
i.,g and JOY for US. Little darling. whv
don't you speak to mes Marion, Marion ~
But little mistress heard him not. she
had sunk To the floor. with her arms
thrown over her head, and look Of death
in her face
When our old doctor found ner, ON hour
later he shook his head. It is n severe at
tack Of the heart no said TO Mr.. Percy.
and she must be kept quiet. She is weak
as death. "
For two days and nights watched her
and then falling asleep one night /
awoko to sos n queer thing. between my
hnlf closed lids Sitting up in bed was
Miss Marion. looking around the room.
And she who was too weak to breathe an