The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1902-08-19

building.
"oh. Stuart. Stuart" Rhsna almost
sobbed as she closed the door 30 that
Louise could not hear, 1T Is so horribie!
1t seems 80 like--so like clothing Death
itself In tinsei and glitter. Oh, the
mockery OF IL makes my heart achei II
we only knew more OF the real cause OF
Louise's trouble. we might know how TO
| bring her back to reason! Only
only wait, dear7" Stuart asked
taking her In his arms TO comfort her
as he remembered how faithful she had
been 10 her great trust In caring for his
sister
"Oniy--the end Is not far of. fear.
She Is wasting away like the snow on the
hills Ia spring
stuart sroaned. II have seen It. dear.
The doctor has done all he can. He gives
| no hope" He was silent. Then he spoke
| with calm strength. II am going down
/ 10 New York. and am going to SEQ Aunt
Royal and probe the thing to the end.
have written her. but had no re-
ply. And all our efforts to find Vas
plaine have failed. The family knows
nothing OF him. i must go down anyway
10 see after some necessary materials FOR
the building. i will be back inside OF a
week"
So that was the way Stuart came TO
be In New York just before Aunt Royal
had planned to pack her trunks and 40
abroad for the summer.
He was ushered into the great draw
ing room or the mansion on the avenue
and remained standing by one OF the
windows waiting for Aunt Royal to come
down. His heart was heavy as ne
thought OF Louise. He tried 10 compose
himself for the interview. remembering
his Christian faith and all that II re-
quired OF him In ell circumstances.
Her entrance was hardly noticed by him
when she finally appeared. Velvet car
pets are made to deaden the footsteps
OF market gardeners daughters who have
made their money by investing In tene-
ment and saloon property.
This Is an unexpected pleasure, Stu
art, I am sure" said Aunt Royal In her
usual polite. gentle voice.
You know what am here for. aunt?"
Stuart asked. coming to the point at once.
No: don't know that Z do. suppose
some business In connection yah your
philanthropio schemes In Champion. /
hear the strike Is all over. / suppose the
miners have learned sense by their folly"
Aunt" said Stuart firmly. ignoring all
she said, II have come down here 10
learn the truth about Louise. Tell me all
you know about II. II may help to res
store her reason before she dies. For
Gods sake. aunt II you know what
ought 10 know. let me have IT.
Aunt Royals face paied just trifie.
Restore her reason?'
ness Of tone, her reason. She Is out of
her mind. Her memory OF events since
her marriage is a blank She must have
received some great shock. OF course we
know Vasplaine has deserted her. And
she IL dying. After ALL if'-Stuart paused.
and his heart almost stood still as he
caught the expression on Aunt Royals
face. He was not looking at her. but at
her reflection In the large cheval glass.
And II was the reflection OF an absolutely
selfish and heartless enjoyment OF social
standing. unrufhed by the coarse sins and
miserses and aches OF dying humanity.
Aunt Royals voice came 10 his ears
with Its usual placid smoothness
Louise left me on her wedding tour
Immediately after her marriage They
went south and then took trip out
west When they returned, they took
rooms in the Avenue hotel I saw them
often. but not intimately. Vasplaine had
begun to drink. There was trouble OF
course. But when he finally left
her was as much surprised as any one"
She paused suddenly, and Stuart was
silent. The great gilt clock on the mar
bic mantel dropped silver ball into a
bowl, and Aunt Royal turned her head
slightly toward II. Stuart still looked at
her reflection IN the mirror
When ala Louise leave Now York for
Champion7" he finally asked
II don't know anything about IT," re-
piled Aunt Royal. with the first mark of
irritation she had shown.
do you mean TO cay. that after Vas
planes desertion OF her Louise never
came near your" asked Stuart -<urning
full upon her and looking into her face
almost az resolutely as II he really knew
the facts.
Again Aunt Royals face paled. She
could not control her bl6sd. even afyer
80 many years OF ARTIFICIAL repose In the
exercise OF society manners.
81 tell you did not see her after Vas
PLANES disgraceful desertion of her. He
turned out to be a gambler and dissi-
pated fool OF the worst sort and flung
Louise's property and money away like a
madman. don't know where he IL now"
II have not asked about him." said Stu
art dryly; II am anxious for Louise"
He remained a moment more In silent
thought. He could not help believing that
this woman had not told the truth. but
he was powerless to prove his belief. At
last he found his heart so sick at the
thought that he longed to escape from
the house.
You will stay to iunch9" Aunt Royal
asked politely as he rose and moved to
mo. thank you," replied Stuart
quietly IT must start back TO Champion
this afternoon"
IT hope poor Louise will recover" she
said, and was about 10 add something
more. when one Of the servants came In
TO the hall and announced an important
message at the telephone from some one
connected with Aunt Royals proposed
summer tour
Excuse me while answer this. / will
let you see yourself outi'' she exclaimed
with her conventional politeness. and was
gone.
Stuart was just going out when the SER
want, who had opened the door for him
when he came In, spoke 20 him.
II can tell you something about your
sister. sir. II you will walt a minute"
"Of course I want 90 know all I can"
Stuart was surprised. and reflected that
this man might be simply q tale-bearer,
or trying TO earn a fee. but the thought
that Louise might possibly be the gainer
by knowledge he might learn OF her quiet
ed Stuart 20 listep.
II haven't time TO tell it ell out"
whispered the man hurriedly. But Mrs.
Vasplaine. she came here one night about
a week ago. and couldn't help hearing
what went on In the drawing room She
haRnef har aunt ta faEe har In ans ahal.