The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1902-09-08

bound, turned aside once more 10 IN
spect the wares In the window, when q
half stined gasp suddenly caused me tc
face about. She stood there pale posi-
lively to the lips, the open letter trem-
bling In her hand, her eyes starting with
terror.
"Good heavensr' cried. What has
hagpenedT',,
us get back to the ship"
But you are H. Yeu are going TO
faint. YOU
/ caught her as she staggered, but
with an effort she regafned her squfiip-
rum
NO; am not we'll. that Is ALL" she
murmured; "a sudden faiutness, the
heat perhaps. Let us hurry back"
But won't you sit down and rest OF
have some refreshment7 The ship will
not sail for the next three hours"
mol, know. But she Is on board
"She7"
MY mother am anxious"
You will take my arm"
Thank you"
Near the landing stage we met sew
eral other lady passengers going back 70
the ship, and In accordance with the
wishes Of my companion I placed her
under their protection.
Il would rather so Off with you." said,
You have not yet sufficiently recovered
II am quite we'll, thank you"
She saw the anxiety IN my face and
smiled wan, pitiful smile. I thought,
but one that brought US nearer to, eacn
other than we had ever been.
THAT letter had had news7'
Very. But you would not understand"
II would try hard to understand any
thing that concerned your welfare"
Thank you, Mr.. Gray. This is some
thing quite different from anything you
ever heard OF or imagined
helped her into the boat and stood
watching until / saw her mount the
ships gang~ay and disappear. Then
turned about and retraced my steps to-
ward the shops.
My mind was OF apprehension on her
behalf. What did she mean by saying
that this affair OF the letter referred 10
something quito different from any thing
had ever heard OF or imasined7 VINO
was she. what was she, how came she 20
be mixed up In an affair so full OF mys-
terry? What did this mean this presenta-
ton OF a letter by an Arab I'm this desert
town? A commercial highway truly, yet In
what way could she, a stranger a wo-
man, be connected with IL? Yet how seri-
Gus II must have been TO cause her so
much terrori pictured again the blank
look of horror which. spreading from her
eyes, whttened her lovely face. felt
again the fierce, nervous clasp OF her
fingers on my arm. and / listened once
more 10 her gasping utterances as she
sought TO reassure me. My mind buxzed
with strange conjecture. In spite of the
knowledge Of my own intolsrabe posi-
ton and the fact that, situated as
was, ! had no right to look too iongingly
upon any woman felt myself drawn IN
sensibly toward the girl. and already her
sorrow had become mine.
What did that letter cou,aln7 I would
have given much to know, though from
no mere inquisiiveness. Plainly 10 had
thrown her into q state OF abject terror.
therefore IL must have contained infor-
nation OF the utmost gravity. I cursed
the shortness OF our friendship, which
rendered me TO her practically an un-
known quantity. That ~ was anything
of which she personally had the slightest
cause to be ashamed was a thought I
never for a moment entertained. You sec,
had embarked upon a venture, and
whipped my fatth into obedience.
A Hide while later on I met nv uncle
MAJ. Coghlan and one OF two others who
In the manner OF passengers ashorp, had
taken vossesefon OF tho street. The gal
liant soldiers gailant face was redder
than ever. and from his exceedingly