The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1903-06-27

nm instant looked eagerly at the strange
lady. shock of the nurses grasp on her.
and the next moment rushed into Miss
Halcombe's arms. In that moment Miss
| Halcombe recognized her sister--recog-
nized the dead-alive
Fortunately for the, success OF the
measures taken subsequently. no one was
| present at that moment but the nurse
she was young woman: and she was
so startled that she was at first alnte
incapable OF interfering When she was
able 10 do so, her whole services were
REQUIRED by Miss Halcombe, who had for
the moment sunk altogether in the effort
10 keep her own senses under the shock
/ or the discovery. After waiting a FEW
| minutes In the fresh air and the cool
shade. her natural energy and courage
| helped her a little, and she became suffi-
ciently mistress OF herself TO feel the
necessity OF recalling her presence of
mind for her unfortunate sisters sake
She obtained permission TO speak alone
WIN the patient. on condition that they
both remained we'll within the nurses
view. There was no time for question
4 there was only time for Miss Ha1combe
| 10 impress on the unhappy lady the neces-
sity OF controlling herself. and TO assure
her Of immediate help and rescue II she
| dd so. The prospect OF escaping from
| the Asylum by obedienoe TO her sisters
| directions was sufficient to quiet Lady
Clyde. and 10 make her understand what
| was required of her Miss Halcoube
| next returned to the nurse. placed all the
gold she then had In her pocket Cthree
soverefgns) I'm the nurses hands, and
asked when and where she could speak
to her alone.
The woman was at FIRST surprised and
distrustful But on Miss Halcombe's
declaring that she only wanted TO put
some questions which she was too much
asitated to ask at that moment. and that
she had no intention of misleading the
nurse into any derelfcton OF duty, rhe
woman took the money and proposed
three o'clock on the next day as the time
for the Interview. She might then slip
out for half an hour. after the patient
had dined. and she would meet the lady
In retired place outside the high north
wall which screened the grounds OF the
house. MISS Ha1combe had only time
10 assent and to whisper To her sister
that she should hear from her on the
next day. when the proprietor Of the
Asylum joined them. He noticed his
visitors agitation. which Miss Halcombe
accounted for by saying that her inter-
view with Anne Catherick had n little
startled her at first. She took her leave
as soon after as poss.ble-that Is TO say
as soon as she could summon courage
TO force herself from the presence of her
unfortunate sister.
pacity to reflect returned. convinced her
that any attempt 10 identity Lady Clyde
and to rescue her by legal means would.
even II successful, involve n delay that
might be fatal to her sisters intellects,
which were shaken already by the horror
OF the situation TO which she had been
consigned. BY the time Mss Halcombe
had got back to London she had deter
mined 20 effect Lady Glydes escape prt-
vately, by means OF the nurse.
- She went at once to her stock broker
and sold out OF the funds all the little
property she possessed amounting TO
rather Tess thnn seven hundred pounds
Determined. n necessary. to pay the
price OF her sisters liberty with every
farthing. she had In the world. she re-
paired the next day, having tho whole
sum about her In bank notes tn her ap-
pointment outside the Asylum wall
The nurse was there. Miss Halcombe
approached the subject cautiously, by
many preliminary questions. She dis
covered. among other particulars. that
the nurse who had IN former times at
tended on the true Anne Cafhericix had
been held responsible talthough she was
not to blame for - for the patients es-
cape. and had lost her place in conee-
quence The same penalty, it was added
would attach to the person then speaking
to- her. 4 the supposed Anne Catherick
was missing second time; and. more
over, the nurse, In this case, had an
especial interest in keeping her place.
She was engaged tn he married. and she
and her future husband were waiting
till they could save. together. between
two and three hundred pounds 10 start !
in business. The nurses wages were
good. and she might succeed: by strict |
In contributing her small share |
toward the sum required In two years
time p~,s
on this hint Miss Halcombe spoke. She
declared that the supposed Anne
was nearly related TO her: that |
she had been placed I'm the Asylum un-
der a fatal mistake: and that tho nurse
would be doing a good and a Christian
action in being the means OF restoring
them to each other. Before there was
time to start a single objection, Miss
Haicombe took four bank-notes OF n
hundred pounds each from her pocket
book and offered them TO the woman, as
4 compensation for the risk she was 20
run and for the loss OF her place
The nurse hesitated through sheer In
,redulity and surprise. Miss Halcombe
pressed the point on her firmly.
You will be doing good action" she
repeated; you will he helping the most
INJURED and unhappy woman alive There
= your marriage portion for reward.
Bring her safely 10 ma here and will
,ut these four bank notes into your hand
,efore l claim her"
"Will you give me n letter saving those
words which I can show To my sweet
leart when he asks how I got the
money!" inquired the woman.
II viii bring the letter with me- ready
written and signed. answered Miss Hal
'ombe.
Then TN risk IT," said the nurse
when"
Tomorrow"
10 was hastily agreed between them
hat Miss Halcomhe should return early
ext morning and wait out OF sight
mong the trees-always. however keep
ns near the quiet spot Of ground under !
he north wall The nurse could Ak no | !
ime for her appearance. caution reauir- J
ng that she should walt and be guided
" circumstances. On that understand Z
ng they separated
Miss Halcombe was AZ her place with :
he promised letter and the promised 8
'ank notes before ten the next morning
'he waited more than an hour and a {
alf At the end Of that time the nurse 2
anne quickly round the corner of the J
vail holding Lady CLYDE ny the arm =