The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1903-04-11
(Continued.)

The marriage-settlement! The mere
hearing OF those two words stung me
with a jealous despair that was poison to
my higher and better instincts. began to
think-it is hard TO confess this, but I
must suppress nothing from beginning TO
end OF the terrible story that / now
stand committed TO reveal-I began 10
think. with a hateful eagerness OF hope.
of the vague charges against Sir Percdval
CLYDE which the anonymous letter con-
tanned What IL those wild accusations
rested on a foundation of truth? What ir
their truth could be proved before the
fatal words OF consent were spoken, ana
the marriage e-settlement was drawn7 l
have tried to think. since, that the feel
ing which then animated me began ana
ended in pure devotion to Miss Fairhe
interests But have never succeeded In
deceiving myself into believing IL; and
must not now attempt TO deceive others.
The feeling began and ended In reckless.
vindica tive, hopeless hatred OF the man
who was TO marry her.
IF we are to find out anything" ] said,
speaking under the new influence which
was now directing me, 1--WE had better not
let another minute slip by US unempioy-
ed / can only suggest, once more, the
proprlety OF questioning the gardener the
second time. and OF inquirins In the VII
lage Immediately afterward"
II think l my be OF help to you In both
cases." said Miss Halcombe, rising. Let
us go, Mr.. Hartright. at once, ana do the
best we can together"
/ had the door In my hand to open IL
for her-but l stopped. on sudden. to
ask an important question before we set
forth.
"One OF the paragraphs OF the anony-
nous letter" / said, contains some SEN
tences OF minute personal description. Sir
la 49, ic rnf
/ know-but does that description at all
resemble him.
Accurately; even in stating his age to
be forty-hve-"
Forty-fve: and she was not twenty
one! Men OF his age married wives OF her
age every day: and experience had shown
those marriages to be often the happiest
ones I knew that-and yet even the men,
ton of his age, when contrasted IL with
hers. added 10 my blind hatred and dis
trust OF him.
Accurately" Miss Halcombe continued,
"even to the scar on his right hand,
which Is the scar OF n wound that he re-
ceived wears since when he was travelling
in Italy. There can be no doubt that ev-
cry pcculiarity OF his personal appear
ance sis thoroughly we'll known 10 the
writer OF the letter"
Even a cough that he Is troubled with
is mentioned. II remember right"
treats II lightly himself. though II some
times makes his friends anxious about
him"
'T suppose no whispers have ever been
heard against his character?
Mr. Hartright! l hope you are not UNI
tust enough to let that infamous letter IN
fuence you?'
felt the blood rush into my cheeks.
for I knew that Il had Influenced me.
"I hope not" 7 answered, confusedly.
Perhaps ! had no right 10 ask the dues-
ton"
"r am not sorry you asked It." she said.
"for IL enables me TO DO Justice 20 Sir
Percivals reputation. Not a whisper. Mr.
Hartright. has ever reached me. or my
family. against him. He has fought sue
cessfully two contested elections, and has
come out OF the ordeal unscathed. A man
who can do that, in England. Is man
whose character is established
opened the door for her I'm silence. and
| followed her out. She had not convinced
me. II the recording angel had come dowr
| from heaven 20 confirm her. and had
| opened his book TO my mortal eyes. the
/ recording angel would not have convinced
me.
we found the gardener at work as Us.
\ nal No amount OF questioning could ex'
/ tract a single answer Of any importance
from the lads impenetrable stupidity
/ The woman who had given him the lette'
was an elderly woman: she had not
spoken a word 90 him: and she had gone
away toward the south In great hurry
| That was all the gardener could tell us.
The village law southwark of the house
\ 60 20 the village we went next.
our Inquiries at B'mmeridge were pa
tiently pursued I'm all directions. and
| among all sorts and conditions or people
nut nothing came az them. Three Of th'
villagers did certainly assure us that theS
had seen the woman: but as they were
unite unable 90 describe Fher. and quite
incapable of agreeing about the exact al
rection IN which she was proceeding wher
thev last saw her. these three bright eN
ceptions 30 the general rule ~ total igno
| rance a voried No more real assistance n
NJ than the mass % their unhelpful ant