The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1903-06-15

question ABOUT tne SNt1s
swered, Much as usual and then Mr..
Dawson went out Lady Clyde followed
him, I suppose TO speak about Mrs. Hu-
belle For my own part, had made up
my mind already that this quiet foreign
person would keep her situation. she had
all her wits about her, and she certainly
understood her business. SO far 1 could
hardly have done much better by the
bedside myself
Remembering Mr.. Dawson's caution 10
me, subjected Mrs. Rubelle to severe
scrutiny, at certain intervals. for the
next three or four days / over and over
again entered the room softly and sud
denly. but / never found her out in any
suspicious action. Lady Clyde, who
watched her as attentively as did, dis
covered nothing either. never detected
a sign OF the medicine bottles being tam
pered with; I never saw Mrs. Rubelle
say a word to the Count or the Count
TO her. She managed Miss Halcombe with
unauestionable care and discretion. Ine
poor lady wavered backward and Tor
ward between sort OF sleepy exhaus-
ton which was half faintness and half
slumbering. and attacks OF fever which
brought with them more or less OF wan
dering in her mind. Mrs Rubelle never
disturbed her In the first case. and never
startled her in the second, by appearing
too suddenly at the bedside I'm the charac-
ter of a stronger. Honor to whom honor
is due whether foreign or Engllsh)-
and / give her privilege fmparuaily 10
Mrs. Rubelle. She was remarkably un-
communicative about herself. and she
was too quietly independent OF all ad-
vice from experienced persons who un-
dertsood the duties Of sick room--out,
with these drawbacks, she was good
nurse: and she never gave either Lady
CLYDE or Mr.. Dawson the shadow OF a
reason for complaining OF her.
The next circumstances OF importance
that occurred in the house was the tenn
porary absence OF the Count. occasion
ed by business which took him to Lon
don. He went away Q thinD on the
morning of the fourth day after the ar
rival OF Mrs. Rubelle. and at parting he
spoke to Lady Clyde. very seriously, In
my presence, on the subject OF Miss Hal
combe.
Trust Mr.. Dawson" he said. "for q
few days more. II you please. But IL
there is not some change for the better
In that time send for advice from Lon
don. which this mule OF a doctor must
accept In spite OF himself. Offend Mr..
Dawson. and save Miss Halcombe. / say
this seriously, on my word OF honor ana
from the bottom OF my heart"
His lordship spoke with extreme feeling
and Kindness. But poor Lady Clyde
nerves were so completely broken down
that she seemed quito frightened at him
She trembled from head to foot. and al
lowed him TO take his leave without utter
ing a word on her side. she turned 10
me. when he had gone, and said, "Oh,
Mrs. Nicholson, / am heart-broken about
nv sister, and have no friend 10 advise
met Do you think Mr.. Dawson is wrong
He told me himself this morning that
there was no fear. and no need to send
for another doctor" =,
with all respect to Mr.. Dawson !
answered. 'in your ladyship's place. 1
should remember the counts advice
= LADY CLYDE turned away from me sud
denly with an appearance OF dispair, Tor
which / was quite unable to account.
@fiis advicel" she said to herself. GOD
The count was away from Blackwater
'sir' Sir Percivai ss seemed to feel the loss OF Of
his lordship in various ways ssnsssa9 ana a9ped and
altered by the. sickness and sorrow IN the
house. Occasionally he was so very rest
less that ! could not help nouclng rs ~,
and there and everywhere in the grounds;
His Inquiries about Miss Halcombe and
about his lady (whose failing health
were most attentive. think his heart
was much softened. II some KIND cieri,
cal friend-some such friend as he mighi
have found in my late excellent ino husoano
moral progress might have been made
with Sir Percival. / seldom hnd myseii
mistaken on a point of this sort, having
had experience to guide ma In my happy
Her iadyship. the countess. who was
now the only company for Sir Perciva,
down stairs, rather neglected him, as
considered Or. perhaps. II might have
| been that he neglected her. A stranger
might almost have supposed that they
were bent now they were ieft togethei
alone. on actually avoiding each other
This OF course could not be. But IL die
so happen. nevertheless. that the countess
made her dinner at luncheon time, anc
| that she always came upstairs toward
evening. although Mrs, Rubelle had taker
| the nursing duties entirely of her hands
Sir Percivai dined by himself. and VII
! liam (the man out OF livery made the
remark, in my hearing, that his master
| had nut himself on half rations OF fooc
and on a double allowance Of drink.
attach no importancs TO suon >, ,nsSient 90 sp op
want / reprobated IL at the time. anC
/ wish TO be understood as reprobatini
Il once more on this occasion.
In the course OF the next few days Mis-
Halcombe did certainly seem TO all OF VI
TO be mending little. our faith In Mr.
Dawson revived. He appeared to b
assured Lady Clyde. when she spoke q
him on the subject. that he would him
self propose 20 send for physician tn
| moment ne felt so nuCn rs the bnhuVW "
| n doubt crossing his own mind.
The only person among US who did no
! appear TO be relieved by these word
| was the countess. She said TO me pri
vately that she could not feel easy abou
Miss Halcombe on Mr.. Dawson's author
ity, and that she should wait anxiousl
for her husbands opinion. on his return
THAT return, his letters Informed hei
would take place in three days time. Tn
count and countess corresponded regu
larly every morning. during his lordship'
absence. They were In that respect, n
in all others. n pattern to married people
on the evening OF the third day nc
ticed q change In Miss Halcombe. whic
caused me serious apprehension. Mrs
Rubslle noticed ~. too. We said nothin
on the subject TO Lady Clyde. who wa
then lying asleep. completely overpow,re
by exhaustion. on the sofa In the sittin
room.
visit till later than usual. As soon q
he set eyes on his patient I saw his fac
alter He tried 20 hide II. but he locke
both confused and alarmed. A messer
|, ger was sent 10 his residence for nj
| medicine chest disinfecting preparation
were used IN the room, and bed wa
made UP for him IN the house by his ow
directions. Has the fever turned 90 ir
} fecton7' I whispered 20 him: - al