The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1903-07-29
CONTINUED


Some hours later. while was resting
In the coffee room a letter was placed
In my hands by the waiter. II was ad-
dressed 10 me by name and | found, on
inquiry, that II had been left at the bar
by a waman just as It was near dusk.
and just before the gas was lighted She
had said nothing and she had gone away
again before there was time 10 speak TO
her. or even 10 notice who she was.
opened the letter II was neither
dated nor signed. and the handwriting
was pslpasly disguised. Before l had
read the first sentence. however, knew
who my correspondent was. Mrs. Cath
erick.
The letter ran as follows-I copy 1t ex-
acty, word for word:
The Story Continued by Mrs catherick
Slr-You have not come back, as you
said you would. No matter. I know
the news. and I write 10 tell you so Did
you see anything particular In my face
when you left me7 | was wondering, an
my own mind. whether the day OF his
downfall had come al last, and whether
you were the chosen instrument for work
ing ~ You were-and you have worked
IL.
You were weak enough as have heard,
70 try and save his life. II you had sue
ceeded / should have looked upon you as
my enemy. Now you have failed, / hold
you as my friend. Your inquiries fright
ened him into the vestry by night your ir :
quiries, without your prlyity and against
your will, have served the hatred and
~ fhrAA and
twenty-years. Thank you, sir, In spite
OF yourself
| owe something 10 the man who has
done this. How can I pay my debt? IL
| was a young woman still, j might say,
Come put your arm round my waist and
kiss me. II you like" ] should have been
fond enough of YOU even 10 go that
length and you would have accepted my
invitation-you would, sir. twenty years
ago. But am an old woman now. Well!
| can satisfy your curiosity, and pay my
debt In that way. You had a great curl
osty 10 know certain private affairs OF
mine. when you came 10 see me-private
affairs which all your sharpness could not
look into without my help-prtvate affairs
which you have not discovered even now
You shall discover them; your curiosity
shall be satisfied. will take any trouble
TO please you, my estimsble young friend!
You were little boy. ! suppose, In the
year twenty-seven? l was a handsome
young woman at that time living at Old
Welmingham. / had a contemplate fool
for a husband. | had also the honor or
being acquainted (never mind now with
a certain gentleman never mind whom).
| shall not call him by his name. Why
should 1? II was not his own. He
never had name; you know that, by
this time as welS~is | do.
II will be more TO the purpose to tell
you how he worked himself into my good
graces | was born with the tastes Of
a lady. and he gratifed them. In other
words. he admired me. and he made me
presents No woman can resist admira-
tlon and presents-especially presents,
provided they happen 10 be just the things
she wants. He was sharp enough 10
know that-most men are. Naturally lie
wanted something In return-all men do
And what do you think was the some
thing? The merest trlhe. Nothing hut
the KEY OF the vestry, and the key OF the
press inside II, when my husbands back
was turned. OF course he lied when
asked him why he wished me TO get him
the keys In that private way. He might
have saved himself the trouble-I didn't
believe him. But / liked my presents.
and | wanted more. So / got him the
keys. without my husbands knowledge.
Once twice four times. | watched him,
and the fourth time | found him out.
| was never overscrupulous where other
peoples affairs were concerned. and I was
rot overscrupulous about his adding one
10 the marriages In the register on mis-
own account.
or course | knew Il was wrong: but II
did no harm TO me-whlch was one good
reason for not making fuss ah"'it II.