The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1903-06-04
THE WOMAN IN WHITE



Catherick is at this moment Indeed.
indeed j said. Il don't YOU do! he call
ed back. I'll crush your obstinacy--
mind that.--rli wiring II out of you!' lie
went away. with those words--went
away. Marian. hardly Ave minutes ago"
He had not found Anne! We were safe
for that night--he had not found her yet.
"You are going downstairs. Marian Z?
Come up again n the evening"
Yes. yes. Don't be uneasy II | am n
little late--f must be careful not to give
onense by leaving them too soon"
The dlhner-bell rang and l FASTENED
away.
Sir Perclval took Nine Fosco into the
dining-room. and the Count gave me his
arm. He was hot and flushed. and was
not dressed with his customary care and
completeness. Had he. too. been out
before dinner, and late in getting back?
or was he only suffering from the heat
little more severely than usual?
However this might be, he was un-
auestionably troubled by some secret an
noyance or anxiety which, with all his
powers OF deception, he was not able en-
tirely 10 conceal. Through the whole OF
dinner he was almost as silent as Sir
Percival himself. and he. every now and
then. looked mt his wife with an ex-
preston OF furtive uneas.ness which was
quite new OF my experience OF him. The
one social obligation which he seemed
to be self-possessed enough 10 perform
as carefully as ever was the obligation
OF being persistently civil and attentive
10 me. What vile object he has In view
l can not still d scover: but, be the design
what II may, invariable polteness to-
ward myself. invariable humility. toward
Laura, an invariable suppression (at any
cosD or SIR Percivafs clumsy violence
nave oeen the means he has resolutely
and inpenetrably used to get To his end.
ever since he set foot in this house.
suspected 1t when he first interfered
In our favor. on the day when the deed
was produced in the library. and I feel
certain OF IL now.
Nhen Nine. Fosco and I rose to leave
the table. the Count rose also TO accom-
psny US back to the drawing room.
What are you going away for?" asked
sir Percival-'1 mean you Fosco."
Il am going away because / have had
dinner enough and wine enough" an
swered the Count. BE so kind Per-
cival, as 10 make allowances for my for
eign habit of going out with the ladies'.
as well as coming in with them"
Nonsense! Another glass OF claret
won't hurt you. Sit down again like an
! want half an hours quiet
talk with you over our wine"
"A quiet talk, Percival, with all my
heart but not now, and not over the
wine. Later In the evening, II you please
later In the evening"
Civil said Sir Percival. savagely |
civil behavior. upon my soul. to a man |
In his own house,
i had more than once seen him look |
at the Count uneasily during dinncr-time |
and had observed that the Count care
fully abstained from looking at him in |
return. This circumstance, coupled with |
the hosts anxiety for a little quiet talk |
over the wine and the guests obstinate
not TO sit down again at the
table, revived I'm my memory the request
which Sir Percival had vanly addressed /
10 his friend. earlier In the day, to come 4
)ut OF the library and speak to him. The /
Count had deferred granting that pri-
rate Interview when IL was first asked I
'or in the afternoon. and had again de-
erred granting IL when 1t was a second
line asked for at the diner table What
'ver the Coming subject of discussion be-
ween them might be. IL was clearly an
subject in Sir Percivals esti-
nation-and perhaps Judging from his
vident reluctance to approach I'D a dan
'erous subject as well, in the estimation
" the Count.
These considerations occurred to me
While we were passing from the dining
Dom TO the drawing room. Sir Percivars
ngry commentary on his friends deser-
Ion OF him had not produced the slight
st effect The Count obstinately ac-
ompaned us to tea table-waited a min
ne or two In the room-went out into
he hall--and returned with the post bag
n his hands. IL was then o'clock-the
our at which the letters were alwoys
ispatched from Blackwaater Park.
Have YOU any letter for the post Miss
he asked. approaching me
rith the bag
| saw Nine. Fosco. who was making
ea. pause. with the sugar-tongs In her
and. to listen for my answer
mo. Count thank you. No letters to-
ay"
He gave the bag to the servant. who
'as then in the room, sat down at the
iano and played the air OF the lively
ieapoltau street-song. 10 mia Caro-
na." twice over. His wife. who was
sually the most deliberate OF women i'm
u her movements. made the tea as
uicky as I could have made Il myself
nished her own cup in two minutes, and
uietly glided out of the room.
rose 10 follow her example. partly
ecause | suspected her attempting I
,me treachery upstairs with Laura. !
artly because | was resolved not TO re- J
lain alone I'm the same room with her
usband
BEFORE could get to the door the Count
opped me. by a request for cup OF tea
gave him the cup OF tea. and tried n
,cond time to get away. He stopped me {
gain--this time by going back to the
ano and suddenly appealing To me on
musical question In which he declared ,
Int the honor OF his country was con-
,rned
CTo Re Continued)
CAMP LIFE.