The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1903-04-27
THE WOMAN IN WHITE


'It In duty we all owe TO the poor
creature herself TO trace her." continued
Sir Percival. ''She may have said some
thing at Tools Corner which may heip
us TO find her. I will go there. and make
inquiries on the chance. In the mean
time. as / can not prevan on myself to
discuss this painful subject with Miss
Fairlio may / beg. M.ss Halcombe, that
you wall kindly undertake TO give her
the necessary explanation. deferring II
OF course until you have received the re-
ply TO that note"
Miss Halcombe promised TO comply with
his request. He thanked her--nodded
lish hmelf In his own room. As he
opened the door the cross-gralned gray
hound poked out her sharp muzzle from
under the sofa, and barked and snapped
at him.
"a good mornings work. Miss Hal
combe,' i said. as soon as we were alone.
Here Is an anxious day well ended al
ready"
Yes" she ansdwered: "no doubt
am very glad your mind is satisfied"
MY mind Surely. with the note I'm your
hand, your mind is at ease too"
"Oh, yes-how can II be otherwise? I
know the thing could not be-" she went
on. speaking more 10 herself than TO me:
but / almost wish Walter Hartrght had
stayed here long enough TO be present az
the explanation, and 10 hear the proposal
TO me to write this note"
was a little surprised-perhaps lit
tie piqued. also-by these last words
Events, IL is true. connected Mr. Hart
right very remarkably with the AFFAIR OF
the letter" | said. 'and ! really admit
that he conducted himself. all things
considered, with great delicacy and dis
erection. But | am at quite loss 10 un-
dertsand what useful influence his pres
ence would have exercised I'm relation TO
the effect OF Sir Percivals statement on
your mind or mine"
1T was only fancy" she said, absent
ly. "There is no need 10 discuss a. Mr..
Gilmore. Your experience ought 10 be.
and is, the best guide | can desire"
l did not altogether like her thrusting
the whole responsibility. I'm this marked
manner, on my shoulders. II Mr.. Fairlie
had done II. should not have beerJ sur
prised But resolute. clear-miAded Miss
Halcombe was the very last person in the
world whom | should have expected to
find shrinking from the expression OF an
opinion of her own.
IF any doubts still trouble YOU" said,
why not mention them 10 me at once?
Tell me plainly. have you any reason 10
distrust Sir Percival Glyde?"
None whatever"
DO you see anything improbable or
contradictory. I'm his explanation"
How can I say I do, after the proof
he has offered me OF the truth OF II Can
there be better testimony in his favor.
Mr.. Gilmore, than-the- testimony or the
womans mother?"
None better. II the answer TO your
note OF inquiry proves TO be satisfactory,
|. for one, can not see what more any
friend Of Sir Percivars can possibly ex-
pect from him"
Then we will post the note" she said.
rising TO leave the room, land dismiss
all further reference 10 tho subject until
the answer arrives Don't attach any
weight TO my hesitation. l can give no
better reason for IL than that have been
anxiety Mr. Gilmore, unsettles the strong
est Of us"
She left me abruptly; her naturally firm
voice faltering as she spoke those last
words A sensitive, vehement. passionate
nature--a woman Of ten thousand in
these trivial. superficial times. l had
known her from her earliest years: had
seen her tested. as she grew up, In more
than one trying crisis, and my long ex-
perence made me attach an Importance
TO her hesitation under the circumstances
here detailed. which l should certainly
not have felt I'm the case OF another wom-
an. | could see no cause for any uneasi-
ness or any doubt: but she had made me
n little uneasy, and little doubtful, new
ertheless. In my youth. l should have
chafed and fretted under the irritation OF
my own unreasonable state OF mind. In
my age. | knew better; and went out
philosophicallly to walk II Off
(To be continued)