The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1903-08-17
THE WOMAN IN WHITE
BY WILLIAM w. COLLINS.
(Continuedl

ana with the coachmans answer fresh
In my memory, l next turned my steps.
Tor the first time since the beginning of
AL my inquiries. In the direction OF Mr..
kyrles office. One OF my objects In pay
ipg him this second visit was necessarily,
TO tell him what had done. The other
was 10 warn him OF my resolution to take
my wife TO Limmeridge the next morn-
Ing, and TO have her publicly received
and recognized i'm her uncle's house. / left
II TO Mr. Kyrle to decide under these cir
cumstances, and In Mr. Gilmore's abb
sence, whether he was or was not bound.
as the family solicitor, TO be present on
that occasion In the family interests.
Will say nothing OF Mr.. Kyrie's
apaxement. or OF the terms In which he
expressed his opinion OF my conduct. from
the first stage OF the investigation TO the
last. IL is only necessary to mention that
he at once decided on accompanying us
20 Cumberland.
We started the next morning by the
early train. Laura, Marian. Mr. Kyrle
and myself IN one carrige. and John
owen, with q clerk from Mr.. Kyrles Of
flee, occupying places I'm another On
reaching the Limmeridge station. we went
first to the farmhouse at Todd's Cor
ner. II was my firm determination that
Laura should not enter her uncle's house
TIL she appeared there publicly recog-
nized as his niece. left Marian to set
~
Mrs. Todd as soon as the good woman
had recovered from the bewilderment Of
hearing what our errand was I'm Cum
berland; and l arranged with her hus-
band that John Owen was to be commit
ted 10 the ready hospitality OF the farm
servants. These preliminaries completed.
Mr.. Kyrle and | set forth together fer
Limmeridge House
l cannot write at any length OF our
Interview with Mr.. Fairlie. for | can
not recall II to mind, without feelings OF
lmpatience, and contempt. which makes
the scene even in remembrance only, ut
terly repulsive 10 me. I prefer TO re-
cord simply that I carried my point Mr..
Fairlie attempted 10 treat US on his Gus
tomary plan. We passed without notice
his polite insolence at the outset OF the
interview. We heard without sympathy
The protestations with which he tried next
TO persuade us that the disclosure OF the
conspiracy had overwhelmed him. He
absolutely whined and whimpered at last
Ike a fretful child. How was he 10
know that his niece was alive, when Re
was told that she was dead? He would
welcome dear Laura with pleasure. II
We would only allow him time 10 re-
cover. Did We think he looked as II he
wanted hurrying into his grave? No
Then why hurry him." He reiterated
these remonstrances at every available
for all by placing him firmly between
two inevitable alternatives. | gave him |
his choice between doing his niece jus |
tice on my terms, or facing the conse- |
quences of a public assertion of her ex- |
istence in a court Of law. Mr.. Kyrle. 10 |
wtlom he turned for help. told him plain |
Is that he must decide the question then. |
and there. Characteristically choosing |
the alternative which promised soonest J
TO release him from all personal anxiety. |
he announced, with q sudden outburst cf /
energy, that he was not strong enough /
to bear any more bullying. and that we
might DO as we pleased.
Mr.. Kyrle and at once went down
stairs, and agreed upon a form of letter
which was 20 he sent round 20 the ten
ants who had attended the false funeral.
summoning them. in Mr.. Fairlie's name,
TO assemble in Llmmeridge House on the
next day but one. An order, referring 20
the same date, was also written. direct
Ing a statuary In Carlisle 20 send a man
TO Limmeridge churchyard. for the pur-
pose OF erasing an inscription-lMr. KyTle
who had arranged 10 sleep i'm the house,
undertaking that Mr. Fairlie should hear
these letters read to him, and should
sign them with his own hand.
4 occupied the interval day at the farm
IN writing plain narrative Of the con-
spiracy, and in adding TO II a statement
of the practical contradiction which facts
offered TO the assertion of Lauras death.
This i submitted TO Mr.. Kyrle. before
read IL, the next day, 10 the assembled
tenants. We also arranged the form IN
which the evidence should be presented
II the close OF the reading After these
matters were settled Mr.. Kyrle endeav-
'red to turn the conversation next to
affairs. Knowing. and desiring
% know, nothing OF those affairs, and
whether he would approve. AS
! man OF business, of my conduct i'm re-
alton - my wifes life interest I'm the
egacy left 10 Nine. Fosco. I begged Mr.
fyrle to excuse me II I abstained from |
discussing the subject. 1t was connected
Is could truly tell him. with those sor-
ows and troubles OF the past which
We never referred 20 among ourselves
nd which we instinctively shrunk from
discussing with others.
My lns. labor, as the evening ap-
roaehed, was to obtain THE Narrative
4 the Tombstone" by taking copy OF
he false inscription on the grave before ,
was erased. .
The day came-the day when Laura
nee more entered the familiar break ,
ast room at Limmeridge house All tho :
ersons assembled rose from their seats :
s Marian and I led her in. percepti- ,
le shock OF surprise. an audible murmur ;
interest ran through them. at the sight ,
/
~ express stipulation). with Mr. Kyrle .
y his side. His valet stood behind him Z
18th n smelling bottle ready in one hand. r
nd "A white handkerchief. saturated with 6
au de Cologne. In the other. III
opened the proceedings by publicly e
ppealing TO Mr.. Fairle 10 say whether I
appeared there with his authority and e
nder his express sanction. He extend c
an arm on either side Of Mr.. Kyrle $
nd To his valet. was by them assisted 20 s
on his legs: and then expressed e
imseh In these terms: Allow me 10 4
resent Mr.. Hartright. am as great on q
valid as ever; and he Is so very obliging
20 speak for me. The subject IL dread u
lily embarrassing Please hear him :
nd don't make n noise!" With those
ords. he slowly sunk back again into
le chair. and took refuge In HIS scented
ocket handkerchief
This disclosure of the conspiracy fol-
had OfYered NV preiifp fpa