The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1903-08-03
Continued


l answered her warmly and gratefully,
as / really felt. But the anxious look
still renamed on her face while I was
speaking; and the 6rst question she
asked, when | had done. related to Count
Fosco.
| saw that she was thinking Of him
now with changed mind. No fresh out
break Of anger against him, no new ap-
peal to me 10 hasten the day Of reckon
ing. escaped her. Her conviction that
the mans hateful admiration OF herself
was really sincere, seemed to have in
creased a hundredfold her distrust Of his
unfa thomable cunning. her inborn dread
~ the wicked energy and vigilance OF all
his faculties Her voice fell low. her man
ner was hesitatng. her eyes searched
asked me what / thought of his mes
sage. and what / meant to do next. after
hearing II.
Not many weeks have passed Mar
ian." | answered. since my interview
with Mr.. Kyrle. When he and I parted
the last words l said TO him about
Laura were these: Her uncle's house
shall open to receive her I'm the presence
Of every soul who followed the false fu-
neral 10 the grave the lie that records
her death shall be publicly erased from
the tombstone by the authority Of the
head Of the family; and the two men
who have wronged her shall answer for
their crime TO me. though the Justice
that sits In tribunals is powerless 10 pur-
sue them. One OF those men is beyond
mortal reach. The other remains-and
my resolution remains
Her eyes lighted up; her color rose. She
said nothing; but | saw all her sym
pathies gathering 10 mine, i'm her face.
Il don't disguise from myself. or from
you" went on. that the prospect
before us is more than doubtful. The
risks we have run already are. II may be,
trif1es. compared with the risks that
threaten us In the future--but the ven
ture shall be tried. Marian. for all that.
am not rash enough TO measure myself
against such a man as the Count. before
l am well prepared for him have
learned patience; | can wait my time.
Let him believe that his message has pro-
duced its effect; let him know nothing
OF Us, and hear nothing OF us; let US give
him full time To feel secure-hs own,
boa stful nature. unless | seriously mis-
take him. will hasten that result This
is one reason for waiting; but there is
another more important still. My posi-
tion. Marian. toward you and toward
Laura ought 20 be a stronger one than
it is now. before | try our last chance"
She leaned near TO me with a look OF
surprise.
How can II be stronger" she asked.
Il will tell YOU" / replied when the
time comes. II has not come yet; 1t may
never come st all. l may be silent about
Il 20 Laura forever must be silent
now. even 10 you. til / soc for myself
that | can harmlesslv and honorably
speak Lot us leave that subject. There
IS another which has more pressing claims
on our attention. You have kept Laura
mercifully kept her. in Ignorance Of her
husbands death"
oh Walter. surely u must he Ions
set before We toll her of lt?'
mo. Marian. Better that YOU should
reveal Il 10 her now. than that accident.
which no one can guard against should
reveal II 10 her at some future time
Spare her all the details-break n 10 her
very tenderly-tut tell her that he Is
dead"
You have a reason. Walter fcr wish
ing her 10 know of her husbands death
besides the reason YOU have just men
tioned?'
II have"
n reason connected with that subject
which must not be mentioned between us
yet which may never be mentioned 10
Laura NJ all?'
She dwelt on the last words meaninRly.
When I answered her in the Affirmative.
| dwclt on them. too.
Her face grew pale. For a while she
looked az me with sad. sesitating In
iercst. An unaccustomed tenderness
trembled I'm her dark eyes and softcnrd
her firm lips. az she glanced aside ~
tho empty chair in which the dear COM
ranion ~ al ou~ 90 q and sofrows had
een etting
r think I understand. she said n
think owe n ~ her and 10 YOU. Walter.
b tell her ~ her husha nd death
She signed. and held ms hand fast for