The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1903-05-26
(Continued.)

which l suffered yesterday evening. on
hearing what Laura told me In the boat
house. returned In the loneliness OF the
night and kept me waking and wretched
for hours.
lighted my candle at last and searched
through my old journals TO see what my
share I'm the fatal error of her marriage
had really been. and what I might have
once done 10 save her from N. The
result soothed me littlc-for IL showed
that. however blindly and ignorantly I
acted. l acted for the best. Crying gen
orally does me harm, but IL was not so
last night think IL relieved me- rose
this morning with a settled resolution and
q GuIet mind Nothing Sir Percival can
say or do shall ever irrtate me again. or
am staying here. In defiance Of mortflca-
tlons. insults and threats. for Laura's
service and for Iauras sake.
The spcculations I'm which we might
have indulged this morning. on the sub
ject OF the hgure at tho lake and the foot
steps In the planta ton. have been all sus-
pended by trflIng accident which has
caused Laura great regret. She has lost
the little brooch gave her for a keepsake
on the day before her marriage. AS she
wore II when we-went out yesterday even
ing. can only suppose that II must
have dropped from her dress. either IN
the boat-house or on our way back. The
servants have been sent 10 search, and
have returned unsuccessful And now
Laura herself has gone to look for IL.
Whether she hnds II or not. the loss will
help 10 excuse her absence from ths houso
II Sir Percival sreturns before the letter
from Mr. Gtmore's partner In placed In
my hands.
One o'clock has just struck am con-
sidering whether I had better wait here
for the arrival Of the messenger from
London, or slip away quietly. and watch
for him outside the lodge gate.
My suspicion OF everybody and every
thing In the house inclines me 10 think
that the second plan is the best The
Count i5 safe in, the brealgfG st-room. /
heard him. ,throAGh the door. as ] ran up
stairs, ten minutes since. exercising his
canary birds at their tricks: Come out on
my little finger my pret-prct-pretties!
comcj out. and'hop upstairs! One, two.
threcf-and ups Efrhyee. two. one--and
down. One. two. ihree--twit- twit-twit-
tweet'" The birds burst into their usual
ecstasy Of singing. and the Count chr-
ruped and whistled at them I'm return.
as II he was r bird himself. My room
door Is opch and / can hear tho shrill
singing and whistling at this very mo-
ment. II ] am really to slip out without
being observed. now is my time
Four o'clock--The three hours that have
passed sincesI made my last entry have
turned the 'sNhplf smarch Of events at
Black~ater 'TaaN i'm n new direction.
Whether for good or FOR evil. l can not
and dare not decide.
Let me get back nrst to the place at
which. left of Yor I}shsll lose myself
I'm the, confusfon' OF my own thoughts l
went bn. as l had proposed. tn meet the
Inessehger with my letter from London.
Al the lodge gate. ON the stairs I saw
no one. But on crossing the quadrangle
outside, ] passed Nine. Fosco. walking
by herself In her favcrite circle round and
roundShe great nsh,ppnd at once slack
eped my pace. SO at TO avoid all appear
ance ~ being In hurry: and even went
the length. for cautions sake of inquirng
" she<thought OF, going out before lunch.
She smiled at me in the friendiest man
ner--said she preferred remaining near
the house-nodded pleasantly---and re-
entered the hall. ! looked back. and saw
that she had closed the door before had
opened the wicket by, the side OF the car
riage gates. ssssrP
In less than a quarter Of an hour. had
reached the lodge, 8 4,
The lane outside took sudden turn TO
the left. ran on straight for a hundred
yards or so. and then took another sharp
turn to the right to join the highroad.
Between these two turns, hidden nom
the lo6ge on one, side and from the way
10 the station. onF the, other. ] waited,
walking backward and forward. High
ardses were ~on seithers side of ne: and
for 20 minutes. y'my watch, ] nethct
4aw ror heard anything. At the end Of
that time the sound Of carriage caught
my ear, .and;sI twas met, as ] advanced
toward the secofSl turcing. by ny from
the railway. ] made a sign to the driver
L. stop. As he obeyed me. respe 'tahia-
looking man put his mead out OF the win
dow to see what was tie matter
4 beg your pardon" ! said; but am
! gh; in supposing that YOU arc going
t. ltlackwaterRPark?
yes, ma am.
with n letter for any onc?'
with a letter for Miss Halcomhe,
M sn."
You may give me tho letter, | am
Mss Halcombc
TAr man touched his bat. got out hl the
ny Immediately. and CAV, me tho let er.
| opened 10 at once, and read these lircs.
] copy, them4 here thinking II bes: 10
destroy the original for cautions sdks.
Dear Madame,-Your letter received
this morning has caused me very great
anxiety. | will reply to II as briefly md
plainly as possible.
"My careful consideration OF the state
n.cnt made by yourself and my knowl-
cdgs Of Lads iilNde's position. as defined
in tho settlement, ,ledd me, I regret to
say. To the conclhsionFthat n loan OF the
trust money to Sir Pcrcival COR in other
words loan OF some portion OF the $4,000
pounds 81 Lady Glyde's fortunc) is in
contemplation, and that she Is made a
party to the decd. in order to secure her
approval Of a. Migrant breach Of trust.
and 10 have ,,her !. signature produced
AGAINST b&r, if-she .conld COMPLAIN here.