The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1903-07-11
THE WOMAN IN WHITE
BY WILLIAM w. COLLINS.
(Contlnued)


ants became alarmed and ordered the cab
sabman 10 drive bac To her lodgings, When
shs got there. after an absence of rather
more than half an hour. Anne was gone.
The only information 20 be obtained
from the people of the house was derived
from the servant who waited on the
dodgers. She had opened the door 70
boy from the street. who had left a let
ter for the young woman who lived on
the second floor (the part OF the house
which Mrs. Clements occupied The ser
want had delivered the letter. had then
gone down stairs. and. Eve minutes after
wards. had observed Anne open the front
door and go out. dressed IN her bonnet
and shawl Che had probably taken the
letter with her. for IL was not 10 be found
and IL was therefore impossible 10 tell
what inducement had been offered 10
make her leave the house. IL must have
been strong one. for she would never
stir out alone IN London OF her own ac-
cord. II Mrs Clements had not known
by this experience nothing would have
induced her 10 go away In the cab, even
for 50 short time as half an hour only.
AS soon as she could collect her
thoughts. the first idea that naturally oc-
CURED 70 Mrs. Clements was TO go and
make inquiries at the asylum. TO which
che dreaded that Anne had been taken
back.
She went there the next day. having
been informed OF the locality in which
the house was situated by Anne herself.
The answer was received cher applca-
tion having. I'm ell probability been made
day or two before the false Anne Cath
srick had really been consigned 10 safe
keeping In the asylum was. that no such
person had been brought back there. She
had then written 10 Mrs. Catherick at
Welmingham, 10 know II she had seen
or heard anything OF her daughter, and
nad received an answer In the negative.
After that reply had reached her. she
was at the end OF her resources, and
perfectly ignorant where else 10 inquire.
or what else 10 do From that time 10
this she had remained in total ignorance
OF the cause Of Anne's disappearance.
and Of the end OF Annes story.
VII.
Thus far, the information which had
received from Mrs. Clements-though IL
established facts OF which had not been
previously aware-was OF a preliminary
character only.
II was clear that the series OF decep-
tions which had removed Anne Gather
lex TO London and separated her from
Mrs Clements had been accomplished
solely by the Count Fosco and the count
ess: and the question whether any part
of the conduct OF husband or wife had
been OF a kind TO place either OF them
within reach OF the law. might be well
worthy OF future consideration. But the
purpose ! had now in view led me in
another direction than this. The imme-
date object Of my visit 10 Mrs Glenn
10 the discovery OF Sir Percivsl's secret:
and she had said nothing as yet which
advanced me on my way TO that import
ant end. felt the necessity or trying
TO awaken her recollections Of other times
persons and events. than those on which
her memory had hitherto been employed.
and when i next spoke. spoke with
that object indirectly In view
II wish could be OF any help 10 you
In this sad calamity" | said "All can
do is 10 feel heartily for your distress. |
II Anne had been your own child Mrs
Clements, you could have shown her no
truer kindness-you could have made no
reader sacrifices for her sake
There's no great merit in that. sir"
said Mrs. Clements. simply. The poor
thing was as good as my own child 10 |
me. ! nursed her from a baby. sir. bring
Ing her up by hand--and n hard Job n was |
TO lose her. n hadn't made her FIRST |
short clothes. and taught her 10 walk |
always said she was sent 10 console |
me for never having chick nor child OF |
my own.
And now she's lost, the old times keep |
coming back 20 my mind; and, even al |
my age. can't help crying about her
] can't indeed. sir"
] waited a little 90 give Mrs. Clements |
time to compose herself Was the lirh, |
that had been looking for SO long glim- |
mering on me-far of. as yet in the /
good woman's recollections OF Anne's |
early hfe?
did you know Mrs Catherick before
Anne wac born" I asked.
Not very long. sir--not above four
We saw a great deal of each |
other in that time. but we were never
very friendly together"
Her voice was steadier as she made that
reply. Painful as many OF her recollec-
tions might be. ] observed that II was
unconsciously. q relief 90 her mind 10
revert 20 the dimly seen troubles OF the
past, after dwelling 80 long on the vivid
sorrows of the present
Were you and Mrs catherick neigh
bors7' l inquired leading her memory
on as encouragingly as 7 could
Yes, sir-neighbors az Old welming-
ham
"Old Welmingham7 There are two old
places OF that name. then. In Hsmp-
shirer
We'll. sir. there used 10 he In chose
iay-better than three-and twenty years
ago. They built = new town about two
miles OF, convenient 20 the river-and
DID Welmingham. which was never much
more than village, got IN time 90 be
The new town is the place they
,sil Welminghsm now, but the old par
sh church IL the parish church still n
stands by itself, with the houses pulled
jown or gone % ruin, all round H. I've
ived 20 see sad changes. II was a pleas
Int. pretty place In my time"
did you 1--we there before your mar /
'iege. Mrs. Cisments7"
mo. sir-Im Norfolk woman. n
wasn't the place my husband belonged
% either. He was from Grlmsby. as
ola you. and he served hts apprentice
hip there. But having friends down
outh. and hearing OF an opening. ne
TOT into business ~ Southampton II
vas IN q small way. but he made enough
or n plain man 20 retire on. and settled
4 Old Welmingham. / went there with
i'm when he married me. We were Deifh-