The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1903-07-16
fconunuedl

When the third day came. ] was ready
for my Journey.
AS II was possible that might be ao-
sent for some little time. l arranged Win
Marian that we were TO correspond every
day. OF course addressing each other by
assumed names. for cautions sake. AS
long as heard from her regularly l
should assume that nothingg was wrong.
But when morning came and brought me
no letter. my return TO London would
take place, as a matter OF course by the
first train. I contrived TO reconcile Laura
10 my departure by telling her that was
going to the country 10 find new purchas-
ers for her drawings and for mine, and l
left her occupied and happy. Marian foi-
lowed me downstairs to the street DOOR
.Remember what anxious hearts you
leave here" she whispered. as we stood
together in the passage; remember an
the hopes that hang on your safe return
II strange things happen to you on your
Journey II you and Sir PerciVal meet
What makes you think we shali
meet?" / asked
II don't know have fears and fancies
that I can't account for. Laugh at them'
Walter II you like-but. for Gods sake,
keep your temper II you come In contact
with that mani"
Never fear Marian! answer for my
self control" with those words we part
ed
walked briskly 10 the station. There
was a glow OF hope in me; there was
growing conviction in my mind that my
Journey this time. would not be taken IN
vain. II was fine. clear. cold morning
my nerves were firmly strung. and ! telt
all the strength OF my resolution stirring
in me vigorously from head 10 foot.
AS / crossed the railway platform ana
looked right and left among the people
congregated on IT. to search for any faces
among them that l knew, the doubt oc-
Cured TO me whether 1t might not have
been to my advantage II ! had adopted a
disguise before setting out for Hamp-
shire But there was something so repel-
lent to me In the idea-something so
meanly like the common herd OF spies
and intormers in the mere act OF adopting
a disguise-that dismissed the question
from consideration almost as soon as II
had risen I'm my mind. Even as A mere
matter OF expediency. the proceeding was
doubtful In the extreme. II tried the ex-
pertinent at home. the landlord of the
house would. sooner or later. discover
me, and would have his suspicious arous-
ed Immediately. II tried II away from
home, the same persons might see me,
by the commonest accident, with the dis
g1iise and without IT. and / should In
that way be inviting the notice and dis
trust which II was my most pressing In
terest TO avoid. In my own character
had acted thus far. and in my own char
acter ! was resolved 10 continue TO the
end
The train left me at welmingham early
in the afternoon.
Is there any wilderness Of sand In tn
deserts OF Arabia. is there any prospec
OF desolation among the ruins OF Pales
tine. which can rival the repelling effec
on the eve and the depressing influence
on the mind. OF an English country towI
in the first stage OF it's existence. and II
the transition state of it's prosperity?
asked myself that question as passed
through the clean desolation, the nea
uglines. the prim torpor OF the streets o
Welmingham. And the tradesman VIII,
stared after me firm their lonely shops
the trees that dropped helpless I'm thei
ardd exile OF unfinished crescents ant
squares. the dead house-carcasses tha
waited in vain for the vivifying human
element 10 animate them with the breath
OF life: every creature that I saw; ever,
object that ! passed-seemed TO answe
with one accord The deserts OF Arabi,
are Innocent OF our civilized desola ton
the ruins OF Palestine are incapable o
our modern gloomi
I inquired my way TO the quarter o
the town In which Mrs. Catherick lived
and on reaching II found myself I'm
square OF small houses. one story high
There was a bare little plot OF grass Il
the middle. protected by a cheap wir
fence. An elderly nurse maid and tw
children wr standing in n cornr OF tn
looking az lean goat tethere
TO the grass. Two foot passengers wer
talking together on one side OF the pave
ment before the houses. and an idle littl
boy was leading an idle little dog alon
by string on the other. ! heard the du
tinkling OF piano at a distance. accom-