The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1903-06-22
fcontInued.l

c.n,ion had fallen on poor Lady Clyde
The only ill-usage which either ne o'
Mrs. Rubelle had inflicted on Miss Hal
combe consisted. so far as ] could see'
IN the nrst offense Of hiding her away
I stole back. leaving the sick lady sun
peacefully asleep. to give the gardener
instructions about bringing the doctor
begged the man. after he had taken
Mrs. Rubelle to the station 10 drNe
round by Mr.. Dawson's and leave mes
sage in my name. asking him 10 can anu
see me- / knew he would come Wheh ne
found Count Fosco had left the house
In due course of time the gardener
returned and said that he had driven |
round by Mr. Dawson's residence alnel
leaving Mrs. Rubelle at the station Inc
doctor sent me word that he was poorly
an health himself but that he would cal |
n possible the next morning HaNihs
delivered his message, the gardener was
about TO withdraw. but l stopped MIN
IN reouest that he would come BACK o.
fore dark and SIT up. that nlght' IN one
of the empty bedrooms. so as 10 De WIN
I'm call in case | wanted him. lie uhuer
stood readily enough my unwililnehess
10 be left alone all night. In the most
desolate mart of that desolate house. and
We arranged that ne should come IN De
tween eight and nine.
He came punctually. and found cause
70 be thankful that l had adopted ,ne
precaution OF calling him In Beiore ihiu-
night Sir Percivals strange temper prohe
out in the most violent ana aiaI ,iIns
manner. and II the gardener had not peen
on the spot to pacify him on the instant,
am afraid TO think what might nave
happened. ,
Almost all the afternoon and evening
he had been walking about the nous
and grounds In an unsettled, excltao'e
manner. having. in all probability as
thought taken an excessive quantity oi
wine at his solitary dinner. However
that NAV be. / heard his voice calling
loudly and angrily in the new wing oil the
house. as | was taking a turn backward
and forward along the gallery the last
thing at night The gardener immeoiate
ly ran down 10 him, and closed the door
OF communication TO keep the aiarin. -
ears. II was full half an hour before
the gardener came back He declared that
his master was quite out OF his senses
not through the excitement OF drink' as ,
had supposed. but through kino oi
manic or frenzy Of mind for whlch IL was
impossible TO account He had iouno
Sir Percival walking backward ana tor-
uard nv himself in the hail. swearing,
with every appearance of the most Vio-
iept nassion. that he would not stop an
other minute alone In such DANGEROUS
dungeon as his own house, ana tnht nc
would take the first stage OF his journey
Immediately, In the middle OF the nlsh,,
The gardener on approaching ni,h n.'
bean hunted out. with oaths ana threats'
20 get his horse and chaise ready instant
lv In a quarter of an hour Sir. PerciVal
had ioined him In the yard. had jumped
into the chaise. and. lashing tne horse
irto gallop. had driven himself away
with his face as pale as ashes u, ,ne
moonlight. The gardener had heaIu nm
shouting and cursing at the iouse Meepu, -
. IN get tip and open the gate-had neaIu
the wheels roll furiously on again. IN .he
stm night. when the gate was unlocked
and knew no more. 80
The next day, or day or TWO atte'
I forget which. the chaise was prough
back from Knowlesbury. our near es s'
town. by the hostler at The OLD nm ."
Percivai had stopped there. and had aiter
ward left by the train for what oest''la
t,on the man could not tell. never re
ce,ved any further information, eitne
from himself or from any one eise'
Sir percivars proceedings. and l am no
even aware. at this moment, whe,neI y
is IN England or out OF It. He ana ! nav
not met since he drove away. ike a.
aavaa criminal from his own house
and II Is my fervent hope ana prase
thai we may never meet again
Nv own part OF this sad family stor
IA now drawing 10 an emu
have been informed that tne par
ticulars of Miss Halcomhe's waking an
of what passed between us when sn
sound me sitting by her bedside. are nc
material to the purpose which Is TO
srswered by the present narrative
nil, he sufiient for me TO say IN IN
,,ace that she was not herself consclou
of the means adopted 10 remove her tro'
the inhabited TO the uninhabited part
the house. She was In deep sieep
the time whether naturally OF arunclai
nroauced I could not say In my absen'
>. rrorouav and IN the absence Of all u
res,dent servants. except Margaret Porci
ar fwho was perpetually eating drinkin
or sleen,ne. when she was not at WORK
the secret transfer of Miss Halomoe tro
one part Of the house TO the otner :"
no doubt easily performed
Mrs. Rubelle (as I discovered Tor IN
..is In looking about the room) had pr
s,.ns ana Ali other necessaries. I
xo,har With the means Of heating wat'
broth and so on. without kndling nj
nlaced al her disposal CURING ,ne II
davs of her imprisonment with the 81
lady. she had declined to answer
questions which Miss Halcomoe na'ura M
M, hut hsTi not I'm other respects, tres
"a her with unkindness or neglect. t
disgrace OF lending herself to vile
ception IL the only disgrace with whici
can conscientiously charge Mrs. Ruber
I need write no particulars 'and
relieved 10 know ~ OF the effect prod'
"a on Miss Halcombe by the news
LADY Glyde's departure or by the
more melancholy tidings which reaef
up only too soon afterward at Blackw
or Park In both cases prepared
mind beforehand as gently and as On
fully as possible, having the doctc
advice 20 guide me IN the last case OF
through MI Dawsons being too UNIV
"a come 20 the house for some days ai
I had sent for him. IL was sad time
time which Il affects me 10 think OF,
10 write OF now. The precious blessi
OF religious consolation which ] ende
ored 20 convey were long In reach
Miss Halcombe's heart, but hope
believe they came home 20 her at las
never left her TIN her strength was
stored The train which took me az
from that miserable house Was the u
4.