The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1903-07-17

because Sir PercivIl Clyde Is, 20 my Ger.
tain knowledge, your enemy as well as
mine. III l have a grudge against him,
you have grudge against him too. You
may deny II, II you like; you may distrust
me as much as you please; you may be as
angry as you wiil-but. OF ell the women
in England. you, n you have any sense
or injury, are the woman who ought to
help me TO crush that man"
Crush him for yourself" shee said (;
then come back here and see what
say TO YOU"
She spoke these words as she had not
spoken yet-Quickly fiercely, vindictiye-
ly. had stirred in its lair the serpent
hatred OF years-but only for a moment
Like lurking reptile, II leaped up at
meas she instantly resumed her for
mer position In the chair
You won't trust me?' ] said.
mo"
you are afraid?"
''Do look as II I wasY'
You are afraid of Sir Percivai Clyde" :"
Am I?'
Her color was rising, and her hands
Were at work again, smoothing her
gown. l pressed the point further and
further home-I went on. without allow
ing her moment OF delay.
"Sr Percival has a high position In the
world" / said; 1T would be no wonder
II you were afraid OF him. Sir Percfval
Is powerful mana baronet-the pos
SCISSOR Of fine estate-the descendant of
a great family"
She amazed me beyond expression by
suddenly bursting out laughing
Yes" she repeated. In tones OF the
bitterest, steadiest contempt. "A baro-
net-the possessor OF a fine estate-the de-
scendant OF a great family. Yes. indeedl
great famiy--especially by the moth
er's side"
There was no tdme to reflect on the
words that had Just escaped her; there
was only time 10 feel that they were well
worth thinking over the moment Ief.
the house.
II am not here 10 dispute with you
about family questions" I said "I
know nothing of Sir Percivaps mother"
And you know as little OF Sir Perci-
val himself she interposed, sharply.
II advise you not TO be too sure OF
that" i retoined. "I know some things
about him-and suspect many more"
What do you suspect7'
"rll tell you what 1 don't suspect.
don't suspect him OF being Annes faith
err"
She started to her feet. and came close
up to me with look OF fury
How dare you talk TO me about Anne's
fatheri How dare you say who was her
father. or who wasnt!' she broke out
with passion
THE secret between you and Sir Per
cival is not that secret" persisted. 1.-THE
mystery which darkens Sir Percivals life
was not born with your daughters BIRTH
and has not died with your daughters
death"
She drew back step. Coz she said.
and pointed sternly 10 the door,
There was no thought OF the child in
In L ~ on data
mined to press her back to her last de-
fenses. There was no bond OF guilty
love tetween you and him, when you
held those stolen meetings-when your
husband fItrd you whispering together
under the vestry Of the church"
Her pointing Band instantly dropped to
her side. and the deep flush of anger
faded from her face while 1 spoke.
saw the change pass over her: saw that
hard. firm. fearless. self-possessed woman
quail under a terror which her utmost
resolution was not strong enough TO re-
I said those FIVE last words,
"the vestry OF the church"
For a minute. or more, we stood look
ing at each other In silence. 1 spoke
first
do you still refuse to trust meT'
asked.
She could not call the color that had
left IL hack To her face. but she had
steadied her voice. she had recovered the
defiant self-possession OF her manner,
when she answered me.
II do refuse" she said.
do you still tell me 20 goT'
YES Go-and never come back"
! walked TO the door. waited moment
before I opened Il, and turned round to
look at her again.
II may have news TO bring you OF Sir
Percival which you don't expect" said:
land, I'm that case, snail come back.
There is no news OF Sir Percival that
don't expect, except"
She stopped; her pale face darkened:
and she stole back. with n quiet. stealthy,
cat like step 10 her chair
Except the news Of his death" she
said. sitting down again. with the mock
cry Of a smile just lowering on her cruel
lips. and the furtive light OF hatred lurk- |
ing deep I'm her steady eyes. AS opened
the door OF the room to go out. che looked
round at me quickly. The cruel smile
slowly widened her lips-she eyed me
with n strange, stelthy interest from |
head 90 foot-an unutterabe expectation |
showed itself wickedly all over her face |
Was she speculatlng In the secrecy of
her own hesrt. on my youth and strength, !
on the force OF my sense Of injury and :
the limits of my self control. and was she |
the lengths 10 which they /
might carry me, II Sir Percival and | |
ever chanced to meet7 The bare doubt |
that II might be so drove me from her /
presence. and sllenced even the common /
forms OF farewell on my lips. without /
word more, on my side or on hers, I left /
the room.
AS I opened tho outer door. saw the /
same clergyman who had already passed I
the house once about 10 pass 10 again. \
On his way back through the square. l /
waited on the doorstep TO LET him 40. and \
looked round. as I dd so. at the parlor
window.
Mrs. Catherick had heard his footsteps
approaching IN the silence Of that lonely |
place; and she was on her feet at the /
window again. waiting for him. Not all .
the strength OF all tho terrible passions
I had reused In that woman's heart
could loosen her desperate hold on the
one fragment Of social consideration which \
years ot resolute EFFORT had just dragged \
within her grasp. There she was again,
hot minute after | had left her placed
Durposelv In y position which made ~ n