The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1903-03-24
(Continued.)
WI

vi
When rose the next morning and Grew
up my blind, the sea opened before me
Joyously under the broad August sun
light and the distant coast OF Scotland
frnged the horizon with its lines OF melt
ing blue.
The view was such n surprise. and such
a change 10 me. after my weary London
experience OF brick nd mortar landscape,
that / seemed to burst into a new life
and new set OF thoughts the moment
i looked at II. A confused sensation OF
having suddenly lost my familiarity with
the past. without acquiring and addition
nj cearness of idea in reference 10 the
present or the future, took possession OF
my mind. Circumstances that were but
a few days-eit- faded back in my mem
ory. as II they had happened months and
months since. Pesca's quaint announce
ment OF the means by which he he'd pro-
cured me my present employment; the
farewell evening l had passed with my
mother and sister; even my mysterious
adventure on the way home from Hamp-
stead-had all become Ike events which
might have occurred at some former
epoch OF my existence. Although the
woman IN white was still In my mind, the
image OF her seemed TO have grown dull
and faint already.
little before nine O'Clock I descended
10 the ground floor of the house. The
solemn man-servant Of the night before
met me wandering among the passages.
and compassionately showed me the way
TO the breakfast-room.
My first glance round me, as the man
opened the door. disclosed we'll furnish
ed breakfast-table. standing m the mid
ole or a long room, with many windows
In it, i looked from the table to the
window furthest from me, and saw a
lady standing at II, with her back turned
toward me. The instant my eyes rested
on her. l was struck by the rare beauty
OF her form, and by the unaffected grace
OF her attitude. Her figure was tall vet
not too tall; comely and well developed,
yet not fat. her head set on her shoul-
ders with an easy, plant firmness: her
waist, perfection in the eyes OF a man,
Tor IL occupied its natural place IL filed
out its natural circle. Il was visibly and
delightfully."- undeformed by stays She
mad not heard my entrance into the room;
and l allowed myself the luxury OF ad-
miring her for a few moments. before
j moved one OF the chairs near me. as the
least embarrassing means OF attracting
her attention. She turned toward me i'm
mediately. The easy elegance OF every
movement OF her limbs and body as soon
as she began TO advance from the far
end OF the room. set me in 1utter OF ex-
pectaton TO see her face clearly She
left the window-and / said to myself
The lady is dark She moved forward
a few steps-and / said TO myself. The
lady is young. She approached nearer
and 1 said to myself with sense OF
surprise which words fail me TO express,,
The lady is ugly,
Never was the old conventional maxim,
that Nature can not err. more fatly con-
tradicted-never was the fair promise OF
lovely figure more strangely and start
lingly belied by the face and head that
crowned II. The lady's complexion was
almost swarthy. and the dark down on
her upper lip was almost n mustac che.
She had large, firm, masculine mouth
and Jaw prominent, piercing. resolute
brown eyes; and thick, coal-black hair,
growing unusually low down on her fore
head. Her expression-bright frank and
intelligent-appeared, while she was ST.
lent. to be altogether wanting in those
feminine attractions or gentleness and
pliability, without which the beauty OF
the handsomest woman alive Is beauty |
Incomplete. To see such n face as this !
set on shoulders that a sculptor would !
have longed TO model-to be charmed by |
the modest graces OF action through |
their beauty when they moved, and then |
to be almos. repelled by the masculine |
form and masculine look OF the features |
In which the perfectly shaped figure end |
ed-was to feel a sensation oddly akin TO |
the helpless discomfort familiar to US all |
In sleep, when We recognize yet can not |
reconcile the anomalies and contradic- |
uons OF a dream.
Mr. Hartright?" said the lady. interro-
gatively, her dark face lighting up with |
a smile, and softeping and growing wom- |
anly the moment she began to speak. |
I'VE resigned all hope OF you last night. |
and went TO bed as usual. Accept my
apologies for our apparent want OF atten- |
ton; and allow me TO introduce myself as |
one OF your pupils. Shall we shake hands? |
I suppose We must come 10 II sooner or |
later-and why not sooner?'
These odd words OF welcome were |
spoken in a clear. ringing. pleasant voice. |
The offered hand-rather large, but beau |
ttfutfy formed--was given to me with the /