The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1903-03-16

l.
This IL the story OF what a woman
patience can endure, and what man
resolution can achieve.
III the machinery OF the law could be de
pendod on TO fathom every case OF suspl
cion. and IN coneuct every process OF In
quiry with moderate assistance onl'
from the lubricating influences OF oil o
gold the events which All these page
might have claimed their share OF th'
public attention I'm a court Of justice.
But the law is still. in certain inevitable
cases, the pre-engaged servant OF th'
long purse and the story is left TO b'
told. for the first time. in this place. As
the Judge might snce have heard it. 81
the reader shall hear IL now. No circum'
stance OF Importance. from the beginning
TO tho end OF the disclosure. shall be
related on hearsay evidence. When the
writer OF these Introductory lines (Walter
Hartright. by name) happens TO be more
closely connected than others with the
incidents 10 be recorded. he will describe
them in his own person When his ex-
perience falls. he VIII retire from the
position of narrator, and his task VIII be
continued. from the point at which he
has left IL of, by other persons who can
speak TO the circumstances under notice
from their own knowledge, just as clearly
and positively as he has spoken before
them.
Thus. the story here presented will be
told by more than one pen, as the story
of an offense against the laws Is told IN
court by more than one witness-with the
same object In both cases. to present tho
truth always in it's most direct and most
intelligible aspect and To trace the course
OF one complete series OF events. by max
ing the persons who have been closely
connected with them. at each successive
stage. relate their own experience word
for word
Let walter Hartright. teacher of draw
ing. aged - years. be heard first
1t was the last day OF July. The long
hot summer was drawing to a close. and
we. the weary pilgrims of the London
pavement, were beginning To think OF
the cioud-shadows on the cornnelds and
the autumn breezes on the seashore.
For my own poor part, the fading sum
mer left me out OF health. out OF spirits,
and IL the truth must be told. out OF
money as well. During the past year I
had not managed my professional re-
sources as carefully as usual, and my ex-
travagance now limited me to the pros
pect OF spending the autumn economi-
cally between my mothers cottage az
Hampstead and my own chambers In
town.
The evening. I remember. was still and
cloudy: the London air was at its heav-
fest: the distant hum of the street traffic
was at Its faintest; the small pulse OF the
life within me and the great heart OF the
city around me seemed to be sinking In
unison. langudly and more languidly.
with the sinking sun. j reused myself
from the book which l was dreaming over
rather than reading and left my cham
bers to meet the cool night air In the
suburbs. IL was one OF the two evenings
In every week which I was accustomed TO
spend with my mother and my sister. So
turned my steps northward. i'm tho di-
rectfon OF Hampstead
Events which have yet 20 relate make
u necessary to mention in this place that
my father had been dead some years al
The period OF which | am now writing.
and that my sister Sarah and were the
sole survivors Of a family Of five children.
NV father was n drawing master before
me. His exertions had made him highly
successful In his profession. and his af-
fecuonate anxiety TO provide for the fu-
ture OF those who were dependent on his
labors had impelled him. from the time
OF his marriage. to devote 10 the insuring
~ his life much larger portion OF his
Income than most men consider IL neces-
sary to set aside for that purpose
Thanks 10 his admirable prudence and
self-denial. my mother and sister were
left. after his death as independent
the world as they had been during his
lifetime. I succeeded 10 his connection.
and had every reason 10 feel grateful
for the prospect that awaited me at my
starting In life.
fht Quttt lWlnknt was sun frrmh1nR
on the topmost ridges OF the heath; and
the view OF London below me had sunk
INTO black gulf in the shadow OF tho
cloudy night. when I stood before the
gate OF my mothers cottage had
hardly rung the bell. before the house
door was opened violently; my worthy
Italian friend, Professor Pesca. appear
ed In the servants place: and darted out
toyously 10 receive me with a shrlll fore
Ign parody on an English cheer
On his own account. and. / must be al
lowed TO add. on mine also. the Profes-
sor merits the honor OF n formal introduc-
uon Accident has made him the start
ns-point % the strange family story
which IL Is the purpose OF these pages 10
unfold
] had seen him risk his limbsh bindlyat
,tA'ish mend by meeting him at certain
great houses where he taught his own
language and taught drawing All I
then knew Of the history OF his life was.
mat ne had once held ? situation IN the
University of Padus: that he had left
italy for political reasons ithe nature
OF which he uniformly declined IN mon.
uon 70 any one). and that he had been
.V' many years respectfully established
an lohoon a. teacher OF languages.
Winout being actually a dwarf FOR be
vas perfectly well-proportioncd from b,.,o
10 foot-Pesca was. think. the smalles,
human being ] ever saw out OF a show
room Remarkable anywhere. BY hts
personal appearence. ne was stli fur
ther distinguished among the rank ana
ME OF mankind by the harmless eccen-
trcity Of his character. The ruling idea
OF ms nfe appeared 20 be. that ne was
bound 10 show his gratitude 60 the coun.
try which had afforded him an asvlum
and a means OF subsistence -hy--l,t-1r
his utmost 20 turn himself into an Fnr-
nshnan. Not content with paying the
nation In general the compliment of in
vnrfably carrying an umbrella. and in
vanably wearing gaiters and n white hat.
the Professor further ssp'red 20 become
an EnRiishmsn ia his hahts and am
usemenfs. az well az IN his personal ap-
rearsrc~ Finding us distinguished as
> nation. by our iove ~ athletic ever
eises the little man. IN the innocence