The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1903-04-23
THE WOMAN IN WHITE
BY WILLIAM w. COLLINS.

combe in fitting terms; but all the fare
we'll words / would fain-haya spoken.
dwindled to one sentence.
Have / deserved that you should write
TO me?" was all could say.
You have nobly deserved everything
that I can do for you, as long as We both
live. Whatever the end is, you shall
know it,
And II can ever be OF help again.
at any future time, long after the mem
ory Of my presumption and my folly Is
/ forgotten"
| could add no more. My voice fall
tered, my eyes moistened. In spite of me.
| She caught me by both hands-she
| pressed them with the strong. steady
grasp OF a man--her dark eyes glttered
her brown complexion flushed deep
the force and energy OF her face giowed
beautiful with the pure inner light OF her
generosity and her pity.
Il will trust you-if ever the time
comes. l will trust you as my friend
and her friend: as my brother and her
brother" She stopped. drew me nearer
TO her-the fearless. noble creature
touched my forehead. sister-lke. with
her lips, and called me by my Christian
name. God bless you. Walter!' she
said. wait here alone. and compose
yourself-I had better not stay, for both
our sakes; had better see you go from
the balcony upstairs"
She left the room. turned away
toward the window. where nothing faced
me but the lonely autumn landscape-I
turned away to master myself, before l,
too. left the room In my turn, and left
! II forever
A minute passed--it could hardly have
been more--when 1 heard the door open
again softly, and the rustling of a wo-
mans dress on the carpet moved toward
me. My heart beat violently as turned
round Miss Fairlie was approaching me
! from the further end Of the room.
She stopped and hesitated when our
eyes met. and when she saw that we
| were alone. Then, with that courage
which women lose so often In the small
| emergency, and so seldom In the great.
she came on nearer TO me. strangely
pale and strangely quiet. drawing one
she walked and holding something at her
side in the other. which was hidden by
! the folds OF her dress.
II only went into the drawing ROOM"
/ she said. Ito look for this. Ii may remind
/ you OF your visit here. and OF the friends
you leave behind you. You told me
had improved very much when did 1T
/ and thought you might like it"
| She turned her head away, and Of
fered me little sketch drawn through
out by her own pencil. Of the summer
! house In which we had first met The
\ paper trembled I'm her hand as she held
/ Il out 10 me-trembled In mine, as took
! II from her.
! was afraid to say what felt--I only
/ answered: 1T shall never leave me: all
| my lifelong IL shall be the treasure that
prize most. ! am very grateful for u
| very grateful 10 you. for not letting
me go away without bidding YOU good
BILE"
OH she said. innocently. how could
I let you go after We have passed 80
many happy days together
Those days may never return, Miss
I Fairlle-my way OF life and yours are
very far apart. But " time should
/ come, when the devotion OF my whole
heart and soul and strength VIII give
/ YOU a moments happiness or spare you
! a moments sorrow. win you try 10 re-
member the poor drawing master who
has taught YOU? Miss Halcombe has
promised 20 trust me-will YOU promise,
too?"
! The farewell sadness I'm the kind blue
eyes shone dimiy through her gathering
/ tears.
II promise II. she said in broken tones
"Oh. don't look at me like that prom
ise IL with all my heart
/ l ventured a little nearer 70 her ana
held out my hand
You nave many friends who love
you Miss Falriie Your happy future is
] tha dear object of many hopes May i
say. at parting. that II Is the dear object
/ OF my hopes. too7"
The tears flowed fast down her cheeks
She rested one trembling hand on the
table 10 steady herself. while she gave
/ me the other. I took Il In mine-l held
Il fast. Ny head dropped over. my tears
/ fell on Il. my lips pressed it--not IN love;
\ oh not in love az that last moment
\ hut In the agony and the self abandon
ment OF despair