The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1903-05-12

that she might have plenty of time TO
recover from the agitation produced by
the gift. before she appeared i'm Mr.. Fair
lies presence. Dear Laura was TO pay
him "A little visit that evening, and to be
Kind enough, again,s.not 10 make scene.
Dear Laura" was 10 look I'm once more.
for the third time, before going away.
but without narrowing his feelings by
saying when she was going away, and
without tears--"in the name OF pity, in
the name OF everything. dear Marian.
that is most affectionate and most do
nestle and most delightfully."- and charm
ingly self-composed. without tears?" |
was so exsspcrated by this miserable.
! selfish trfiing. at such time. that
should certainly have shocked Mr., Fair
by some Of the hardest and riidest truths
he had ever heard In his life. IL the ar
rival OF Mr. Arnold from Polesdean had
not called me away to new duties down
stairs.
The rest of the day Is indescribable. |
believe no one in the house really knew
how IL passed
The confusion Of small events. all hud-
died together one on the other. bewilder-
ed everybody There were dresses sent
home that had been forgotten: there
were trunks 10 be packed and unpacked
and packed again: there were presents
from friends far and near, friends high
and low. We were all needlessly hurried,
all nervously expectant of the morrow.
Sir Percival, especially. was too restless,
now TO remain five minutes together In
the same place. That short. sharp cough
OF his troubled him moro than ever He
was In and out-of- doors all day long; and
he seemed to grow so inouisitive, OF a
sudden. that he questioned the very
strangers who came on small crrands 10
the house. Add TO all this the one perpet-
usl thought in Laura's mind and mine.
| that we were TO part the next day. and
| the haunting dread. unexpressed by either
| OF us. and yet ever present TO both that
| this deplorable marriage might prove to
| he the one fatal error OF her life and the
| one hopeless sorrow OF mine. For the first
| time in all the years OF our close and
\ happy intercourse We almost avoided
/ looking each other I'm the face; and We
rcfrained. by common consent from
| speaking together I'm private through the
whole evening. I can dwell on IL no long
| er. Whatever future sorrows may he In
store for me. shall always look back on
this twenty-nrst Of December as the most
comfortless and most miserable day OF
/ my life.
| am writing these lines I'm the solitude
! OF my own room, long after midnight
[ having Just come back from a stolen look
at Laura I'm her pretty little white bed
the bed she has occupied since the days
! OF her girlhood.
There she lay, unconscious that 7 Was
looking at her-duiet more quiet than
had dared TO hope. but not sleeping The
gllmmer OF the night-light showed ms
that her eyes were only partially closed
the traces OF tears Rlistened between hei
eyellds. My little keepsake-only brooch
lay on tho table at her bedside with hei
prayerbook. and the miniature portrait oi
her father which she takes with hel
wherever she goes. | waited a moment
as she lay beneath me. with one arm
and hand resting on the white coverlet
so still. so quietly breathing. that tn
fril on her night dress never moved
waited looking at her. as have sect
her thousands OF times. as I shall neve
see her again--and then stole back 4
my room. NV own love- with all YOU
wealth. and all your beauty. how friend
less YOU are The one man who woul'
give his hearts life TO serve YOU II IA
away. tossing this stormy night. on tn
awful sea Who else Is left 90 you
No father. no brother-no living creatur
but the helpless useless woman VIII
writes these sad lines. and watches n
YOU for the morning. In sorrow that sh
cannot compose. In doubt that she can
not conquer oh. what trust Is TO b
placed in that mans hands tomorrow
II ever he forgets ~: II ever he inJure
! a hair of her head
The twenty second of December Seve
O'Clock a wild unsettled morning. sh
has Just risen-better and calmer. no'
. that the time has come. than she wa
yesterday.
Ten o'clock She dressed. We hav
kissed each other. we have promise
each other not 10 loose courage. I ~
, away for n moment In my own room.
the whirl and confusion Of IN