The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1903-04-18

disposal OF IT,"
We parted for the night
htef breakfast the next morning an
obstacle. which the events OF the even
ing before had put out OF my memory
interposed to prevent our proceeding I'm
mediately to the farm This was my
last day at Limmeridge house; and II was
necessary, as soon as the post came In.
TO follow Miss IIsleombc's advice, and
to ask Miss ,Fairlie's permission 70 short
en- my engagement by a month in con =
sideration OF an unforeseen necessity for
nv return to London.
Fortunately for the proba bility OF this
excuse. go far as appearances were con-
oerned, the post brought me two let
terS from London friends, that morning
| took them away at once to my own
room. and sent the servant with a mes
sage 10 Mr. Fairlie. requesting 10 know
when | could sec him on matter Of
business
! awaited the mans return free from
the slightest feeling OF anxiety about
the manner In which his master might
receive my application. With Mr. Fair
Hes leave or without II. must go The
consciousness OF having now taken the
first step on the dreary Journey which
WAS heneNfeFtA- A-te-separate my life from
Miss Fairie's seemed to have bluntsd
nected with myself | had done with my
poor mans touchy pride; had done
with all my little artist vanties. No
insolence OF Mr.. Fairlie's IL he chose
to be insolent, could wound me now.
The servant returned with a message
for which was not prepared Mr. Fair
lie regretted that the state OF his health
on that particular morning was such as
TO preclude all hope of his having the
pleasure OF receiving me- He begged
therefore. that | would accept his apollo
gies and kindly communicate what I
had to say in the form OF a letter. Sim
liar messages to this had reached me. al
various intervals. during my three
months residence In the house Through
out the whole Of that period Mr. Fairlie
had been retoiced TO possess" me hut
had never been we'll enough to see me
for a second time. The servant took
every fresh batch Of drawings that
and restored back to his master.
with my respects; and returned empty
handed. with Mr. Fairlie's kind com
pliments.' best thanks" and sincere
regrets" that the state Of his health stin
obliged him to remain n solitary prisoner
In his own room. A more satisfactory
arrangement on both sides could not
possibly have been adopted. II would
be hard 90 say which OF us under the
felt the most grateful |
sense OF obligation to Mr. Fairlies ac-
nerves.
i sat down at once To write the letter /
expressing myself in it as civilly. as
,learly and as briefly as possible. Mr.. /
Fairlie did not hurry to reply. Nearly an |
hour elapsed before the answer was /
,laced In my hands II was written /
With beautiful regularity and ncatness
u character. In violet -colorcd ink on I.
tote paper as smooth az ivory ard al
nest -as-th4el a. esfd-beafas-tAd "a ad-
lressed me IN these terms:
Mr. Fairlie's compliments 90 Mr.. Hart.
ight Nr. Fsiflle Is more surprised and
isarpolnted than he can say On the
q, sent state OF his health by Mr Hart.
ights application Mr.. Fairlie is not n
nan Of business but he has consulted
is steward. who is. and that person
onhrms Mr. Fairlie's opinion that Mr
request To be allowed 10
reak his engagement can not be iusti-
ed by any necessity whatever. except
ng perhaps. case OF life and death.
(To BE continued.D