The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1903-05-29
THE WOMAN IN WHITE
BY WILLIAM w. COLLINS.
(continued.l

When Jofned Laura again lounu that
she had called 10 mind. I'm my absence
the impending question OF the signature
10 the deed, which, I'm tho interest or
discussing her interview with Anne Cath
erick we had hitherto overlooked. Her
FIRST words, when / saw her. expressed
her surprise at tho absence of the expect
cd summons TO attend Sir Percival In the
library.
''You may make your mind easy on that
subject" | said. For the present. at
least. neither your resolution nor mine
will be exposed 10 any further trial. Sir
Percival has altered his plans. the busi-
ness OF the signature Is put on
Put off?" Laura repeated. amazedly.
swho told you so?"
MY authority is Count Fosco. be-
hege IL is TO his interference that we
are indebted for your husbands sudden
change OF purpose"
'Tt seems impossible, Marian. II he
object OF my signing was, as we suppose.
90 obtain money for Sir Percival that he
urgently wanted, how can the matter be
put off?'
.I think, Laura. we have the means al
hand OF settling that doubt at rest Have
you forgotten the conversation that l
heard between SIR Percival and the law
yer. as they were crossing the hai?'
mo: but / don't remember"
sT do There were two alternatives
ture to the parchment. The. other was
10 gain time by giving bills at three
months. The last resource is evidently
the resource now adopted-and We may
fairly hope TO be relieved from our share
in Sir Percivars embarrassments for
some time 10 come"
"Oh. Marian. il sounds too good to be
truer
Does II. my love? You complimented
me on my ready memory not long since
but you seem 10 doubt II now ] will
get my journal and you shall see IL /
an right or wrong.
went away and got the book at once
On looking back to the entry referr-
ing TO the lawyers visit, we found that
my recollection of the two alternatives
presented was accurately correct. 1t
was almost as great a relief to my mind
as to Laura's, TO find that my memory
had served me- on this occasion. as faith
fully as usual. In the perious uncer-
tainty of our present situation, IL Is hard
40 say what future interests may not de-
pend upon the regularity of the entries
in my journal. and upon the reliability
sf my recollection at the time when i
make them.
Laurais face and manner suggested to-
me that this last consideration had oc-
CURED to her as well as to myself. Any
way, IL Is only trifiing matter: and /
am almost ashamed 10 put It down here
in writing-it seems TO set the forlorn-
ness of our situation in such miserably
vivid light. We must have little indeed
20 depend on, when the discovery that
my memory can still be trusted to serve
us Is hailed as II It was the discovery
of new friend. hr.
The first bell for dinner separated MS.
Just as II had done ringing. Sir Percival
and the Count returned from their walk.
We heard the master OF the house storm
ing at the servants for being five minutes
late; and the masters guest interposing,
as usual. in the interests of propriety, pa
thence and peace.
The evening has come and gone. No
extraordinary event has happened But
j have noticed certain peculiarfties i'm the
conduct OF Sir Percival and the count.
which have sent me TO my bed feeling
very anxious and uneasy about Anne
.Catherick, and about the results which
tomorrow may produce.
] know enough by this time to be sure
that the aspect of Sir Percval. which Is
the most false. and, which. therefore,
means the worst is his polite aspect.
That long walk with his friend had ended
in improving his manners. especially to-
ward his wife. To Laura's secret sur
prise and to my secret alarm, he called
her by her Christian name asked II she
had heard lately from her uncle. in
Qufred when Mrs. Vesey was TO receive
her invitation TO Blackwater. and showed
her so many other littel attentions that
he almost recalled the days OF his hate
full courtshp at Limmeridge House This
was a bad sign to begin with. and l
thought II more ominous still that he
should pretenr, after dinner. TO
fall asleep IN the dra wing ROOM
and that his eyes should cunnngly follow
Laura and me, when he thought we
neither of us suspected him. / have
never had any doubt that his sudden
journey by himself too khim TO Welmlng-
ham to question Mrs. catherick: but the
experience of tonight has made me fear
that the expedition was not undertaken
in vain and that he has got the informa-
tion which he unquestionably left us 10
collect II knew where Anne Catherick
was 10 be found | would be up tomorrow
with sunrise, and warn her.
While the aspect under which Sir Per-
civai presented himself tonight was UNI
happily but too familiar to me. the aspect
under which the count appeared was, on
the other hand, entirely new In my ex-
perience OF him. He permitted me this |
evening TO make his acquaintance. for /
the first time I'm the character OF Man (
of Sentiment-of sentiment. as | believe. !
really felt. not assumed for the occasion /
For instance. he was quiet and subdued /
his eyes and his votc expressed a restrain
ed sensibility. He wore Gas II there was /
some hidden connection between his /
showtest 'inery and his deepest feeling) 1
the most magnificent waist-coat he has |
yet appeared init was made OF a pale /
sea-green silk. and deiicately trimmed l
with fine silver braid. His voice sunk /
into the tenderest infections his smile /
expressed a thoughtful. fatherly admira- /
ton whenever he spoke 10 Laura or me.
tie pressed his wife's hand under the l
table when she thanked him for triflng /
little attentions at dinner lie took wine /
with her. Your health and happiness.
my angell' he sad with fond glistening
eyes. He ate little or nothing; and |
signed. and said. Good Percival,' when |
ms friend laughed at him After dinner.
nc tok Laura by the hand ana asked
her " she would be"so sweet as 20 play
IN him" She complied. through sheer
astonishment He sat by the piano.
with his watch chain resting IN fo,as
Ike golden serpent. on the sea-green
protuberance of his waistcoat. His i'm
nense head lay languidly on one sldo:
and he gently beat time VIII two ~ hts