The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1903-05-28
lContinued.l J

lContinued.)
Il had seen nothing like madness In
her before this; but fancied saw It
now In her eyes. 1 only thought you
might not know ] was married. i saidre-
Wondering the wild letter she wrote to
nc at Limmeridge and trying TO quiet
her. She sighed bitterly, and turned away
from me. Not know you were married.!
she repeated. I am here because you are
married. l am here TO make atonement
20 you before I meet your mother In the
world beyond the grave She drew fur
ther and further away from me. till she
was oGt OF the hoat-house-and then she
watched and listened for a little while.
When she turned round TO speak again,
instead OF coming back. she stopped
where she was looking In at me. with
hand on each side OF the entrance. Did
you see me at the lake last night? she
said. Did you hear me following you in
the wood7 | have been waiting for days
together to speak 70 you alone-l have
left the only friend ! have in the world.
anxious and frightened about mel
have risked being shut up again In the
d-house-and all for your sake Miss
Fairlie, all for your sake. Her words
alarmed me- Marian. and yet there was
something In the way she spoke that
made me pity her with all my heart l
am sure my pity must have been sincere.
for il made me bold enough TO ask the
poor creature to come in. and sit down in
the boat-house by my side
Did she do so?''
No She shook her head. and told me
she must stop where she was. to watch
and listen. and see that no third person
surprised us And from first TO last. there
she waited at the entrance. with hand
on each side Of It; sometimes bending In
suddenly TO speak to me: sometimes
drawing back suddenly 10 look about her.
before
II came dark: and heard you, and the
lady With you. talking together. | heard
you tell her about your husband. | heard
you say YOU had no influence 10 make
him believe YOU. and no influence TO keep
him silent All, knew what those
words meant: my conscience told me
while ! was listening. Why did 7 ever let
YOU marry him. oh. my fear-my mad.
miserable. wicked fear! She covered up
her face In her poor worn shawl. and
moaned and murmured TO herself behind
It, ] began To be afraid she might brenk
ont into some terrible despair which
neither she nor I could master. Try TO
quiet Yourself / said: try 10 tell me how
you might have prevented my marriage
She took the shawl from her face, and
looked at me vacantly. 7 ought to have
had heart enough 10 stop at Limmeridee. :
she answered I ought never to have let
the news OF HIS coming there frighten me
away I ought TO have warned you and
saved yo~&efore 10 was too late. Why
did I only have courage enough 10 write
Won that letter? why did only do
harm when ! wanted and meant 10 do
good oh. my fear-my mad. miserable.
wicked fear" She repeated those words
again. and hid her face again In the end
OF her poor worn shawl II was dreadful
10 see her. and dreadful 10 hear her"
Surely. Laura. you asked what the
fear was which she dwelt on so earnest.
ly?"
Yes: I asked that"
And what did she say?'
"She asked me. IN return, IN ! should
not he afraid Of man who had shut me
up In a mad-house. and who would shut
me ND again n he could? I said. Are you
afraid still Surely you would not be
hero. N YOU were afraid nowT
NO she said. I am not
afraid now asked why not. She sud
denly bent forward into the boat-house
and said can't you guess why ] shook
my head. Look at me. she went on. /
told her I was grieved 20 SOC that she
looked very sorrowfu and very III. She
smiled for the ffrst' time. III? she re-
.peated:1'm dying. You know why I'm
not afraid OF him now Do you think I
fhafl meet your mother In heaven VIII
she forgive me. II dor ! was so shock
cd and so startled. that I could make no
replv. 7 have been thinking Of ~. she
went on all the time 7 have becr in hid
ing from your husband. all the time lay
III NV thoughts have driven me herc-1
want to make atonernent-l want 90 un-
do all I can of the harm once dii. ]
begged her az earnestly as I could 20 tell
me what she meant. She still looked at