The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1903-04-21

the warm fragrance OF August evenings;
where we had admired together the myri-
ad combinations OF shade and sunlight
that dappled the ground at our feet. The
leaves fell about me from the grosning
branches. and the earthly decay In the
atmosphere chilled me TO the bones
little further on. and I was out of the
grounds and following the lane that
wound gently upward to the nearest hills.
The old feiled tree by the wsy-side. on
which he had sat TO rest was sodden
! with rain land the tuft of ferns and grass
es which / had drawn for her, nesting
under the rough stone wall in front of
us, had turned to a pool of water, stag
mating round an island OF draggled weeds.
gained the summit OF the hill. and
looked al the view which we had so often
admired I'm the happier time. 1t was
cold and barren-it was no longer the
view that remembered. The sunshine
OF her presence was far from me; the
charm OF her voice no longer murmured
in my ear. She had talked TO me, on
the spot from which | now looked down.
OF her IA ther, who was her last surviving
parent: had told me how fond OF each
other they had been. and how sadly she
missed him still. when she entered GER
tain rooms in the house. and when she
took up forgotten occupations and
amusements with which he had been as
ISOLATED Was the view that had seen.
while listening to those words, the view
that I saw now standing on the hilltop
by myself? 7 turned and left IL;
wound my way back again. over the
moor and round the sand-hills. down to
the beach. There was the white rage of
the surf. and the multitudious glory OF
the leaping wavcs-but where was the
place on which she had once drawn idle
figures with her parasol In the sand; the
place where we had sat together. while
h.R al al To ma
, home, while she asked me a woman's
minutely observant questions about my
mother and my sister and innocently
wondered whether / should ever leave my
lonely chambers and have wife and a
house OF my own7 Wind and wave had
1 long since smoothed out the trace OF her
| which she had left in those marks on the
! sand. | looked over the wide monotony
Of the seaside prospect, and the place
I In which we two had idled away the
( sunny hours was as lost TO me as II /
! had never known II, as strange to me as
| II I stood already on a foreign shore.
The empty silence OF the beach struck
cold 10 my heart. I returned 10 the
house and the garden. where traces were
/ left TO speak of her at every turn.
on the west terrace walk / met Mr..
/ Gilmore. He was evidently in search
OF me. for ne auickencd his pace when
We caught sight OF each other. The
I state Of my spirits little fitted me for
/ the society OF A. stranger. But the meet
I ing was Inevitable and 1 resigned myself
to make the best of IL.
you are the very person I wanted to
! see" said the old gentleman II had
two words TO say to you, my dear sir;
and. II you have no objection. I will avail
myself OF the present opportunity. To
/ put Il plainly. Miss Halcombe and have
4 been talking over family affairs-anairS
. w Of m heinE hare
/ and In the course OF our converse ton.
she was naturally led TO tell me OF this
unpleasant matter connected with the
anonymous letter and Of the share which
you have most creditably and properly
taken In the proceedings so far That
share. / quite understand. gives you an
interest which you might not otherwise
have felt. In knowing that the future
management Of the investigation. which
you have begun. will be placed In safe
hands Ny dear sir. you make yourself
quito easy on that point-it will be paced
I'm my hands"
You are In every way. Mr.. Gilmore.
( much litter 10 advise and TO act In the
matter than I am. Is Il an indiscrction.
, on my part. 10 ask II you have decided
yet on a course OF procccding7'
80 fnr as II ls possible 20 decide. Mr..
Harirlght. have decided. l mean TO
send a copy OF the letter. accompanied ny
a statement OF the circumstances. TO
I SIR PefcIva1 Glyde's solicitor IN London.
with whom I have some acquaintance.
The letter itself ] shall keep here. 20
show 10 Cir percival as soon "a he ar
rives The tracing of the two women. I
have already provided for. by sending one
OF Ar Fairics servants-a confidential
| person--to the station 90 make Inquiries
the man has his money and hts directions.
. and be will follow the women in the event
/ OF has lnding any clew.
Cro be ContinuedJ