The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1903-06-13
(Continued-)

me oratoricaliy--as II was laid up Il
the house OF commons. It was high tim
10 take a desperate. course OF some sort
1t was also high time to send for Louis
and adopt the precaution Of fumigatint
the room.
In this trying emergency an idea oc
CURED TO mean inestimable idea which
so to speak. killed two intrusive birds
with one stone. determined to get rid
OF the Counts tiresome eloquence. and OF
Lady Glyde's tiresome troubles. by com
plying with this odious foreigners re-
quest. and writing the letter at once.
There was not the least danger OF the
invitation being accepted. for there was
not the least chance that Laura would
consent 10 leave Biackwater park while
Marian was lying there Ill How this
charrningly convenient obstacle could
have escaped the officious penetration OF
the count was impossible TO conceive
but II had escaped HIM My dread that
he might yet discover II. II allowed him
any more time to think. stimulated me
10 such an amazing degree that 1 strug-
gied into a sitting position; seized really
seized the writing materials by my side;
and produced the latter as rapidly as II
] had been a common clerk In an ONCE.
Dearest Iaura-Please come, whenever
you like. Break the journey by sleeping
IN London at your aunts house Grieved
10 hear OF dear Marian's Illness. Ever
affectionateiy yours" I handed these
lines. at arms length. TO the count
sunk back In my chair-l said. Ex-
cuse me: I am entirely Frustrated;
can do no more VIII you rest and lunch
down stairs? Love 10 all. and sympathy
and so on. Good morning"
He made another speech. The man
was absolutely inexhaustible. closed
my eyes: I endeayored to hear az little
a. possible In spite OF my endeavors
I was obliged TO hear a great deal My
sisters endless husband congratulated
himself and congrat atulated me on the re-
suit of our interview; he mentioned
great deal more about hts sympathes
and mine; he deplored my miserable
health: he offered TO write me prescrfp-
tion be impressed on me the necessity
of light: ne accepted my obligfng invita-
ton 10 rest and lunch; he recommended
me TO expect Lady Clyde In two or three
days' time: he begged my permission TO
look forward to our next meeting, instead
of paining himself and paining me by
saying farewell; he added great deal
more, which. rejoice 10 think, did not
0IIenQ 10 HI INC tiluc, anu oo hOe fNhNth
her now I heard his sympathetic voice
travelling away from me by degrees
but large as he was. never heard him.
He had the negative merit OF being abso-
luteiy noiseless. I don't know when he
opened the door. or when he shut IL.
ventured to make use OF my eyes again.
after an interval OF silence, and he was
gone.
/ rang for Louis. and retired TO my
bathroom. Tepld water. strengthened
with aromatic vinegar, for myself, and
copious fumigation, for my STUDY, Were
the obvious precautions 70 take. and OF
course I adopted them. ! rejoice 10 say,
they proved successful enjoyed my
customary siests- I awoke moist and
cool. yr
NV f,rst inquiries were for the Count,
Had we really got rid OF him? Yes
he had gone away by the afternoon train.
Had he iunched: and. so. upon what?
Entirely upon fruit-tart and cream. Wnat
a mani What a digestionl
Am I expected to say anything more?
I believe not. believe ! have reached
the limits assigned 20 me. The shock
ing circumstances which happened at
later period. did not. ! am happy to say.
happen In my presence. l do beg and
entreat that nobody will be so very un-
feeling a. to lay any part OF the blame OF
those circumstances on me. / did every
thing for the best. ! am not answerabie
for a deplorable calamity which IL was
quite impossible TO foresee. / am shat
tered by Il: have suffered under II. as
nobody else has suffered. My servant.
outs (who Is attached to me, in his un-
intelligible way). thinks I shall never
ret over IT, He sees me debating at this
moment. with my handkerchief 10 my
ewes. wish TO mention. In justice 10
myseif. that II was not my fault, and
that i am quite exhausted and heart
broken. Need I say more7
THE STORY CONTINUED BY ELIZA
NICHOLSON, HOUSEKEBPER At
BLACKwATER PARK.
am asked 70 state plainly what i
know Of the progress OF Miss Halcombe's
illness. and OF the circumstances under
which Lady Clyde left Blackwater Park
Tor London.
The reason given for making this de-
mand on me is, that my testimony Is
wanted in the interests Of truth. As the
widow of a clergyman OF the Church OF
England (reduced by misfortune TO the
necessity OF accepting situatonO,
have been taught to place the claims OF
truth above all other considerations. L
therefore comply with request which
might otherwise, through rtiuctanCo u
connect myself with distressing family
n fairs. have hesitated TO grant.
/ made no memorandum at the time.
and can not. therefore. be sure TO day
OF the date, but believe am correct
IN stating that Miss Halcombe's serious
illness began during the last fortnight or
ten days In June The breakfast hour was
late at Biackwater Park-sometimes as
late as ten, never earlier than half past
nine. ON the morning 10 which am now
referring. Miss Halcombe (who was usu-
ally the frst TO come DOWN did not make
her appearance at the table. After the
family had waited a quarter OF an hour.
the upper house e-maid was sent 10 see af-
ter her. and came running out OF the
room dreadfuliy frightened. I met the
servant on tho stairs, and went at once
10 Miss Halcombe 10 see what was the
matter. The poor lady was Incapable OF
telling me. She was walking about her
room with a pen IN her hand. quite light
headed, in q state OF burning fever
Lady Clyde Cbeing no longer In Sir
Percivars service. I may, without i'm
propristy. mention my former mistress
by her name, instead OF calling her My
Lady, was the nrst 10 come In, from her
own bedroom Sne was 30 dreadfully
alarmed and distressed that she was
quite useless. The Count Fosco and his