The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1903-03-25
(COntlnued.)


She handed me my cup OF tea, laugh
ing gayly. Her light flow OF talk, and her
lively familiarity OF manner with a total
stranger, were accompanied by an unaf-
fected naturalness and an easy Unborn
confidence in herself and her position,
which would have secured her the respect
OF the most audacious man breathing
While e was impossible 20 be formal and
reserved in her company, 1t was more
than Impossible 70 take the faintest yes
tlgo or liberty with her. even in
thoreht / felt this instinctively. even
while / caught the infection or her own
bright gayety Of spir!ts-even while did
ny best 10 answer her In her own frank,
lively way
Yes yes" she said, when | had sug-
gested the only explanation j could offer,
TO account for my perplexed looks, II un-
dorstand. You are such a perfect stranger
in the house. tnat you are puzzled by
my familiar references 70 the worthy in
habitants. Natural enough: / ought to
have thought OF IL before. At any rate.
can set IL right now. Suppose 1 begin
with myself, so as to get done with that
part OF the subject as soon as possible?
MY name Is Marian Halcombe: and | am
as inaccurate as women usually are In
calling Mr.. Fairlie my uncle and Miss
Fsirlie my sister. My mother was twice
married; the first time To Mr. Halcombe.
my father: the second time to Mr.. Fair
lie. my half-sister's father Except that
We are both orphans. we are in every re-
spect as unlike each other as possible. My
father was "A poor man, and Miss FaIrlie's
father was a rich man. have got moth
ing and she has fortune. I am dark
ard ugly, and she Is fair and pretty. Ev-
erybody thinks me Grabbed and odd with
perfect Justice: and everybody thinks her
sweet-tempered and charming with more
justice stilD. In short, she Is an angel:
and I am-Try some OF that marmalade.
Mr.. Hartrtght. and finish the sentence. in
the name Of female propriety, for your
self What am ! 10 tell you about Mr..
Fairlie? Upon my honor, ! hardly know.
He Is sure to send for you after break
fast. and you can study him for yourself.
In the meantime, / may Inform you. first.
that he is the late Mr.. Fairlies younger
brother; secondly, that he In single
man; and, thirdly. that he is Miss Fair
lies guardian. ] won't live without her
and she can't live without me; and that
IL how I come TO be at Limmerdge
House. Ny sister and / are honestly fond
OF each other: which, you will say, IL
perfectly unaccountable, under the cir
cumstances and quite agree with you
but so it In. You must please both OF US.
Mr.. Hartrfght. or please neither or US,
and, what is still more trying. you will be
thrown entirely upon our society. Mrs
yesey In an excellent person. who pos
sesses all the cardinal virtues, and counts
for nothing: and Mr.. Fairlie In too great
an invalid to be a companion for anybody.
/ don't know what is the matter with
him, and the doctors don't know what is
the matter with him, and he doesn't know
himself what Is the matter with him. We
all say it's on the nerves. and we none
OF us know what we mean when we say
IL. However, / advise you to humor his
little pecuiiarities. when you see him to-
day. Admire his collection of coins. prints
and water-color drawings. and you will
win his heart. Upon my word. IL you can
be contented with quiet country life I
don't see why you should not get on very
we'll here. From breakfast TO lunch. Mr..
Fairlies drawings viii. occupy YOU. After
lunch. Miss Fairlie and shoulder our
sketch books. and go out TO misrepresent
nature. under your directions. Drawing Is
her favorite whim. mind. not mine. wom-
en- can't draw-their minds are too fiighty. !
and their eyes are too inattentive No
matter-my sister likes II: so waste
paint and spoil paper, for her sake, as
composedly as any woman In England. AS
for the evenings, | think we can help you
through them. Miss Fairlie plays delight
fully For my own part, don't know one
note OF music from the other; but I can
and with the inevitable female draw
backs) even at billiards as well. What do
you think OF the programme? Can you
reconcile yourself to our quiet, regular
life? or do you mean 10 be restless. and
secreteiy thirst for change and adventure,
In the humdrum atmosphere Of Limne-
ridge House?"
She had run on thus far In her grace
fully bantering way, with no other inter
ruptions on my part than the unimport-
ant replies which politeness required Of
me. The turn Of the expression. however,
in her last question or rather the one
chance word, adventure" lightly as Il
fell from her lips, recalled my thoughts
TO my meeting with the woman In white
and urged me 10 discover the connection
whiehthe= strangers -reference 10
Mrs. Fairlie Informed me must once have
existed between the nameless fugitive
from the ASYLUM, and the former mistress
OF Limmeridge house.
Even IL were the most restless OF
mankind" I said, 'I should be in no dan
ger of thirsting after adventures for
some time 10 come. The very night before
! arrived Mt this house I met with an ad- !
OF H.. can assure you. Miss Halcombe. !
Will last me for the whole term OF my
stay In Cumberland, IL not for n much |
longer period"
You don't say so. Mr.. Hartright, May
7 hear ito"
You have n claim 10 hear Il. The chief |
person In tho adventure was total |
stranger 10 me. and may perhaps be a