The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1903-08-13
(Contlnued)

Baldassare Fosco: Count OF the Holy
Roman empire: knight grand cross ol
the Order OF Braxen Crown. perpetual
arch master OF the Rosicrucian Masons
OF Mesopotamia; attached Gin honorary
oapacities) TO societies musical. socie
ties medical. societies philosophical and
societies general benevolent. through
out Europe; etc. etc. etc.
THE COUNTS NARRATIVE
In the summer OF 1850 I arrived In
England. charged with q delicate political
mission from abroad Confidential per
sons were semi officially connected with
me, whose exertions i was authorized 20
direct-Monsieur and Madame Rubelle
being among the number. Some weeks
OF spare time were at my disposal before
I entered on my functions by establish
ing myself in the suburbs of London.
Curiosity may stop here 10 ask. some ex-
planation OF those functions on my part.
entirely sympathize with the request.
also regret that diplomatic reserve for
bids me to comply With H.
l arranged TO pass the preliminary pc
,rdod OF repose 10 which | have just re-
ferred. In the superb mansion OF my
late apented friend. Sir Percival Clyde.
lie arrived from the continent with his
wife. ! arrived from the continent with
mine. England Is the land OF domestic
happiness-how appropriately we entered
The bond of friendship which united
Percival and myself was strengthened
on this occasion by a touching similarity
IN the pecuniary position, on his side and
on mine. We both wanted money. I'm
mense necessity Universal want. ls
there n civilized human being who does
not feel for us? How insensible must
sthat man be. Or how rich
:. enter into no sordd particulars In
discussing this part OF the subject My
mind recoils from them With Roman
nusterity. | show my empty purse and
Percivars TO the shrinking public gaze
Let us allow the deplorable fact TO assert
itself. once for all, In that manner ana
pass on.
VIC were received at the mansion by the
magnificent creature who is inscribed on
nv heart as "Marian"-who Is known In
the colder atmosphere of society as MISS
Halcombe."
. Just Heaven with what inconceivaple
rapdity 7 learned TO adore that woman,
Al sixty. / worshipped her with the vol
eanic ardor OF eighteen. All the gold or
my rich nature was poured hopelessly at
her feet My wife-poor angel!-my wife
who adorcs me, got nothing but the
-shilings and the pennies. Such Is the
World: such man; such love What are
we Il ask) but puppets I'm show-boxE
Oh. omnipotent destiny, pull our strings
gently Dance us mercifully off our miser-
able little stage,
The preceding lines, rightly understood.
express an entire system OF philosophy
II is mine.
/ resume
20 g The domestic position at the commence
fnent OF our residence at Blackwater
Park has. been drawn with amazing accu-
fracy With profound mental insight, by
the hand Of Marian herself. pass me the
Intoxicating familiarity OF mentioning
- r4atNa
this sublime creature by her thristlan
irameD Accurate knowledge of the con- |
tents OF her journal--to which obtain j
ed access by cIandestine means. Unspeak- /
ably precious TO me I'm the remembrance
warns my eager pen from topics whlch \
this essentially exhaustive woman has al
ready made her own
The lnterests-interests, breathless and |
immense with which I am here con-
cerned begin with the deplorable calam-
ity OF Marians illness.
The situation at this period was en-
sphatically a serious one. Large sums Of
money due at q certain time, were want
ed by Percivai G say nothing of the mo-
dfcum equally necessary 10 MYSELF and
She one source 10 look to for supplying
them was the fortune OF his wife, OF
which not one farthing was at his dis
posal until her death. Bad. so far; and
worse stil further on. My lamented
friend had private troubles of his own.
ed attachment to him forbade me from
inauiring too curiously. | knew nothing
but that a woman, named Anne Gather
ick was hidden I'm the neighborhood; that
she was in communication with Lady
CLYDE: and that the disclosure Of a Sc
cret. which would be the certain ruin of
Percval might be the result. He had told
me himself that he was lost man, un-
less his wife was silenced, and unless
Anne Catherick was found. II he was a
lost man. what would become Of our pc
cuniary interests? Courageous as | am
by nature. absolutely trembled at the
idea!
= The whole force OF my intelligence was
now directed 10 the finding OF Anne Cath
eFick Our money affairs, important as
they were admitted OF delay-but the ne
cessity OF discovering tho woman admit
ted of none. | only knew her. by descrip-
ton. as presenting an extraordinary per-
sonal resemblance TO Lady CLYDE The
statement OF this curious fact-intended
merely TO assist me In Identifying the
person OF whom we were I'm search-when
coupled with the additional information
that Anne Catherick had escaped from n
mad house. started the first immense con-
ception in my mind. which subsequently
led TO such amazing results That con
ception involved nothing less than the
complete transformation Of two separate
Identities. Lady Clyde and Anne Gather
lex were 10 change names. places. and
destinies. the one with the other-the pro-
digious consequences contemplated ny
the change being the gain OF thirty
thousand pounds, and the eternal pres
ervation Of Sir Percivals secret
MY instincts (Which seldom err sug-
gested 10 me, on reviewing the circum-
stances. that our invisible Anne would,
sooner or later. return 10 the boathouse
~ Blackwater Lake. There I posted my
self. previously mentinoing 10 Mrs Mich
,lson. the housekeeper. that I might he
found when wanted. Immersed in study. :
IN that soiitory place n Is my rule never ;
10 make unnecessary mysteries and new
sr TO set people suspecting me for want 4
" a little seasonahle candor on my part.
,frs. Nicholson believed I'm me from FIRST
~ last This lady-like person (widow OF "A
priesp overflowed with faith.
Touched by such superfuty OF simple
In n woman or her mature
'ears. opened the ample reservoirs Of
ny nature. and absorbed 70 all