The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1903-06-03

1 MS wire ana nlmself, so 0lS-
turbed and confused me that the next
words failed on my lips. and stood there
! ir silence
II beg you on my knees to say no more.
Miss Halcombe; I am truly shocked that
you should have thought II necessary TO
say so much" With that polite speech
he took my hand--oh how despise my
self! oh, how little comfort there is even
In knowing that submitted to II for
Laura's sake!-he took my hand, and put
IL to his poisonous lips. Never did know
all my horror OF him till then. That in
nocent familiarity turned my blood as
| IL IL had been the vilest insult that a
man could offer me. Yet hid my dis
gust from him-I tried 10 smile---I. who
once mercilesslyla adesplsed deceit in other
women. was as false as the worst OF
them, as false as Judas whose lips had
touched my hand.
| could not have maintained my degrad-
ing self-control-it is all that redeems me
In my own estimation TO know that
| could motif he had still continued 10
| keep his eyes on my face. His wife's
| tigerish jealousy came 20 my rescue. and
forced his attention away from me the
! moment he possessed himself of my hand
Her cold blue eyes caught light: her duh
white cheeks flushed into bright color;
she looked years younger than her age,
In an instant.
Count" she said. Your foreign forms
Of politeness are not understood by Eng
lish women"
Pardon me. my angel! The best and
dearest English woman In the world un-
dertsands them" With those words he
dropped my hand. and quietly raised his
wife's hand TO his lips In place OF IL.
l ran back UP the stairs. TO take refuge
In my own room IL there had been time
70 think. my thoughts. when was alone
again. would have caused me bitter suf-
ferfng. But there was no time to think.
Happily for the preservation OF my calm
ness and my courage, there was time for
nothing but action.
The letters 10 the lawyer and to Mr.
Fairlie were still to be written, and
sat down at once. without a moments
hesitation. TO devote myself TO them
There was no multitude OF resources 10
perplex me-there was absolutely no one
to depend on, in the first instance, but
myself
Sir Percival had neither friends nor
relatives in tho neighborhood whose In
tercession i could attempt TO employ. He
was on the coldest terms-in some cases
on the worst terms-with the families OF
his own rank and station who lived near
him. We two women had neither father
nor brother to come 10 the house and
take our parts. There was no choice but
TO write those two doubtful letters. or TO
put Laura I'm the wrong and myself In
the wrong. and to make all peaceable ne
cretly escaping from Blackwater park.
Nothing but the most imminent personal
peril could justify our taking that second
and wrote them.
said nothing 10 the lawyer about Anne
Catherick because (as had already hint
ed to Laura) that topic was connected
with a mystery which we could not yet
explain. and which II would. therefore. be
useless to write about 10 a professional
ute Sir Percivai's dissraoefui conduct II
he pleased. to fresh disputes about money
matters. and simply consulted him on the
The eSena of her 1er
husbands refusal 10 allow her 10 leave
Blackwater park for time and return
to Mr.. Fairle for the details OF this last
arrangement assured him that | wrote
with Lanra's authority--and ! ended by
min Of 70 bs IN ner ana With
least possible loss OF time.
The letter TO Mr.. Fairlie occupied me
neb appealed to him On the
most likely TO make him bestir himself;
inclosed copy OF my letter to the law
yer. to show him how serious the case
Limmeridge as the only compromise /
which would prevent the danger and dis |
tress Of Laura's present position rom
herself. at no very distant time.
When had done and had sealed ana |
the two envelopes. went back
shot her that they were written.
HAS anybody disturbed your" I asked.
when she opened the door TO me.
Nobody has knocked" she replied. |
But | heard some one In the outer
room"
was IL a man or a woman"
"A woman. heard the rusthng of her
gown"
"A rustling like silk"
Yes. like silk"
Nine Fosco had evidently heen watch
Ing outside. The mischief she might do
by herelf was little TO be feared But
the mischief she might do as willing
in her husbands hands was
too formidable to he overlooked.
what became OF the rustiing of the
gown when YOU no longer heard IL in
the anteroom?" inquired ibid you
hear it go past your wall. along the pas
sagc:'
Yes. kept stil. and listened. and
lust heard It."
(which way did Il go?"
Toward your room
I considered again. The sound had
rot caught nv ears. But 7 was then
ieeply absorbed I'm my letters. and 7
write with a heavy hand and a quill pen.
'craping and scratching noisiy over tho
PAPER. II was more like that Nine
Fosco would hear the scrap.ng or my pen
han that ! should hear the rustllng OF
Ter dress Another reason Gf had
wanted one) for not trusting my let
ers TO the post-pag I'm the hall.
Laura saw me thinking. More difri-
ultiesl" she said. YEARLY: more diffl-
ulties and more dangers.'
No dangers" I replied Some rtte
ificulty. perhaps am thinking OF the
afest way OF putting my two letters into
'anny's hands"
You have really written them. them ,
On. Marian. run no rlsks-pray. pray.
un no risks,'
mo. mono fear Let me see--what ,
clock II II now?"
IL was quarter 10 elk There would
q time Tor nne to get to the village inn.
o come back again. before dinner. III
waited TIL the evening. I might find
o second opportunity of safely leaving :
he houre. :
Keep the key turned in the lock.
aura. ] SAID. and don't be afraid
bout me. " YOU hear any inquiries
,ade. call through the door. ana cav
n Il QrVa