The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1903-04-14
THE WOMAN IN WHITE
BY WILLIAM w. COLLINS.
BY WILLIAM w. COLLINS.

! and ! had hardly spoken TO her then.
Another day at Iimmeridge was all that
I remained 10 me; and after that day my
eyes might never look on her again. This
thought was enough TO hold me at the
, window. | had sufficient consideration
! for her. 10 arrange the blind so that she
might not see me IL she looked up: but
/ ! had no strength 10 resist the tempta-
/ ton OF letting my eyes. at least follow
| her as far as they could on her walk
She was dressed in a brown cloak. with
plain black silk gown under 4. on
her head was the same simple straw hat
| which she had worn on the morning
when we first met. A veil was attached
TO IL now, which hid her face from me
by her side trotted little italian grey
mound. the pet companion OF all her
walks. smartly dressed I'm a scarlet cloth
wrapper to keep the sharp air from her
skin She di1 not seem TO notice the
dog She walked straight forward, with
her head dropping a little and her arms
folded I'm her cloak
The dead leaves which had whirled i'm
the wind before me, when had heard OF
her marriage gagement I'm the morning
whirled, In the wind before her. and rose
ana fell and scattered themselves at her
rect as she walked on I'm the pale waning
sunlight. The dog shivered and trembled.
ana pressed against her dress impa tient-
iy FOR notice and encouragement
But she never needed him She walked
on, further and further away from me
with the dead leaves whirling about her
on the path-walked on till my aching
ewes could see her no more. and was
left alone with my own heavy heart
In another hours time / had done nv
work, and the sunset was at hand / got
my hat and coat I'm the hall and slipped
out OF the house without meeting any
one.
The clouds were wild I'm the western
heaven, and the wind blew chill from the
sea. Far as the shore was, the sound Of
the SURF swept over the intervening moor
land. and beat drearily i'm my ears. when
! entered the church-yard Not a living
creature was In sight The place looked
lonelier than ever. as | chose my position.
and waited and watched. with my eyes on
the white cross that rose over Mrs. Fair
lies grave
The exposed situation OF the church
yard had Obliged mo 10 me cautious i'm
choosing the position that | was To oc-
cupy
The main entrance To the church was on
the side next TO the burial ground. and
the door was screened by porch walled
in on either side. After some little hesita-
ton caused by natural reluctance 10 con-
ceal myself. Indispensable az that con
cealmcnt was To the object I'm view. | had
resolved on entering the porch 4 loon
hole window was pierced I'm each OF It's
side walls. Through one OF these windows
] could SEQ Mrs. Falrlie's grave. The 9TH
er looked toward tho stone quarry I'm
which the sections cottage was built Re
fore me. fronting tho porch entrance. was
a patch of bare burial ground: 4
a line ~ low strong wall and \
q strip OF lonely brown Hill. with the sun /
set clouds sailing heavily over ~ before /
In" strong. steady wind No living Great 4
urc WAS visible orr audible-no bird flew |
by me. mo- dos harkod from the sections F.
cottage The pauscs IN the dull beating Of /
the surf were hllcd up by the dreary rust
ing ~ the dwarf trees near the grave.
ana the cold faint bubble Of the brook /
over its stony bed \ dreary scene and a
drcary hour My spirits sunk fast as
counted out the minutes OF the evening
.n my hidiugplaco under the church
porch
n was not twilight yct-the llght of the
settling sun still fingered On the heavens.
and llttlo moro than the first hair hour ~
my solitary watch had elapsed when /
heard Footsteps and a. voice The footsteps
were approaching from the other side ~
he church. ana the voice was wonnau's /
4A--ft-t fou fret,-fffN- dear about the let
er.' said the voice. ~ gave a. 10 the lad
iute safe. and the lad took n from mo
without n word. lie went his way aud
vent mine. and not n living soul follow
a me. afterward-that IN warrant"
These words strung up my attention to
pitch ~ expectation that was almost
'alniul There was q pause OF silence, but
he footsteps still advanced. In another
moment, two persons. both women. pass