The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1903-06-23
THE WOMAN IN WHITE
BY WILLIAM w. COLLINS.

mented us all and when he was quiet
at last, out he went into the bit or pack
garden, picking trumpery little nosegays.
and asking me TO take them upstairs ana
make the sick-room look pretty with
them. AS IL that did any good! think he
must have been. at times. little soft In
his head But he was not a bad master;
he had a monstrous civil tongue or MS
own, and jolly, easy. coaxing way with
him. / liked him a deal better than my
mistress. She was a hard one, II ever
there was hard one yet
Toward nighttime the lady reused up
a little. She had been so wearied out, be-
fore that, by the commissions. that she
never stirred hand or foot. or spoke a
word TO anybody. She moved In the bed
now, and stared about her at the room
and us In IT, She must have been nice
looking lady when we'll. with light hair
and blue eyes and all that. Her rest was
troubled at night-at least so heard
from my mistress, who sat up alone with
her. 7 only went in once before going to
bed 10 see IL I could be of any use, and
then she was talking to herself, I'm a con-
fused, rambling manner. She seemed TO
want sadly 10 speak TO somebody who
was absent from her somewhere. i
couldn't catch the name the first time,
and the second time master knocked at
the door. with his regular mouthful OF
questions. and another OF his trumpery
nosegays.
When | went in. early the next morn
ing. the lady was clean worn out again,
and lay I'm kind OF faint sleep Mr..
Goodricke brought his partner, Mr..
Garth, with him 10 advise. They said she
must not be disturbed out or her rest on
any account They asked my mistress
many questions. at the other en-. of the
room, about what the lady's health had
been in past times, and who had attend
ed her. and whether she had ever suffer
ed much and long together under distress
OF mind. I remember my mistress said.
YES" 10 that last question. And Mr..
Goodricke looked at Mr. Garth, and
shook his head. They seemed TO thing
that the distress might have something
to do with the mischief at the lady's
heart. She was but frail thing to look
at. poor creature! Very little strength at
any time / should say-very little
strength.
Later on the same morning. when she
woke, the lady took sudden turn. and
got seemingly a great deal better. | was
not let I'm again 10 see her. no more was
the housemaid, for the reason that she
was not 10 be disturbed by strangers.
What I heard OF her being better was
through my master He was I'm wonder
full good spirits abous the change, and /
looked in at the kitchen window from the
garden. with his great big curly-brlm-
med white hat on. to go out.
Good Mrs. Cook, says he Lady
Clyde is better. MY mind Is more easy
than IL was, and | am going out TO
stretch my big legs with a sunny little
summer walk. Shall I order for you
shall | market for you, Mrs. Cook? What
are you making there? A nice tart for
dinner? Much crust. IL you please-much
crisp crust, my dear. that melts and
crumbles in the mouth" That was his
way. He was past sixty, and fond of
pastry. Just think OF that
The doctor came in the forenoon, and
saw for himself that Lady Clyde had
woke UP better He forbid us to talk to
her or let her talk to us. I'm case she was
that way disposed. saying she must be
Kept quiet before all things. and en-
couraged to sleep as much as possible.
She did not seem to want to talk when
ever saw her--except over night. when
couldn't make out what she was saying
she seemed too much worn down. Mr..
Goodricke was not nearly In such good
spirits about her as master. He said
nothing when he came downstairs, ex-
cept that he would call again at five
o'clock
(To be continued)