The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1903-06-08
THE WOMAN IN WHITE
BY WILLIAM w. COLLINS.

you. As your wife. surely It is her in
terest 10 keep IT."
| rs IT. I'm coming to that. It might
be her interest II she cared two straws
| about me. But I happen to be an in
cmumbrance I'm the way OF another man.
| She was in love with him before she
married me-she's in love with him now
-an Internal vagabond OF a drawing
| master, named Hartright.".
my dear friend! what is there ex-
traordinary IN that? They are all In love
with some other man. Who gets the
| first OF a woman's heart? In all my ex-
perience I have never yet met with the
man who was Number One. Number
Two, sometimes. Number Three Four,
Five often. Number One, never, He
exists. OF course-but have not met
with him"
"wa,t! haven't done yet. Who do
you think helped Anne Catherick to get
the start when the people from the mad
house were after her? Hartright Who
do you think saw her again in Cumber-
land? Hartrght. Both times he spoke
to her alone. Stop! don't interrupt me.
The scoundrel's as sweet on my wife as
she rs on him. He knows the secret.
and she knows the secret. Once let them
both get together again. and It's her In
terest and his interest to turn their IN
formation against me-
Gently. Perctval-gently. Are you
insensdble to the virtue of Lady Glyde?"
That for the virtue OF Lady Clyde
believe In nothing about her but her
money. Don't you see how the case
stands? She might be harmless enough
by herself; but II she and that vagabond
Hartrght--"
Yes, yes. I see. Where is Mr.. Hart
right?"
"Out OF the country. II he means 10
keep whole skin on his bones, rec
ommend him not to come back in
hurry"
Are you sure II Is out OF the country?"
Certain. had him watched from the
time he left Cumberland to the time he
sailed. Oh. I've been careful, I can tell
you! Anne Catherick lived with some
people at a farmhouse near Limmeridge
j went there myself after she had given
me the slip. and made sure that they
knew nothing. gave her mother a
form OF letter to write Mss Halcombe.
generating me from any bad motive In
putting her under restraint. I've spent.
I'm afraid 10 say how much. in trying
to trace her. And, in spite OF II ALL
she turns up here. and escapes me ON
my own property! How do I know who
else may see her here. who else may
speak to her? That prying scoundrel.
Hartrfght, may come back without my
tomorrow"
Not he. Percival, While am on the
spot. and while that woman is in the
neighborhood, I will answer for our lay
Ing hands on her before Mr.. Hartright
--even IL he does come back. / see! yes
yes. see! The finding OF Anne Catherick
Is the first necessity; make your mind
easy about the rest. Your wife Is here.
under your thumb; Miss Halcombe is in
separable from her. and is. therefore,
under your thumb also; and Mr. Hart
right is out OF the country. This IN
visible Anne OF yours is all we have TO
think OF for the present. You have made
your inquiries?"
Yes. have been to her mother.
have ransacked the vilage-and all to no
purpose.
rs her mother to be depended on?"
Yes"
'she has told your secret once"
She won't tell It again"
why not? Are her own interests con-
cerned in keeping IT, as we'll as yours?"
Yes--deeply concerned"
Il am glad to hear II. Percival. for
your sake. Don't be discouraged my
friend. Our money matters. as I told
you leave me plenty OF time to turn
round IN; and I may search for Anne
Catherick tomorrow to better purpose
than you. One last question. before we
go TO bed"
What is it?"
1T is this. When l went to the boat
house TO tell Lady Clyde that the little
difficulty Of her signature was put of,
accident took me there In time to see
a strange woman parting in a very sus-
picious manner from your wife. But ac-
cidents did not bring me near enough to
see this same woman's face plainly. l
must know how TO recognize our invisible
Anne. What is she like?''
Like? Come! I'll tell you In two
words. She's sicky likeness OF my
wife"
The chair creaked. and the pillar shook
once more. The count was on his feet
again-this time in establishment
What ! :" he exclaimed eagerly
Fancy my wife, after a bad illness.
with touch of something wrong in her
head-and there Is Anne Catherick for
YOU" answered Sir Percival
Are they related to each other?"
Not a bit OF IT.
And yet so like?"
Eyes. so like. What are you laughing
about7'
There was no answer. and no sound
of any kind. The count was laughing in
his smooth. silent, internal way.
What are you laughing about?' reit-
Grated Sir Percival.
friend. Allow me my Italian humor-
do not come Of the Ilustrious nation
which invented the exhibition OF Punch?
Well. well. we'll, ] shall know Anne
Catherick when / see her--and so enough
for tonight. Make your mind easier. Per-
cival Sleep. my son. the sleep of the
just: and see what will do for you. wher
daylight comes. to help us both. | have
my projects and my plans here In my
big head. You shall pay those bills and
find Anne Catherick-my sacred word of
honor on IT, but you shall! Am l a
friend TO be treasured In the best corner
OF your heart, or am not7 Am l worth /
those loans of money which you so deli
cately reminded me Of a little while since7
Whatever you do never wound me in my
sentiments any more. Recognize them |
Percivall initiate them. Percival! for /
give you again; shake hands again. Good
night"