The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1903-04-20

81 AT OHcc tnht THIS was tne poIootoph
which had SO strangely affected Anne
Cstherick and I thought I saw In II.
also. the origin Of the letter which she
sent TO ur house next day"
l concluded al once that this was the
paragraph which had 80 strangely anec-
ted Annie Catherick; and thought 1 saw
in II. also the origin OF the letter which
she sent To our house next day
There can be no doubt In either case
But what did you hear about her second
attack OF faintness yesterday evening"
Nothing. The cause OF IL Is a com
plete mystery. There was no stranger I'm
the room. The only visitor was our
dairy ma Id, who. as l told you, is one OF
Mr.. Todd's daughters: and the only con-
versation was the usual gossip about To-
cal affairs They heard her cry out, and
saw her turn deadly pale without the
slightest apparent reason. Mrs. Todd
and Mrs. Clements took her up stairs: and
Mrs. Clements remained with her They
were heard talking together until long
after the usual bed time; and. carly this
morning Mrs. Clements took Mrs. Todd
aside and amazed her beyond all power
Of expression. by saying that they must
go The only eXpla ana ton that Mrs. Todd
could extract from her guest was. that
something had happened, which was not
the fault Of any one ~ the farm house,
Anne Catherick resolve 10 leave Limmor-
idge Immediately. II was quite useless
to press Mrs. Clements 10 be more expli-
cit She only shook her head and said
that for Anne's sake. she must beg and
pray that no one would question her All
she could repeat. with every appearance
OF being agita ted hers N. was that Anne
must go, that she must so with her. and
that the destina ton TO which they might
hot ha n
secret from everybody. I spare you the
recital OF Mrs Todd's hospitable remon-
stTances and refuSals. N ended in her
driving them both TO the nearest station,
more than three hours since. She tried
hard, on the way. To get them TO speak
more plainly, but without success. And
she sat them down outside the station
door so hurt and offended by the uncere
monlous abruptness OF their departure
and their unfriendly reluctance to place
the least confidence i'm her. that she
drove away I'm anger, without so much
as stopping to bid them goodbye. That
is exactly what mas taken place. Search
your own m mory. Mr.. Hartright. and
tell me II anything happened in the
burial ground yesterday which can at all
account for the extraordinary departure
OF those two women this MOI ning"
II should like TO account first, Miss
Halcombe. for the sudden change in Anne
Catherick which alarmed them at the
farm house. hours after she and l had
parted. and when time enough had elapsed
TO quiet any violent agitation that
might have been unfortunate enough TO
cause. Did you inquire particularly about
the gossip which was going on In the
room when she turned faintY
Eyes. But Mrs. Todd's household af-
fairs seem to have divided her attention
hat he IA
house parlor. She could only tell me
that II was just the news'-mesning
suppose. that they all talked as usual
about each other"
My suggestion was acted on the mo-
ment we returned 10 the house. Miss
Halcombe led me round to the servants
offices. and we found the girl In the dairy
with her sleeves tucked up to her
shoulders. cleaning a large milk pan, and
singing blithely over her work.
81 have brought this gentleman to see
your dairy. Hannah" said Miss Halcombe.
1T is one OF the sights Of the house, and
II always does yea credit"
The girl blushed and courtesied, and
said shyly, that she hoped she always
did her best TO keep things neat and
clean.
er's" Miss Halcombe continued You
you found visitors at the house1'
Yes. miss"
zone OF them WIS taken faint and III.
am told7 I suppose nothing was said
or done 10 frighten her? You were not
talking OF anything very terrible, were
you7''
"Oh, no. miss said the girl laughing.
1--WE were only talking Of the news
Your sisters told you the news at
Todd's corner. 1 supposeT'
Yes. miss
And you told them the news at Linn
mcridge house?''
''Yes. miss. And I'm quite sure moth
ing was said to frighten the poor little
thing. for l was talking when she was
taken III. II gave me quite turn. miss.
to see II. never having been taken faint
myself"
Before any questions could be put TO
her. she was called away TO receive a
basket OF eggs at the dairy door. As she
left us. I whispered to Miss Halcombe
Ask her II she happened to mention
last night that visitors were expected
at Limmeridge house"
(To BE Continued.)