The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1904-05-17
The
Second WIFE
VOLUME II.
CHAPTER III.

1HAl~ltlk III
"Thcn came the time when the master
was said 10 be dying" continued the
woman In a broken. wavering voice; "the |
Hofmarschau and the shaven head were
always by HIS side-they never left him
tin one day the Hofmarschall had such |
a severe cold he was forced 10 remain !
IN bed and the priest was called away
20 the town 10 administer the sacrament
To the Prince Adolf-and | am sure that
the good God ordained everything that
day-for no sooner was the priest out OF
the castle than my husband had one of
his giddy flts and could not raise his
head from his pillow. There / stood In
the bed room by the side OF the poor
master-I had 20 give him his medicine.
and just before l had drawn aside the
heavy curtains from the window 80 that
tho bright sun shone straight on the bed
and all at once he seemed 10 know me-
for he took my hands as II 10 thank mo
for what | was doing. In an instant a
thought flashed through my brain. said
10 myself. I'll risk IT, and away I flew.
the mass OF bushes over there by the
right wing. with my arm round my poor
lamb 20 keep her by me. We entered
the house by a small door near the iron
steps; no one saw us: no one had an Idea
that ! was doing that which, n the Hot-
marschall had known Il. would have
caused every servant In the place 20 De
packed or ] opened the door or the
red room. while my heart beat so loud |
could hear IL. and with cry that shall
never forget 20 my dying day, she rushed
In and throw herself on the bed. fool
young wifel IL was only when her race
was close 10 his that one saw how very
lovely and young she looked. She lald
her fresh apple-blossom cheek on the
IN Hfr nr
his neck as OF old. and began talking 10
him I'm her own language, which, or
course. ] couldn't understand at all, She
spoke faster and faster. and seemed 70
tell him everything that had happened
since his Illness. At first ne looked
gravely at her. but when she caressed
with her pretty hands his pale face ana
talked 20 him for a few moments. then
his owes grew dark and angry and the
blood flew into his face. and ne began 10
stroke her hair. and held her as tight 10
his side as his poor, weak strength would
allow OF. And then presently l had riy
say. and I. too. told him all t1at | had
on my heart; and what state II put
him I'm. madame / thought he would die
with anger and fury. He made every
effort TO speak: but II was OF no use:
he couldn't utter a word, for you see
the paralysis had rendered him speech
less. He wrote on n bit OF paper: Fetch
me lawyer at once;' but shook my
head and told him that was Impossible;
Re must have known II was. Then he
begar writing egaiH--the perspration
stood I'm drops on his forehead and
could see the effort II cost him 10 write
at all-but he looked anxiously at the
pretty creature by his side, and that
seemed TO give him strength
AT last IL was finished, and ! put be-
fore him sealing-wax and q light. lie
then made two great seals at the bottom
| OF the writing. and with that beautiful
! ring that he gave the Hofmarschal he
stamped them. though he was so weak
| that was obliged 10 help him press the
| ring into the wax 20 make the crest pro1
! duce a good impression. Then he folded
| Il and addressed IL, and looking again at
! the seals with his glasses, he nodded his
| head and handed the paper 20 me TO read
| aloud TO whom II was addressed. read:
! ITO Baron Raoul Mainau;' he signed 20
me TO keep It. when she there sprung up,
snatched Il out OF my hand. and kissed 1t
| franticafIy. With trembling fingers she
opened the little silver book she had
! hanging round her neck shook out its
contents, and placed the paper inside.
smile fitted over the masters face when
she did this. as II to say. that's as good
as any other. Then he kissed her again
and again for the last time on earth, as
he knew very we'll though she, poor dear,
take her away; but she wept bitterly and
did not want to go till he made her
sign with his finger then. like soft.
| gentle lamb. she obeyed him and came
' away. IL she had only always been as
docile! But having seen him once again.
she longed, | suppose, To he near him al
ways. and made herself III and wouldn't
look at her little baby; and one day she
| slipped away from me and flew over 10
I sh Ia ha Inff m n sci
/ her Just outside her husbands door. How
! II all came about can't tell you: whether
! she cried out and then he seized her by
| the throat, or whether be did II I'm nj
of rage and jealousy. because she had es-
| capped his pursuit and had found her
way 10 the masters apartments. that
| can't tell either. but he grasped her
/ slender throat and left her for dead IN
the corridor--he did. ma'am--I knew IT
/ from herself she made me understand It
well enough--though she has never been
| able 10 speak since For n long time she
was sensible enough In her head; the doc
| tor said Il was paralysis-the same "a the
/ master's-but she and ] and that old
wretch, the Hofmarschall. know better.
| Then one day the priest came down ana
| talked TO her, and | heard her cry out
suddenly-the agonized cry OF one who
had heard some terrible news-and after
! that didn't he go away quick! or course
never knew what ne said-some false
hood, I can guess, about her husband. for
she never was quite right In her head az
terward And now. gracious madame. as
have told you everything. VIII you re-
move from her bosom the little silver or
nament and take care of it?'
Now" cried Liane, In distress on
no: not now-uot yet-she breathes still.
though 7 know she is quite unconscious-
but should never forgive myself. never
n she were to open her eyes just as was
removing her dearest treasure, and be-
came conscious OF the act II would be