The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1904-04-19
The
Second WIFE
CHAPTER Y.
VOLUME III.


She knew Baron Msfnaus pirate room
very well for In the time OF the late wife
she had often passed through the suite
OF apartments when honoring with her
presence their various entertainments.
He stood near her. with quiet. half
amused expression beaming from his eyes
as he met her passionate gaze.
II can assure your highness that they
are all very carefully packed away" he
said. II am going on a long Journey, and
had no wish 10 leave these "reminiscences
TO be covered with dust and consigned TO
the careless hands OF servants"
But. papa, you have put my picture
IN the place where the old shoe stood"
remarked Leo. persistently: "and over IL
hangs the beautiful new picture mamma
painted"
Not at the duchess. not at his uncle.
did Raoul look az the child uttered these
words; but with a-swift, sudden move
ment ne turned hts head and glanced at
his young wife with "A panied. angry
expression In his countenance. That she
should have heard what little Leo said!
80 you took possession OF the picture.
Raoul7" cried his uncle. good-fpImoredly.
II must confess that / rather doubted
taken the picture back again. beg your
pardon. madame, for the doubt" He
nodded with mock,ng polteness toward
Lame. We'll. as far as l am concerned,
! am glad you have It. Raoul. Let IT re-
main In that window corner. But do you
know the price the artist valued II at her
self? Forty thalers-''
81 must beg very distinctly. uncle. that
YOU allow me TO value the compensation"
inf Qd af
old man frowned. for he feared his
nephew when he spoke In that determined
voice and manner.
The duchess and her lady sat silent
during this interchange OF sharp words
between the two men; but the priest
rose, and leaning against the back OF
his chair. folded his arms and stared
with deep, demoniacal glare at the
younger baron. as II he could detect and
discover some fearful hidden mystery in
his every word and movement
Good gracious. Rsoulp' cried the old
man. at last; don't be vexed about moth
ing. Why should YOU put yourself out
like that? / only wanted justice TO be
done"
Raoul looked at his uncle steadily for
a moment as he replied:
That l believe; only YOU have some
times a strange way OF expressing It,
No one would swear to your sense
OF honor sooner than / would. You are
the only living Mainau in whom l firmly
and implicitly believe. with all the pride
of the honor OF our house. Apropos.
talking of this. would you let me have
! look at the papers Uncle Gisbert wrote
when he was i'll and could not speak! |
Wolskershausen by that oil painting OF
| him there. IL is In shamefully dirty
! condition. and 1 mean to have IL re-
! stored. and by means of those papers he
/ can still speak 10 US"
Yes. / will give them, to you. You
don't wish for them now, do you?"
They are in the rococo cabinet there.
are they not?' He pointed 70 the piece
| OF furniture as he spoke. II you would
] kindly open the"
| The Hofmarschall rose and slowly crept
across the room, then opening the costly
carved drawer. where tho Countess
| Trachenbergs note was lying, he took the
pink bit Of paper daintily between his
| fingers and with a nendsh laugh held it
before the duchess, saying:
"A charming souvenir, your highness; a
mere rosy OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES more
yet IL Ia worth thousands TO me!'
He cast it back I'm it's place. and. taking
n thick roll OF papers tied round with n
black tape. he said, as he handed 1t to
his nephew:
There. my boy"
The young man unfastened the tape,
and the papers fell loose on the table
"Ah. here is the document referring to
Gabriel" he said, as he took out small
folded strip from inside the packet. II
suppose Il was the last wish OF the dying
man respecting the boy?"
1T was his last WILL replied the Hof-'
marschall, embarrassed. as he hobbled
back to his chair.
Raoul sorted several OF the papers and
aging them side by side on the tabl>
he remarked:
"It is really wonderful! Look here;
this last document was written. 7 have
been told, only two or three hours before
his death, and Yet II is tho same priin,
Grabbed handwriting aS the OtherS-not Il
bit changed or shaky, every comma and
stop as clear and correct as In all the
rest. The grip OF death certainly had no
power TO alter the firmness OF his hand.
| II is well II was so, otherwise this docu-
ment. written without any witness to
prove its identity. might easily have been
doubted"
The duchess curiosity was aroused. She
took the paper from Raoul's hand and
examined IL carefully.