The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1904-05-24
The
Second Wife
VOLUME II.
CHAPTER VI.

He sprung up 20 the box the servants
scrambied quickly TO their places. and
the impatient gray horses started on theii
homeward Journey. Inside the carriage
Lane leaned back IN her corner a very
different woman from the yelled girl who
had. a short while ago. sat In that same
corner dressed in simple white muslin.
with a heavy heart and aching head Now
I her costly brocaded bridal dress covered
the white satin cushions. jewels CLEANED
! In the coils OF her braided hair. and her
honest, beautiful eyes watched every
movement OF the manly form In front OF
her with a softened. chastened light In
them which told OF the happiness AZ her
heart.
The night was warm and still, and the
moon was bright; overhead the stars
shone down. blinking and glistening on
the pale. unseled-looking earth, while all
around light. misty veil seemed 20 hide
away In roundness every sharp outline
and distinct angle. AS they neared the
forest the grand old lindens appeared 10
group themselves into a deep shadowed
mass. under which the little fishing viii
lage disappeared into darkness. as n a
huge giant form from the north had
crushed II fiat TO the earth with touch
of his mighty hand.
Lame looked on these deep shadows as
they drove along, and their blackness and
stiffness. with the dark simmer OF the
lake close by. made her shudder and feel
nervous with a strange. indefinable terror.
She did not know that IL was under the
shadow OF those very trees, and by the
side of the same dark pool that her name
had been uttered before the duchess,
In order TO carry out lcng-meditated
scheme OF revenge. She did not know
this: but her breath came and went with
an anxious longing TO be out OF sight OF
the surroundings which hitherto had
brought her so much misery. Besides,
sitting there in her loneliness, with all
these shadows around her, n peculiar
presentiment crept over her that some
thing was going 10 happen. She
struggled against her thoughts. tried to
put away the useasy feelings which had
taken possession OF her. but II was OF
no use
She looked out OF the window once. and
saw the dim lights before them OF the
Hofmarsohalls carriage. and she re-
mcmbered with a shudder that, while her
husband was wrapping her cloak around
her shoulders I'm the anteroom. she had
caught sight OF the priest following the
Hofmnrschall like his shadow, and that
be was evidently returning to the castle
and hardihood to dare 10 present himself
under the same roof with her she could
not understand
An indefinable terror seized her and
they left the dark forest and the carriage
turned into the beautiful moonlit vale in
the vicinity OF the park. She saw again
the glistening lights OF the Holman
schalls oh-fashioned equdpage before II
rolled out OF sight under the portal of tho
nA
courage and strength OF mind she was
capable OF not 30 beg and entreat her
husband 10 drive past the castle, and take
her away at ones to Wolskershausen. or
anywhere else beyond the reach OF that
terrible man and his friend. the Hof-
marschail. The moment tho carriage
stood still at the castle porch, Frau Iohn
appeared at the door. as II she had
sprung from the earth
All was over an hour aao rracsous
madame, she whispered softly to IAene.
as she thrust her head In at the carriage
Window her breath seemed gone and her
paannor was excited. Thank God YOU are
coma. for he with the shaven head has re-
turned, and sure as fate he viii do his
pest TO make me give him that ornament
Tor the Hofmarschall; he tried It on the
first time
I viii come directly" replied Lame In
tho same low tone. springing from the
carriage as she spoke. while the woman
drew hack and returned TO the Indian
House over the gravel pathway.
Ldane knew that the moment had now
arrived In which ehe was compelled 10 in
form her husband Of the real truth of
wnat mad taken place Just before his un-
Gle Gisbert died. she must tell him every
ming; all that she had been told herself
by Frou Lohn. even TO the terribLe emf
sode In which the HofrnarschaIi had
played such an unnatural part.
she shrunk from the task ana ya. there
was no time TO be lost. as she thought TO
herself the priest, who would soon hear
or the death at the Indian House. dared
10 go down there and claim the orna ament
he had so often tried In vain TO steal from
the poor invalid.
ta1ne was sure that as soon as her hus- |
band was informed OF the fact OF sli that |
had transpired In reference TO the docu- |
nient concealed In the silver book. that
ne would accompany her 10 the Indian
house and take II himself from the dead !
hand
Raoul had not noticed Frau I,,hn.. sud |
den appearance at the carriage door. ana
as soon as ne had given the fiery animals |
I'm charge 10 the old groom, he gave his /
arm TO his young wffe and led her 1
through the vcstibuie toward her own
apartments
Wnen lney opened the doOr, both started i
with aStonishment. for the Hofmarschall /
stood by the table. on which a lamp was /
brightly burning. In an attitude OF impa-
tient expectancy
You must pardon me- madame for in- l
trudins into your apartments ne said, 4
In monotonousC politely cold tone: but \
iti is past ten O'Clock. and an was in \
doubt IL your husband would give me a i
few moments conversation. which I must |
have with him tonight. thought IL best
10 await his arrival here"
Raoul let fis wifes hand drop, and
walking hrmly toward his uncle. said.
quietly. but IN tone that showed he had |
no intention OF being trined with:
Here I am, uncle. Had you sent FOR
me. ] would have como up to your room
very willingly what do you WANT What
have you 10 say2r ~
What have 90 say7" repeated the old
man. In unconcealed fury. First and
foremost. I repudiate the title OF uncle.
You said this morning that you had torn
away the veil from before your ewes and
saw things Alright. and that therefore you
no longer feared those OF your own rank.
Now. beg TO say that am allhed 10 you
by blood and relationship. but the rent