The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1904-05-11
The
Second Wife
VOLUME III.
CHAPTER III.

CHAPTER II.
win you be good enough 20 speak
more plainly. Raoui?" ne said. drawing
UP his emaciated ngure as stinly and
proudly as he could. forgetting. in his
surprise and indignation, 10 use his
stick. For one moment his bodily weak
ness was absorbed in the nervous ten
sion necessary 20 combat this unexpect-
ed avowai on the part Of his nephew.
MY head Ia getting old. and not so
quick at seixing ideas as IT used to be-
VIII you explain what Is the upshot Of
all this you are saying?''
Certainly, my dear uncle. 1 mean sim
ply and decidedly that Gabr1ci shall not
be obliged TO become a monk or n mis-
sonaryv'
words had hardly passed his lips when a
stifed cry made him turn his head
quickly and spring over 20 the side OF
Mrs. Lohn. whose stout. square figure
tottered and reeled, as II about to fall
Lame also hastened TO her side. and
taking hold OF her arm. made her sit
down on the nearest chair.
Are you i'll. Lohn? inquired Raoui,
bending over the trembling woman, and
speaking kindly.
God forbid dear sir! I never before in
all my life felt so we'll as l do at this
blessed minute" she murmured, half
crying. half laughing only things
seemed 10 glitter suddenly before my
eyes, and with my stupid head thought
for a second that the heavens were fall
ing Oh, Lord. Father above. I thank
Theer she murmured. with a sigh. ns
she covered her crimson face with her
apron.
The Hofnfarschall darted piercing.
angry look AT the woman: for in spite of
the fury and rage that consumed him.
he wondered how q hireling dared cit I'm
HIS presence. and after declaring that
she was not I'll. why che did not imme-
diately stand on her feet again.
so Gabriel II not 70 become monk.
and not a missionary either?" he de-
manded. scorntully. turning away his
head, so as not 10 see such glaring
want Of becomingness on the part of
| servant Then may I be allowed to ask
what high position you have reserved
| nor this delicious specimen Of a mann
TITS OF no use 10 take that tone with
me- uncle. l have given way to II often
| longer. You know that hitherto have AL
ways dreaded TO be laughed at. and
shrunk like coward from the derision
| OF even my. relatives: but, thank God, /
have at last been able to rise above my
| weakness. and TO cease TO be Influenced
| by any such tone Now l tell you plainly
| that am quite convinced that Gabriel Is
my cousin. and what Is more, I mean to
acknowledge him as such. Now. II you.
as chief inh eritor of his fathers property,
will freely give him a portion OF your
fortune. good: II not no one can force
you TO refund the boy shilling. for In
| law he is not, OF course, entitled to It. as
| the marriage Of his parents was not a
| legal one. But I'm this case I don't mean
| 10 adhere to the clear course of the law.
but rather to do what think right. and
| to that end I shall give the lad his faith
er's name and bring him up to an hon
orable position: In short, mean to
adopt him.
The die was cast But the willy old man
who had listened with scarce concealed
| mpatience while his nephew spoke, was
not to be silenced by such manly,
| STRAIGHTFORWARD word. and In his usual
| cutting cold tone. he remarked. touch
| ing his forehead with an injured air:
'T can only think Of two things in my
poor old head to account for such pc
| culiar ideas as you are possessed with
| this morning Either you are Ill. or
| what I have been foreboding lately-you
have allowed yourself to fall hopelessly
within the snares OF your red-tressed
| lady I believe the latter the more un-
| fortunate for you. Woe be to you, Raoul! !!
| / know that kind of woman and her In
fuence. but, thank God, they are very
| rare and seldom to be met with. They
! can emit. like tho witches, phosphorfc
light from their flaming hair and beauu-
full white skin. and fan with cool breath
| flames that canSnever he uuenched. They
| have mind but no fervor In their soul
charming bewitchng words on their
s~la 1f
! sacred intensity of love. or the passion
ate self-forgetfuiness OF a true woman
You will have a purrotory here on earth
~ YOU put faith In her. I warn you! My
goodness. how pale you are, and
And no wonder, for my blood stands
still with CONSERVATION at such eTpses
Ions from your lips. As rule. l don
mind much what you say. but here on
yhjs subject. each words cut me 10 tne
heart like dagger. or rather a nse q blow ito,
on tho face. Uncle. must renina Sou
that your hair IL white"
we'll what am saying. and doing toN l
s,sr- roother and now take her to your
heart II you 40 choose-the heart tnat
never PROPERLY understood my Pious. deep
iv lov}nr chiid-my Valerie. As regards
Your new protege-the boy IN the lndisn
House-that's an affair that belong 70 the
Church Body and soul the boy Is ner
~ hold her own II you attempt to reclaim
him from her. Praise and honor be 10
those who serve her. for with their assist
snce she has conttrNally succeeded In
sibduing the most obstinate 70 her VIII.
and that. too. not with fndivtduaIs oniy.
hut with whole nations. You VIII have
! 10 give in. like all those who persecute
her and make a martyrdon or her ser-
| Vice, I'm the end we triumph
And he turned his back on his nepnew
but hardly had ne taken two steps, when.
striking his stick forcihly on the no'r'
he stood still and exclaimed
| 'Well, Iohn. haven't you rested lone