Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1884-12-05

Or had she some private information
of the way things were tending In
that quarter7 One thing was certain,
the cause of Mr.. Coningsby not reply
ing to her mothers charge was now
evident; on consideration, he had
doubtless concluded that Mrs. Blunt
was better catch than the countess.
While Lady Mary was engaged in
these reflections, her mother awoke
She had been free from delirium for
some days past, and had noticed, and
been greatly touched by, the devo-
tons of her daughter. All traces of
their quarrel were gone; and mother
and daughter were on more affection
ate and confidential terms than they
had been since Lady Mary was a
child. Though by sad, regretful
expression that occasionally passed
over the countess face Lady Nary
knew she was thinking of her lost
lover and of the letter which had
caused her such pain, neither had
alluded once to the subject. On this
occasion, however, the countess sud
denly turned TO her daughter and
SAID: "Have you heard anything of
Mr.. Coningsby lately2"
''Not much. mamma" answered
Lady Mary, vaguely, and in an en-
barrassed way.
Has his engagement with Mrs.
Blunt been announced yet2' asked
the countess.
Lady Mary started. How did she
know of his engagement Was it
merely an inference from some infor-
nation she had before her illness
Or was it a delusion of her delirium
still remaining with herf Lady Mary
would have given the world to have
asked her one or two questions; but,
remembering the doctors orders, she
bent over her and, kissing her, said
Mamma, dear, you should not thin
of these things. They are all passed
now, Mr.. Coningsby will, I'm sure,
be here before long to see you.
"Never!" exclaimed the countess,
with strong vehemence. ''Never, with
my consent. He is a mean adventu-
rer-a fortune hunter of the lowest
kind. 1 always suspected as much,
but l willfully blinded myself. And
never thought he would be SO cold
blooded. Mrs. Blunt may have him
with all my heart"
Lady Mary was frightened at her
mothers passion. She endeavored to
calm her and to turn her thoughts to
some other subject. For time she
failed, and the countess continued
talking in broken and passionate
phrases, but she was very weak, and
soon became exhausted. Lady Mary,
who for some time feared that the
fever had returned breathed freely
once more when she saw her sink
back into sound and quiet sleep.
That night Lady Mary went back
TO her own bedroom, to sleep there TO,
the first time since she left it to nurse
her mother. The return to her old
ways induced her to reflect on all she
had recently gone through. In the
midst of her meditations she sudden
ly remembered that tho letter she had
stopped in transmission lay in that
room locked up wher: she placed il
on the day she perpetrated the fraud.
She took it out to destroy it. When
she saw it, and thought of all the suf-
fering it had caused, of the long days
and sleepless nights of fruitless repen-
lance and painful watching of the
weeks of sickness, when the shadow
of death seemed to be over the house,
and when she feared every moment
would make her natricide, she had
hardly the courage to touch it. She
had intended TO tear it up without
looking at it; but a strange curiosity
possessed her to read the last of her
mothers love letters, and, with
trem bling hands, she opened it.
When she glanced at the contents
she turned CHASTITY pale, and a mo.
ment afterward burst into bitter and
almost hysterical laughter. The note
she had stopped was her own.