Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1886-07-29

keeping since last saw you"' she began
''What have you got to do with the COM
pany keep
Nothing whatever, [ am happy to say. |
was merely wondering whether you have
been travelling lately in the south part of
Africa, and have lived exclusively in the so.
ciety of HOt:entOtS. The only other explain
alton of your behavior is that | have been so
unfortunate as to offend you. But it seems
Improbable am not your wife"
Thank God for thatn'
THANK God, as you say But I should
really be glad (as mere matter OF curiosity
to know what your extraordinary conduct
means. You present yourself in this room
unlimited, you find lady here ana you be-
have as il you had. come into shop and
wanted to ask the price of something. Let
me give you a lesson in good manners. Oh
serve; receive you with bow, and [ say:
How do you do, Mr.. Linley.' Do you I'M
derstand me?'
Il don't understand you'll want to see
Catherine?'
"Who is Catherinew
"You know as we'll as l do-your daugh-
ter"
MY daughter, sir, is a stranger to you.
We will speak of her, if you please by the
name-the iIlustriouS name-whch she i'll
herted at her birth. You wish to see Mrs.
Ormond?'
Call her what you like. 1 have word to
say TO her, and L mean to say it"
NO, Mr.. Linley, you won't say ii"
well see about that! Where is she"
"My daughter is not We'll"
well or i'll, | sha'n't keep her long"
MY daughter has retired to her room"
'Where is her rOOm?'
Mrs. PreSty moved to the fireplace, and
laid her hand on the bell.
Are you aware that this house is hoteI?''
she asked.
"It doesn't matter to me what it is"
ooh yes it does. A hotel keeps walters.
A hotel, when it is as large as this, has a
policeman in attendance. Must | ring?'
The choice between giving way and being
disgracefully dismissed from the hotel was
placed plainly before him. IIcrbert'S life
had been the life of gentleman; he knew
that he had forgotten himself; it was impos-
sibe that he could hesitate.
Il won't trouble you to ring" he said,
"and l will be- your pardon for having al
lowed my tempe to get the better of me. At
the same time It's to be remembered, think,
in my favor, that have had some prOvOca-
ton"
Il don't agree with you," Mrs. Presty an
swered. She was deaf to any appeal for
mercy from Herbert Linley. LAS to provo
cation" she added, returning to her chair
without aSlinc him to be seated, when you
apply that word to yourself, you insult my
daughter and me. You provoked? On,
heavenS!'
You wouldn't say that" he urged, speak
ing with marked restraint of tone and man
net, IF you knew what l have had to en-
dure-'
Mrs. Presty suddenly looked toward the
door. ''Wait a minute" she said, Il think |
hear somebody coming in."
In the silence that followed, footsteps
were audible outSide-nOt approaching the
door, however, but retiring from it. Mrs.
PreSty had apparently been mistaken.
Yes" she.Said, reSignedly, permitting the
person who had intruded on her to proceed
He really had something to say for him
self, and he said it with sufficient modera-
ton. That he had been guilty of serious
otfenses he made no attempt to deny; but he
pleaded that he had not escaped without
justly suffering for what he had DONE He
had been entirely in the wrong when he
threatened to take his child away from her
mother by force Of law; but had he not been
punished when his wife obtained her d-
vorce, and separated him from his little
daughter as well as from herself? NO; Mrs
Presty failed to see it.; if anybody had suf-
tered by the divorce, the victim was her in
jured daughter.) Still patient, Herbert did
not deny the injury; he only submitted once
more that he had sufferedChis punishment
wit S,,Jn Sol
had or had not been a happy One he must
decline to say; he would only declare that it
had come to an end. She had left him. Yes,
she had left him forever. He had no wish
to persuade her to return to their guilty life;
they were both penitent, they were both
ashamed of it. But she had gone away
without the provision which he was bound
in honor to offer to her; she was friendlesS,
she might be in a condition of poverty too
dreadful to be contemplated-and that was
indeed bitter reflection to the man who had
misled her. (NIrs. Presty decided on stop
ping him there She had heard more than
enough of Sydney already)
Il see nothing to be gained" she said, ''by
dwelling on the past; and l should be glad
70 know why you have come to this place to-
night"
'Ihave come for two reasons. Ore of
them is to see Kitty"
''Quite out of the question"
Don't tell me that, Mrs. PreSty! Pm one
of the wretchedest men living, and ask for
the consolation of seeing my child. Kitty
hasn't forgotten me yet, | know. Her
mother can't be so cruel as to refuse She
shall fix her own time and send me away
when she likes; I'll submit to ANYTHING.
Will you ask Catherine to let me see Kitty?i'
1t was Impossible to consent to this-and
equally impossible to mention the reason for
refusing. Unwillingly, to do her justice,
Mrs. Presty passed over without reply the
just request, the touching request, that had
been addressed to her.
You have two reasons for coming here"
she reminded him. What is your other
reason?'
He declined to be ignored in that way.
''Will you ask Catherine to let me see Kitty?'
he repeated.
Il can't do it,"
He got up from his chair His face pre-.
sented the same expression which Mrs.
Prpsty had seen on it when he first entered
the room.
when l came in here" he said, Il told
you | wished to speak to Catherine. 1t
doesn't matter. l have got the information