Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1886-08-06
CHATTER XVIII

The divorced husband looked at his mother
in-law without making the slightest sacrifice
to the claims of pOlitcnesS. He neither of
tered his hand nor made his bow. Ills
frowning eyebrows, his flushed face, betrayed
the anger that was consuming him.
Il want to see Catherine" he said.
This deliberate rudeneSS proved to be the
very stimuant that was wanted 10 restore
Mrs. Presty to herself. The smile that al
ways meant mischief made its threatening
appearance on the old lady's face.
What sort of company have you been
keeping since last saw you?" she began.
What have you got to do with the COM
pany keepY'
Nothing whatever, l 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 rs 10 offend you. But it seems
mprobable-l am not your wife"
THANK God for thatr'
THANK God, rs you say. But | should
really be glad (as q mere matter of curiosity
to know what your extraordinary conduct
means. You present yourself in this room
uEnvted, you find a lady here, and you be-
have as if you had come into a shop and
wanted to ask the price of something. Let
me give you lesson in good manners. Oh
serve; receive you with bow, and | say:
How do you do, Mr.. Linley.' Do you un-
derStand me-
"l don't understand you'll want to see
Catherre?"
"Who is CatherineY'
You know as we'll as l do-your daugh-
ter"
MY daughter. sir, is a stranger to YOU
We will speak of her, II you please, by the
name-the illuStrious pame-which she in
herited at her birth. You wish to see Mrs
Ormond3"
Call her what you like. have word to
say to her, and mean to say it
mo, Mr.. Llnley, you won't say it,"
Wen see about thatl Where Is She%'
"My daughter is not we'll"
We'll or i'll, Sha'n't Keep her long"
My daughter has retired to her NOM"
Where is her roomS'
Mrs PreSty moved 10 the fireplace, and
laid her hand on the bell.
Are you aware that this house is a hotelr'
she asked.
ut doesn't matter 10 me what IL is"
oh yes, it does. A hotel keeps walters.
A hotel, when 1t is as large rs this has a
policeman in attendance. Must r,ng"'
The choice between giving way and being
disgrscefully dismissed from the hotel was
placed plainly before him. Herbert's life
had been the life of Sentleman; he knew
that he had forgotten himself; it was impos-
sible that he could hesitate.
II won't trouble you to ring" he said.
''and | will beg your pardon for having al
lpNyNi rb,
the same time it's 10 be remembered / think,
in my favor, that have had some provoca-
! ton"
II don't agree with YOU Mrs. Presty an
swered. She was deaf to any appeal for
mercy from Herbert Linley. AS to provo
cation, she added. returning to her chair
| without aSkin- him TO be seated, when you
| apply that word to yourself, you insult my
| daughter and me. You provoked Oh,
| heavens
You wouldn't say that" he urged, speak
| ing with marked restraint OF tone and man
ner, III you knew what have had to en-
/ dure-"
i Mrs, PreSty suddenly looked toward the
| door. Wait minute" she said, Il think |
I hear somebody coming In"
/ In the silence that followed, footsteps
! weFe audible outside-not approaching the
/ door, however, but retiring from it. Mrs
( Presty had apparently been mistaken.
/ Yes shessaid, 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
! ofkenses 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 b<en
| punished when his wife obtained her di-
/ yorce and separated him from his little
| daughter as well as from herselfs tNo; Mrs.
| Presty failed 10 see il; IL anybody had suf.
fered by the divorce. the victim was her In
| lured daughter.) Still patient, Herbert did
not deny the injury; he only submitted once