Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1889-09-13

/ She gave II TO her com panIOn.
Sedley looked at it and placed it in
his pocket.
Il shall call there as soon as I can
call as Mr.. Fancourt, " he said.
IF had known at the time that a
ring was missing, I should not have
owned to Pierre's visit, observed Mrs.
| LemOnt.
No, l suppose that you are not quite
| such fool as that" returned her COM
| paniOn roughly. And now are you
ready to leave here?''
Yes, am sure I have no wish to
stay-I'm sick of the place." the lady
! answered.
And yet you've had your fling, I
/ think, with your Internal extravaganza.
| / hope you have no debts. or it will be
| the worse for you" said Sedley, in the
| same harsh tone.
mo, | have no debts" Mrs. Lemont
| replied, with compressed lips and
heightened color. as if striving to con-
! troll her rising anger.
THAT is well so far Sedley remark
! ed. pray who is the last yictim?" he
! asked, with sheer, as he took up and
| laid down several little articles of bUOl-
terje on the table.
~ might ask the same question of
you, replied Mrs. LemOnt, her eyes
! flashing. But what is the use of re-
examinations? | have promised to do
| what you require of me-that is suf-
! ficient."
Has any one been here to-day?"
! Sedley asked, with an air of suspicion.
II told Perkins to admit no one but
| you" said Mrs. Lemont. what an
| idiot that Perkins isl Only I think he's
| tOlerably trustworthy, as things go. All
| me, is there one honest person in this
/ !. f1,,r. 1 \
Sedley's lips curled.
81 suppose people are honest or not,
just as it best serves their sturn," he
said.
! That is your maxim, know, my
! friend" Mrs. LemOnt remarked. with a
| scOrnful laugh, land therefore you can
not be surprised if [ do not altogether
trust you. How long is my Punishment
to last?"
How can I tell?" he demanded.
LET me get into my saddle first"
Julie Lemont fixed her bright black
| eyes upon him, as though she would
| look him through. lie WINGED under
| her gaze.
You would trick me if you could,
| but have care" she said. Remember,
[ have you in my power"
Sedley turned shade palCr.
IF any revelations as to the past
| would affect me, they would equally
| affect YOU, ma belle" he said, in voice
of talking in that way, Julie?' he con-
| tinued. "Only let me be secure-let
me get on the blind side of the old man
and then you will see. What has put
| it into your head that | want TO deceive
your"
Don't I know you?" cried Julie,
| with her eyes still fixed upon his face.
| Again SGdley WINGED.
You are not talking like a reaSOna-
| bic woman, Julie" he observed. you
| prOfcssed To see rs clearly as | did how
important it is that I should not dam
| age my prospects, that | should get to
| stand well with the Earl, and that [
| shouldn't just at first bring forward old
! connections. All this you agreed to-
| You also agreed to go to any place [
| might take for you, for three months
| perhaps, passing there as the widow of
relative. You can't deny this?"
81 don't wish to deny it," Julie re-
| turned. 81 am quite ready to fulfil my
! part of the bargain. Lord AIphington
! is old and inlirn, you say, and cannot
| live lOng-yOu will soon be your own
master. ! can wait; it would not be
for my interest that you should damage
! your prospects. | am no child to seize
a bauble before | am assured of its
worth. Only, remember, if you are
! Earl, | will be Countess of AlphingtOn,
or | shall know how to take my own
| measures. Don't you think | could
carry a cOronet well?' She lifted her
head as she spoke, as if she already felt
the weight of it on her brow.
Il think You have talent enough to
| carry anything well, and beauty enough
| too, Scdley replied, in a caioling tone.
| Il have taken nice little nest for you
! down in Surrey; only keep quiet there
| for while, and all will come right. BY
| Joy0," he went on, as if anxious to
! change the conversation, "AlphingtOn
| Park is a splendid place. had no idea
! how splendid till went down on Sum
| day just to have a look at it"
| Julie nodded.
! II know, she said, II too have been
| to have a look at it."
"NOuln SedIey exclaimed, in surprise.
YES, | have ways of hearing and
knowing more than you think perhaps"
| returned Julie, with what might be
| called malicious smile, as she observed
| her companions look of ANNOYANCE. II
! went down there one day, and hearing
| in the neighbOrhoOd that a housekeeper
was wanted at the Hall, | offered my
| self for the post; so you see | had a
| glimpse of the interior as well as ex-
terlor-and it is splendid place, as you
| saw
SCdley muttered an oath.
! ION, you needn't be under any
! alarm" said Mrs. Lemont. mo one
| could possibly have recognized Julie
! Lemont in the gray-hared, elderly
woman in not too fashionable dress Of
sober brown and a close bonnet. OF
course nothing came of it didn't in
tend there Should.n
Sedley brought his hand down on the
table with an oath.
This is sheer foOlery," he said
You II be playing these internal tricks
once too often"
And if any harm should come to me,
you'd be sorry, wouldn't you?n interrO-
gated Julie, derisively.
Sedley scowled and bit his lip. He
was beginning to be half afraid of this
woman. lie had believed he could turn
her round his finger, as he expressed it,
by her love for him, but the unpleasant |
doubt began to intrude as to whether
her love might last through so many
trials. lie had no more faith in CON
stancy than he had i'll honesty, and he
was perfectly well aware that. if Julie |
Iemont was passionate in her love.
she could he fierce in hate and revenge. |
lie began to urge her to prepare for |
! departure, and She. nothing 10th to
leave place of which she had become |
| utterly weary, proceeded to busy herself |
| IN collecting together the few articles |
that remained yet to be packed.
She was satisfied with the situation !
that Sedley had chosen for her: she had |
stipulated not to be too far from Lon |
don. She did not intend to lose sight of !
him, but rather TO keep watchful eve |
upon his movements.
lie, as he sat with his elbow on the |
table, and his head on his hand. as she |
moved To and fro, began to have a no. |
ton that it might become necessary to |
get rid of this wOman-if not by fair |
means, then by foul. He was going to |
begin new career, and those who |
knew too much of his antecedents |
would be better out Of the way. There |
was the constant drain upon him for |
money, too. He mathematical his rate |
that had imposed such an iucumhrance |
upon him; but the mode of freeing him
self from il doomed only vaguely in the /
distance. He determi0od upon nothing; |
it would all depend l., IN Julie. For
the present, at any rate, she would he |
safe-bound by her promise-and in the
! future some lucky chance might turn
up. and do for him what he had no wish |
! TO do for himself.
Thus his meditations ran, while Perk-
| ms, summoned by his mistress. set a