Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1890-06-26
CHAPTER L.-FANNY's NARRATIVE.

Fanny returned to London. Partly, the
slenderness Of her resources gave her NJ
c.oice; partly, she had learned all there
was to learn and would do no good by
staying longer at PdSSy.
Sac arrived with thirty shillings left
out of Mir. Mountjoy's timely gift. She
sought cheap lodging. and found room
among people VINO seemed respectful be
which She could have for four and six
pence Il week, with board at shilling
ua. This settled, she fastened to Mr.
Noun J3y's motel brimful of her news for
Mr.. V.mpan
Everyone knows the disaDDointment
wnen tie one person IN the world whom
yOu want at the moment to see and to talk
with proves To be out. Then the news has
got to be suppressed; the conclusions, the
suspicious the guesses have to be post
poucI; tue active brain falls back upon it.
self.
This disappointment-almo as great rs
that at Berne-was experienced by Fanny
Mere ut the hotel.
Mr.. MountiOv was no longer there.
The laudlady of the no eel, who knew
Fanny, came out herself and told her what
had happened.
He was better" she said, "hut still
weak. They sent him down to Scotland
in Mrs. Vimpany's care. He was to travel
by quick or slow stages, just as he felt
able And I've got the address for you.
Here it is. Oh! and Mrs. Vimpany left a
message. VIII YOU. she says, when you
write, send the letter to her aud not to
hi'ne She SAYS. YOU know Whv."
Fanny returned to her lodging profound
" discouraged She was filed with this
terrible secret that she had discovered.
The only man who could advise at this
juncture was Mr.. MOuntio-, and he was
gone. And she knew not what had become
of her mistress. What could she do. The
responsibility was more than she could
bear
The conversation with the French nurse
firmly established one thing in her mind.
The man who was buried in the cemetery
of Auteuil with the name of Lord Harr.
Norland on a headstone, the man who had
fingered so long with pulmonary disease,
was the man whose death she had wit
messed. 1t was Oxbye. the Dane. Of that
there could be no doubt. Equally there
was no doubt in her own mind that he had
been poisoned by the doctor-Mrs. Vimp-
any's husband-in the presence, and, to
all appearance. with the consent and full
knowledge of Lord Harry himself. Then
her mistress was in the power of these
two men-villains who had now added
murder to their other crimes. AS for her
self. she was alone, almost friendless in
week or two she would be penniless. If
she told her tale, what mischief might she
not do? If she was silent, what mischief
might not follow?
She sat down to write to the only friend
She had not been able to put the case plain
ly. Words failed her.
She was not at any time fluent with her
pen. She now found herself really unable
to convey any Ineligible account of what
had happened To state clearly all that
she knew so that the conclusion should be
obvious and patent to the reader would
have been at all times difficult, and was
now impossible. She could only conf1ne
herself to simple vague statement. 81
can only say that from all have seen and
heard | have reasons for believing that
Lord Harry is not dead at all" She felt
that this was feeble way of summing up,
but she was not at the moment equal to
more. ''When l write again, after l have
heard from you, | will tell you more. To-
down. / am afraid of saying too much.
Besides, have no money. and must look
for work. | am not anxious, however,
about my own future, because my lady
will not forsake me- am sure OF that. 1t
is my anxiety about her and the dreadful
7 secrets / have learned which give me no
rest"
Several days passed before the answer
came. And then it was an answer which
gave her little help.
II have no good news for you" she said.
"Mr MouDtjoy continues weak. What
| ever your secret, l cannot ask you to com
| municate it to him in his present condi-
ton. He has been grieved and angry be-
You'd all Deuef b. Lady Harry'S decision
| to l+join her husband. 1t is hard to I'M
| derstand that a man should be so true
| friend and so constant a lover. Yet he
| has brought himself to declare that he has
| broken off all friendly relations with her.
He could no longer endure London. 1t
was associated with thoughts and memo
ries of her. In spite Of his weak condition
he insisted on coming down here to his
Scotch villa. Ill as he was. he would
! brook no delay. We came down by very
| easy stages, stopping at Peterborough,
| York, Durham, Newcastle and Berwick
| at some places for one night, and others
| for more. IN spite of all my precautions,
| when we arrived at the villa he was dan
| gerously exhausted. l sent for the local
! doctor, who seems to know something.
| AT all events. he is wise enough to under
| stand that this is not case for drugs