Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1890-07-17
because oh. Hugh! spare me-"

not. You were not present at Passy when
this conspiracy was hatched: you got there
after the funeral. You, naturally, went
to see the family solicitors Iris, what
will be observed that Hugh had not read
the let er written to the directors of the
COMPANY
DO you know about the money!"
certainly. You sent back all that you
could-ive thousand pounds That show
ed your own Innocence"
Hugh, you Know that | am guilty.n
The world will think that you are Juno
cent. At any rate. you can come out and
go ABOUT without fear. Tell me, what are
your pians?"
Il have no plans. only want to hide
my head, somewhere"
Yes. We viii talk about that pres
emily. Meantime, have some news for
you"
News? What news?"
Really good news. [ have to tell you q
thing which Will surprise YOU"
Good news! What good news is there
for me?"
Your husband has sent back the whole
of the money"
Sent it back9 To the Insurance Of
fice?'
All has been sent back He wrote two
letterS-one 20 the solicitors and the other
to the Insurance Company. 1t is not like
~ now that anything Can be said, because
the Directors have accented tho rne~--
moreover, IL appears tnat they might have
projected against the lawyers for the re-
covery of the money, but that they have
nothing do either with you or with Lord
Harry Norland. That is difficult point,
however. Somebody, it seems, has COM
pounded, or is going to compound, a fell
onv. ! do not understand exactly what
this means, or what dreadful consequences
might follow; but I am assured by the
law, ers that we need apprehend nothing
more. All is over"
Iris heaved a profound sigh.
'Then he 10 safe?' she said.
You think OF him first" said Hugh,
jealously. eyes: he is sa fe: and, do hope,
gone AVA, out of the country, never to
come back any more. The more import
ant thing is that you should be safe from
him. AS for the doctor-but l cannot
speak of the doctor with common patience.
Let him be left to the end which always
awaits such men. 1t is to be hoped that
he will never, wherever he goes, feel him
self in safety"
Il am safe said Iris mot only from
my husband, but from what else beside?
You know wha | mean. You mean that
], as well as my husband, am safe from
that. Oh! the fear of it has never left me
that am safe from public disgrace, and
| rejOice-when | ought to sink into the
earth with sEalner' She covered her face
with her hands
Iris, we know what you have done. We
also know why you did it. What need we
say more? The thing is finished and done
with. Let us never again allude it. The
question now is what will you do next?
Where will you live?"
II do not know. | have got Fanny Mere
with me. Mrs. Vimpany is also anxious
to live with me. am rich, indeed, since
have two faithful dependents and one
friend"
"In such wealth, Iris, you will always be
rich. Now listen seriously. | have villa
in the country. 1t is far away from Lon
don, in the Scottish Lowlands-quite out
Of the Way-remote even from tourists and
travellers. 1t is a very lonely place, but u
pretty house, with great garden behind
and stretch of sand and seashore in
fronG. There one may live completely iso-
lated. ! offer YOU that villa for your resi-
dence. Take it; live in it as long as you
please"
No, no. I mnst not accept such "a
gift"
You must, Iris-you shall. l ask it of
you as proof of friendship, and nothing
more. Only, fear that you will get tired
or the loneliness.
mo, no." she said. II cannot get tired
OF loneliness; it is all | want"
"There is no society at all"
Society? Society for me?"
II go to the neigh borhood sometimes
for fishing. You will let me call upon
your"
who else has such a right?"
"Then you will accept my offer?'
Il feel that l must. Yes, Hugh; yes,
with deepest gratitude"
The next day she went down by the
night-mail to Scotland. With her travelled
Mrs. Vimpany and Fanny Mere.
CHAPTER LvIII.-THE INvINCIBLEs.
The proceedings of Lord Harry after he
had sent off that check We're most remark
able. If he had Enthusiastically cOurted
what followed, he could not have acted
differently.
He left London and crossed over to Dub
lin.
Arrived there, he went to small hotel
entirely frequented by Irish-Americans
and their friends. 1t was suspected of be-
Jug the principal place of resort of the In
vincibles. 1t was known to be a house en-
tirely given up to the Nationalists He
made no attempt to conceal his name. He
entered the hotel, greeted the landlord
cheerfully, saluted the head waiter, order
ed his dinner and took no notice of the
sullen looks with which he was received
or the scowls which followed. him about
the coffee-roOm where half a 'Gozen men
were sitting and talking, for the most part
in whispers.
He slept there that night.
The next day, still openly and as if there
was nothing to fear, either from England
or from Ireland, he walked to The station
and took his ticket, paying no attention to
what all the world might have seen and
underStOOd-that he was watched. When
he had taken his ticket two men immedi-
ately afterwards took tickets for the same
place. The place where he was going
was that part of Kerry where the invinci-
HES had formerly SSinntp1 Artb -
MOuntjOy.
The two men who followed him-who
took their tickets for the same place
who got into the same carriage with him
were two members of that same fra
ternity. 1t is well known that he who
joins that bly, and afterwards leaves
it. or disc It's order, or is supposed to
betray its secrets, incurs the penalty of
death.
On the unexpected arrival of Lord Harry
at this hotel, there mad been hurrieuly
called together a meeting of those mem
bers then in Dublin. 1t was resolved that
the traitor must be removed. Lots We're
cast, and the lot fell upon one who remem-
bered past acts OF kindness done by Lord
Harry to his own people. He would lain
have been spared this business, but the
rules of the society are imperative. He
must obey.
1t Is the practice of the society when .
murder has been resolved upon to appoint
a second man, whose duty it is to accom-
pany the murderer and to see that he exc
cutes his task.
IN the afternoon, about an hour before
sunset, the train arrived at the station
where Lord Harry was to get down. The
station-master recognized him, and touch
ed his hat. Then he saw the two other
men get down after him, and he turned
pale.
Il will leave my portmanteau," said
Lord Harry, lin the cloak-rOOm. 1t will
be called for"
"a ct atiO0-DloStpr