Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1890-03-27

look back at me, miss; Pm not joking. A
suicide with razor in his hand has gem
orally one chance in his razor-he is ig-
norant of anatomy. That is my lords
case. He has only cut through the upper
fleshy part of his throat, and has missed
the larger blood-vessels. Take my word
for it, he will do well enough now; thanks
to you, thanks to me, and thanks to his
| own ignorance. What do you say to that
way of putting it? Ha! my brains happen
to be in good working order to-day;
haven't been drinking any of Mr.. Mount
joys claret-do you take the joke, Miss
Henlev?"
Chuckling over the recollection of his
own drunken audacity, he happened to no
tice Fanny Mere.
.'Hullo! is this another injured person
in want of me? You're as white as sheet,
miss. If you're going to faint, do me a
favor-wait till | can get the brandy bot
tie Oh, it's natural to you, is it? l see.
A thick skin and slow circulation; you
will live to be an old woman. A friend
of yours, Miss Henley?"
Fanny answered cOmposedly for herself:
81 am Miss Henley's maid, SIR"
"What become of the other one?" Mr..
Vimpany asked. Aye? ave? Staying at
is she? If had been allowed time enough,
| would have made cure of Rhoda Ben
net. There isn't a medical man in En-
gland who knows more than [ do of the
nervous maladieS of wonderland what is
nv reward? Is my waitng-rOO cram
med with rich people coming to consult
me? Do | live in a fashionable Square?
Have / even been made Baronet? Damn
it beg your pardon. Miss Henley-but
it is irritating, to man of my capacity, to
be completely neglected. For the last
three DAYS not creature has darkened the
doors of this house. Could l say word
to yOu?"
He led Iris mysteriously into corner of
the room. about our friend downstairs"
he began.
'When may we hope that he will be
well again, Mr.. Vimpany?"
Maybe in three weeks. In a month at
most. / have nobody here but stupid
servant-girl. We ought to have a compe-
tent nurse. / can get thoroughly trained
person from the hospital; but there's a lit
tie difficulty. | am an outspoken man.
When am poor, l own l am poor. My
lord must be well fed; the nurse must be
weN fed. Would you mind advancing a
small loan, to provide beforehand for the
payment of eXpenses?"
Iris handed her purse to him, sick of the
sight of Mr.. Vimpany. 'Is that ALP" she
asked, making for the door.
Much obliged. That's ALL"
AS they approached the room on the
ground floor Iris stopped; her eyes rested
on the doctor. Even to that coarse crea-
ture the eloquent look spoke for her.
head aside. Over the maids white face
there passed darkly an expression of I'M
utterable contempt. Her mistress weak
ness had revealed itself-weakness for one
of the betrayers of women; weakness for
man. In the mean time, Mr.. Vimpany
(having got the money! was ready to hui
NOR the enviable young lady with we'll
filled purse.
DO you want to see my lord before
you go?" he asked, amused at the idea
Mind, you must not disturb him! No
talking and no crying. Ready Now,
look at him.
There he lay on shabby little sofa, in
an ugly little room; his eyes closed; one
helpless hand hanging down: stiffness On
his CHASTITY face, horribly suggestive of
the stiffness of death-there he lay, the
reckless victim of his love for the woman
who had desperately renowned him again
and again, VINO had now saved him for
the third time. All, how her treacher-
! Gus heart pleaded for himI Can you
drive him away from YOU after this? You
VINO love him, what does your c0id-UIoou-
ed prudence say, when you look at him
nows
She felt herself drawn, roughly and sud-
denly, back into the passage. The door
was closed: the doctor was whispering
to her. Hold up, miss! | expected bet
ter things of you. Come. come.--no faint
ing. You'll find him different man to-
morrow. Pay us visit and Judge for
yourself"
After what she had suffered. Iris hun
gered for sympathy. Isn't it pitiable?"
She said to her maid as they left the house.
Il don't know, miss"
You don't know? Good heavens, are
you made of stone? Have you no such
thing as heart in you?''
Not for the men," Fanny answered. 81
Keen nv nitv for the women"