Dodge City times., 1890-05-30
ICOSTISUED.l 4

n q loss what to say or d0-and only gave
Q verbal answer. II sincerely thank MISS
Henley, and promise TO write when the
ship touches at Madeira" The servant
continued to watch him when he went on
board the steamer; saw him cast look
backward, as il suspecting that he might
have been followed: and then lost sight OF
him in the cabin. The vessel sailed after
o long interval of delay. but he never re-
appeared on the deck.
The ambiguous message sent to her
aroused the resentment of Iris; she thought
ft cruel For some weeks perhaps to
come she was condemned to remain in
doubt, and was left to endure the trial OF
her patience without having MountJoy at
hand to encourage and console her. He
had been called away to the South OF
France by the illness of his father.
But the fortunes of Miss Henley, at this
period of her life, had their brighter side.
She found reason to congratulate herself
on the reconciliation which had brought
her back to her father. Mr.. Henley had
but certainly with kindness. 'if we don't
get in each others way we shall DO very
well; am glad to see you again" That
was all he had said to her, but it meant
much from a soured and selfish man.
Her only domestic anxiety was caused
by another failure in the health OF her
maid.
The doctor declared that medical help
would be of no avail " hile Rhoda Bennett
remained in London. In the country she
had been born and bred, and TO the coun.
try she must return. Mr.. Henley's large
landed property, on the north of London,
happened to include n farm in the neigh
borhood Of Muswell Hill. Wisely waiting
for favorable opportunity. Iris alluded
to the good qualities which had made
Rhoda almost as much her friend as her
servant, and asked leave to remove the in
valid to the healthy air of the farm
Her anxiety about the recovery OF
servant SO astonished Mr.. Henley that he
was hurried (as he afterwards declared)
into granting his daughters request. At
ter the concession, the necessary arrange
meuts were easily made. The influence OF
Iris won the good will of the farmer and
his wife; Rhoda, as an expert and willing
needlewoman, being sure welcome.
for her own sake. in a family which in
cluded a number of young children. Miss
Henley had only to order her carriage, and
to be within reach of the farm. A week
seldom passed without a meeting between
the mistress and the maid.
In the mean time. Mountjoy tabsent in
France) did not forget to write to Iris.
His letters offered little hope of a speedy
return. The doctors had not concealed
from him that his fathers illness would
end fatally: but there were reserves OF
vital power still left, which might prolonS
the struggle. Under these melancholy
circumstances, he begged that Iri. would
write to him The oftener she could tell
him of the little events of her life at home
the more kindly she would brighten the
days of a dreary life.
Eager to show, even in trifiing matter,
how gratefully she appreciated MountJoy's
past kindness. Iris related the simple story
of her life at home. in weekly letters adj
dressed to her good friend. After telling
Hugh (among other things) of Rhoda's es-
tablishment at the farm, she had some un-
expected results to relate, which had fol-
lowed the attempt to provide herself with
. new maid.
Two young women had been successive
ly engaged-each recommended by the
lady whom she had last served, with that
utter disregard Of moral obligation which
appears to be shamelessly on the increase
in the England of our day. The first of
the two maids, described as ''rather excit-
able" revealed infirmities of temper which
suggested . lunatic asylum as the only 1T
place for her. The second young woman,
detected in stealing eau-de-cologne. and
using it (mixed with water) as an intoXi-
eating drink. claimed merciful construc-
ton OF her misconduct on the ground that
she had been misled by the example of her
Last mistress.
At the third attempt to provide herself
with a servant Iris was able to report the
discovery of a responsible person who
told the truth-an unmarried lady of mid
die age.
In this case. the young woman was de-
scribed as a servant thoroughly trained in
the performance of her duties, honest,
sober, industrious, of an even temper, and
uuprovided with "a follower" in the
shape Of a sweetheart. Even her name
sounded favorably in the ear of a stranger
1T was Fanny Mere. Iris asked how a
ssrEant, apparently possessed of a fault
less character, came to be in want of
situation. At this question the lady sigh
cd, and acknowledged that she had made
o dreadful discovery" relating to the past
life of her maid. 1t proved to be the old,
the miserably old, story of a broken prom
iss of marriage, and Of the penalty paid as
usual by the unhappy woman. II will say
lady explained. "In justice to the other
female servants. it was impossible for me
to keep such person in my house: and,
in Justice to you, l must most willingly
stand In the way of Fanny Mere's pros
poets by mentioning my reason for parting
with her."
"If could see the young woman and
speak to her." Iris said, Il should like to
decide the question of engaging her for
myself"
The lady knew the address Of her dis
charged servant, and, with some appear
ance of wonder, communicated it. Miss
Henley wrote at once, telling Fanny Mere
to come to her on the following day.
When she woke on the next morning,
later than usual, an event o-curred which
Iris had been impatiently eNpecting for
some time past. She found a letter watt
ing on her bedside table. side b. side with
her cup Of tea. Lord Harry had written
to her at last.
Whether he used his pen or his tongue,
the Irish lords conduct was always more
or less in need of an apology. Here were
the guilty ones new excuses, expressed in
his customary medley of frank confession
and howery language:
lam fearing. my angel, that have offend
cd you. You have too surely said TO yourself:
This miserable Harry might have made me
happy by writing two lines-and what does hc
dof He sends message in words which tell
me nothing.
Ny sweet girl. the reason why is that was
IN two minds when your man stopped me on
my way to the ship.
Whether it was best for you'll was not
or to take refuge in aGectionate co uivocstiou
was more than i could decide NJ the time.
when minutes are enough for your intelii-
gence, my stupidity wants days. welli saw
It 1t last A man owes the truth TO y true wo-
man; and you are true woman. There you
1nd process of reasoning-l have been nve
But tell me one thing first. Drutus killed a
man: Charlotte Corday killed a man. One If
tho two victims was q hne tyrant. and the
other Q mean tyrant. Nobody bsmes those
two historical aseaeeins. Why then blame ME
for wishing to make a third? lie mere mol
ern murderer beneath my vengeance by cum-
paFison with two classical tyrants who did
their murders by deputy? The man who kill
Cd Arthur Mountjoy ie next to Cain alone, the
most atrocious homicide that ever trod the
Diry ways OF this earth. There is my replyI
call IL . crusher.
30 now my mind is easy. Darling. let me
make your mind easy next.
when left you at the window of Vimpany's
house, was OF TO the other railroad 20 ind
the murderer in his hiding place by the sea
side He had left it; but got a trace. and
went back to London-to the docks Some
villain in Ireland who knows my purpose. must
have turned traitor. Anyhow, the wretch has
escaped me.
Yes; searched the ship in every corner.
He was not on board. Has he gone on before
me- BY an earlier vessel? Or has he directed
hie 6i9ht to some other part OF the world?
shall fnd out in time. His day of reckoning
win come, and he. too. shall know a violent
Aenthi Amen. Sc be IL. Amen.
Have done now? Bear with me, gentle
lris-there 10 Q word more to come
You viii wonder why ] went on by the
steamship p-all the way to South Africa-when
I had failed to ind the man wanted on bosri.
What Was my motiver You, you alone. are
alWays my motive. Lucky men have found
0nld lucky men have found diamonds Why