Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1890-03-20
the new address, when 1 sent up my
card2N
81 only noticed your name"


card?"
81 only noticed your name'
The doctor produced his pocket-book,
and took out second card. With pride
he pointed to the address: SO, Redburn
Road. Hampstead Heath" With pride
he looked at his black clothes. ''Strictlv
professional, isn't it?' he said. II have
bought new practice; and | have become
a new man. 1t isn't easy at first. No, by
jingO-I beg your pardon-I was about to
say, my own responsibility rather bOthers
me: shall get used to it in time. II you
will allow me, I'll take liberty. No Of
Tense, | hope?"
He produced Il handful of his cards, and
laid them out in a neat little semi-circle
on the table.
"a word of recommendation, when you
have the chance, would be a friendly act
on your part" he explained. Capital air
in Redburn Road, and fine view of the
Heath out of the garrett windowS-but it S
rather an cutoff he-way situation. Not
that | complain; beggars mustn't be
choosers. should have preferred prac-
tice in fashionable part of London; but
our little windfall of money!
He came to a full stop in the middle of
a sentence. The sale of the superb dia-
mond pin, by means of which Lord Harry
had repaid Mrs. Vimpany's services, was,
of Ill domestic events, the last which it
might be wise to mention in the presence
of Miss Henley. He was awkwardly sill
ent. Taking advantage of that circum-
stance, Iris introduced the subject in which
she felt interested.
''fow is Mrs. Vimpany?" she asked.
"Oh, she's all right!'
Does she like your new house?"
The doctor made a strange reply. II
really can't tell YOU" he said.
DO you mean that Mrs. Vimpany de-
c,ines to express an opinion?"
II laughed. ''In all my experience" he
Salu, II never met with a woman who did
that! No, no; the fact is. my wife and I
look so serious about it! IncOmpatibility
OF temper, as the saying is, has led US to
a friendly separation. Equally d relief
on both sides. She goes her way. and go
mine"
His tone disguised Iris-and she let
him see it. rs it of any use to ask you
for Mrs. Vimpany's address," she inQuir-
ed
His atrocious good-humor kept it's bal
ance as steadily as ever. Sorry to disap-
pc Mt you. Mrs. Vimpany hasn't given
me her address. Curious, isn't it? The
fact is, she moped a good deal after you
left us; talked of her duty, and the care of
her soul, and that sort of thing. When /
hear where she is I'll let you know with
pleasure. To the best of my belief, she's
doing nurses work somewhere"
Nurses work? What do you mean?'
"Oh, the right hing-all in the fashion
She belongs TO what they call a Sister
hood. Goes about, you know, in a shah
by black gown, with d poke bonnet. At
least. so Lord Harry told me the other
day"
In spite of herself, Iris betrayed the agi
taton which those words instantly reused
in her.
Lord Harry" she exclaimed. "Where
is he? In Londons"
.'YeS-at Parker's Hotel"
"When did he return?"
ooh, a few days ago; and-what do you
think?-he's come back from the gold fields
lucky man. Damn it, I've let the cat
out of the bag! | was to keep the thing a
secret from everybody, and from you most
particularly. He's got some surprise in
Store for YOU. Don't tell him what I've
done. We had a little misunderstanding.
in past days at Honey buzzard-au now
We are friends again, | don't want to lose
his lordshp'S interest"
Iris promised to be silent. But to know
that the wild lord was in England again,
and to remain in ignorance whether he
had or had not returned with the stain of
bloodshed on him, was more than she
cnu!l en@nra
There is one question l must ask you,''
she said. 81 have reason to fear that Lord
Harry left this country with purpose of
revenge"
Mr.. Vimpany wanted no further explain
alton. Yes, yes, | know. You may be
| easy about that There's been no mischief
/; done, either one way or the other. The
man he was after, when he landed in South
Africa Che told me so HIMSELF has escaped
| him."
With that reply the doctor got up in a
hurry to bring his visit to an end. He
proposed to take to flight, he remarked
facetiously, before Miss Henley wheedled
him into saying anything more.
After opening the door, however, he sud
denly returned to Iris, and added a last
word in the strictest confidence.
! IF you won't forget to recommend me
to your friends" he said. "I'll trust you