Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1890-05-22

to influence Lady Harry, and ONLY pro-
ducing irritation as the result, Vimpanv
was exertlng stronger powers of per-
suasion in the effort to prejudice the
Irish lord against any proposal for recon-
ciliaFion which might reach him through
his wife.
Il find an unforgivng temper in your
charming lady, the doctor declared. ut
doesn't show itself on the surface my dear
fellow, but there it is. Take a wise adj
vantage of circumst ances-say you will
raise no 1ncOnvenient objections If she
wants separation by mutual consent.
Now don't misunderstood me. | only re-
commend the sort of separation which will
suit our convenience. You know as well
as do that you can whistle your wife back
again"
Mr. Vimpanys friend was rude enough
to interrupt him there.
81 call that a coarse way of putting it."
Lord Harry interpOsed.
PUT 1t how you like for Yourself" the
doctor rejoined. Lady Harr, may be
persuaded to come back to you when we
want her for our grand project. In the
meantime for ! am always considerable
man where women are concernetD we act
deilcately towards my lady in Sparing her
the discovery Of--Wnat shall 1 call our
coming nterprISc?-VeItu rc. ONE yllainy,
which might ruin you in your wife's
umatlOn. Do you see our situation now,
as 1T really is? Very well. Pass the bot
Il.
The next morning brought with it an
event which demolished the doctors in
genious arrangement for the dismissal of
Iris from the scene of action. Lord and
Lady Harry encountered each other acct
dentallv on the stairs.
DISTRESSING herself if she ventured to
look at him Iris turned her eyes away from
her husband. He msinterpreted the
ton as an expression Of contempt. Anger
at once inclined him to follow Mr. Vimp-
anv's advice
lie opened the door OF the dfntng-room,
empty at that moment, and told Iris
that he wished to speak with her. What
his villainous friend had suggested that
he should say, on the subject of separ-
alton, he now repeated with a repel1ent
firmness which he was far from really
feeling. The acting was bad, but the effect
was produced. For the first time his wife
spoke to him.
do YOU really mean it?" she asked.
The tone in which she said those words,
sadly and regretfulv telling it's tale of
uncomfortable surprise; the tender re-
membrance of past happy days in her
eyes: the qulvering pain, expressive of
wounded love- that parted her lips in the
effort to breathe freely, touched his
heart, try as he might in the wretched
pride Of the moment to conceal it. He was
silent
''If you are weary of our married life,"
she continued, SAY so, and let us part. |
will 90 away, without entreaties and with
out reproaches. Whatever pain | NAV
feel you shall not see itr' A passing flush
crossed her face and left it pale again.
She trrmbled under the consciousness of
returning love-the blind love that had so
cruelty miSled herl At q moment when
she most needed firmness, her heart was
sinking: she resisted, struggled, recover
ed herself. Quietly, and even firmly, she
claimed his decision. Does your silence
mean" she asked, that you wish me to
leave your
No man who had loved her as tenderly
as her husband had loved her coull have
resisted that touching self-control. He
answered his wife without uttering a
word-he held out his arms to her. The
fatal reconciliation was accomplished in
silence.
The post of the next morning brought
with ii two letters.
One of them bore the postmark of Lon
don. and was addressed TO Lady Harry
Norland. 1t was written by Mrs. Vimp-
any, and it contained few lines added by
Hugh Mountjoy. MY strength is slow
in returning to me-" he wrote; but my
kind and devoted nurse says that all dam
ger of infection Is at an end. You may
write again to your old friend if Lord
Harry sees no Objecion rs harmless as in
the happy past time. My weak hand be-
gins to tremble already. How glad shall
be to hear from you, it is, happily for me,
quite needless to add"
In her delight at receiving this good
news Iris impulsively assumed that her
husband would give it a kindly welcome
on his side. She insisted on reading the
letter to him. He said coldly, 81 am glad
to hear of Mr. Mount Joys recovery" and
took up the newspaper. Was this I'M
worthy jealousy still strong enough to
master him even ut that moment? His
wife had forgotten it. Why had he not
forgot, en- it, too?
On the same day Iris replied to Hugh.
wit No Il nnn nd off of th,
byGxone time before her marriage. After
closing and addressing the envelope, she
found that her small store Of postage
stamps was exhausted and sent for her
maid. Mr. Vimpany happened to pass the
open door of her room, while she was ask
ing for stamp; he heard Fanny say that
she was not able to accommodate her mis-
tress. ALLOW me to make myself useful"
the polite doctor suggested. He produced
"a stamp, and fixed it himself on the en-
velope. When he had proceeded on his
way downstairs, Fanny's distrust of him
insisted on expressing itself.
HE wanted to find out what person
you have written to-" she said. Let
me make your letter safe in the post" In
five minutes more 1t was in the box at the
office.
While these tritiing events were in
course OF progress, Mr.. Vimpany had gone
into the garden to read the second of the
two letters, delivered that morning, adj
dressed to himself. On her return from
the post-otfice Fanny had opportunities of
observing him while he was in the green
house, trying to revive the pershing flow.
erS-neglected in the past days of domes-
tic trouble.
Noticing her, after he had read his letter
over for the second time, Mr.. Vimpany
sent the maid into the cottage to say that
he wished to speak with her master. Lord
Harry joined him in the garden-looked
at the letter-and, handing it back, turned
away. The doctor. followed him, and
said something which seemed to be re
ceived with objection. Mr.. Fimpany
persisted nevertheless, and apparently
carried his point. The two gentlemen
consult ed the railway time bic, and hur.
ried away together, 20 catch the train &c
Paris
Fanny Mere returned to the conservatory
and absently Resumed ner employment
among the flowers. On what evil errand
had the doctor left the cottage' And why,
on this occasion. had he taken the master
with him?
The time had been when Fanny might
have tried to set these questions at rest
bv boldly following the two gentlemen
to Paris, trusting to her veil, to her luck
and to the choice of a separate carriage
in the train to escape notice. But although
her iIl-iudged interference with the do
mestic affairs of Lady Harry had been
forgiven, she had not been received again
into favor unreservedly. Conditions were
imposed which forbade her to express any
opinion on her masters conduct, and
which impera lively ordered her to leave
the protection of her mistress-if protec-
ton was really needed-in his lordship's
competent hands.
81 gratefully appreciate your kind in
tentions," Iris had said, with her custom