Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1890-02-13

Harry. NO: none or your NONSENSE
won't have any more wine. Yes, I will
1t might hurt your feelings if | didn't
drink with you. Pass the bottle. Hal
That's nice ring you've got on your fin
ger. Perhaps you think it valuable? It's
nothing, sir: it's drOsS, it's dirt, compared
to my wife's diamond pinl There's a
jewel, if you like it! 1t will be worth a
fortune to US when we sell it. A gift,
dear sir. I'm afraid I've been too familiar
with you. Speaking as a born gentleman,
| beg to present my respects, and l call
you dear sir Did l tell you the diamond
pin was gift? It's nothing of the sort;
we are under no obligation; my wife, my
admirable wife, has earned that diamond
pin. By registered post; and what l call
a manly letter from Lord Harry. He is
deeply obliged q give you the sense of it)
by what my wife has done for him; ready
money is scarce with my lord; he sends
family jewel, with his love. Oh, I'm not
jealous. He's welcome to love Mrs. Vimp-
any, in her old age if he likes. Did you
say that, sir? Did you say that Lord Har
ry, or any man, was welcome to love Mrs.
Vimpany? | have great mind to throw
this bottle at your head. No, won't; it's
wasting good wine How kind of you to
give me good Winel Who are you? |
don't like dining with stranger. Do you
know any friend of mine? Do you know
a man named Mountjoy? Do you know
two men named Mountjoy? No; you
don'tl One of them is dead; killed by
those numbering scoundrels-what do you
call them? Eth, what?" The doctors
voice began to falter, his head dropped: he
slumbered suddenly, and woke suddenly,
and began talking again suddenly.
would you like to be made acquainted
with Lord Harry? Tll give you a sketch
of his character before [ introduce him.
Between ourselves, he's desperate
wretch. Do you know why he employed
my wife, my admirable wife? You will
agree with me; he ought to have looked
after his young woman himself. We've
got his young woman safe in our house.
A nice girl. Not my style; my medical
knowledge certifieS she's cold-blOoded.
Lord Harry has only to come over here
and find her Why the devil doesn't he
come? What is it keeps him in Ireland?
Do you know? L seem to have forgotten
My own belief is I've got sOftening of the
brain. What's good for sOftening OF the
brain? There isn't a doctor living who
won't tell you the right remedy-wine
Pass the wine. Ii this claret is worth a
farthing, it's worth a guinea bottle. i
ask you in confidence: did you ever hear
of such fool as my wife'S lord? His name
escapes me. No matter; he stops in Ire
handwriting. Hunting what? The fox!
Nothing SO noble: hunting asSassins. He's
got some grudge against one of them.
Means to kill one of them. A word in
your ear; they'll kill him. Do you ever
bet? Five 20 one he's dead man before
the week? Tuesday, Wednesday-nO Sat
urday-that's the beginning of the week
no, it isn't-the beginning of the week
isn't the Sabbath-Sunday, of course-we
are not Christians we are Jews-I mean
we are Jews, we are not ChristianS-1
mean"
The claret got the better of his tongue
at last. He mumbled and muttered: he
sank back in his chair; he chuckled; he
hiccoughed: he fell asleep
All and more than all that Mountjoy
feared he had now discovered In state
! of sobriety the doctor was probably one of
| those men who are always ready to lie.
| In state of intoXicatlon the utterances
of his drunken delirium might uncon-
sciously betray the truth. The reason
which he had given for Lord Harry's con-
tinued absence in Ireland could not be
| wisely rejected as unworthy of belief. 1t
was in the reckless nature of the wild lord
to put his own life in peril in the hope of
revenging Arthur MOuntjoy on the wretch
| who had killed him. Taking this bad news
| for granted was there any need to distress
| Iris by communicating the motive which
| detained Lord Harry in his own country?
! Surely not.
And, again, was there any immediate
advantage to be gained by revealing the
| true character of Mrs. Vimpany, as a spy,
/ and, worse still, spy who was paid? In
her present state of feeling Iris$would, in
! all probability, refuse to believe it.
Arriving at these conclusions, Hugh
! looked at the doctor snoring and choking
! in an easy-chair. He had not wasted the
! time and patience devoted to the strata
! gem which had now successfully reached
| its end. After what he had lust heard
Cna1rks to the c1aret-11e could not hesitate
to accomplish the speedy removal of Iris
| from Mr.. Vimpany'S house; using her
| fathers telegram as the only means OF
! persuasion on which it was possible to re-
! ". Mountjoy left the inn without cere-
| mony, and hurried away to Iris in the hope
! of inducing her to return to London with
! him that night.