Dodge City times., 1890-06-20

which he had been treated. Miss Henley
had not trusted him with her new ad-
dress in London: and Lord Harry had sud
denly left Redburn Road. bidding his host
good-by in n few lines of commonplace
apology, and nothing more. Mr.. Vimp-
any did not deny that he had been paia
for his medical services: but, he would
ask, was nothing due to friendship. Was
. one man justified in enjoying another
mans hospitality, and then treating him
like a stranger, al have done with them
bOth-and recommend you, my dear sir,
to follow my example," In those terms
the angry land sober doctor expressed his
sentiments and offered his advice.
MOun;joy laid down the letter in de-
spair.
His last poor chance of preventing the
marriage, depended on his being still able
to communicate with IriS-and she was rs
completely lost to him as If she had taken
flight to the other end of the world. IL
might have been possible to discover her
by following the movements of Lord Har-
~, but he too had disappeared without
leaving a trace behind him. The precious
hours and days were pasSing-and Hugh
was absolutely helpless
Tortured by anxiety and suspense, he
still fingered at the hotel in London.
More than once he decided on giving up
the struggle, and returning to his pretty
deferred taking the journey. At one time,
he dreaded to hear that Iris was married.
II she wrote TO him. At another time, he
felt mortified and disappointed by the
neglect which her silence implied. Was
she near him, or far from hims In En-
gland, or out of England? Who could
say?
After more weary days of waiting and
suffering letter arrived. addressed to
MOuntjoy in IA strange handwriting, and
bearing the postmark of Paris. The sig
nature revealed that his correspondent
was Lord Harry.
His first impulse was to throw the letter
into the fire. unread. There could be lit
tie doubt, after the time that had passed,
of the information that il would contain.
Could he endure to be told OF the mar
riage of Iris, by the man who was her hus-
band? Never! There was something hu-
initiating in the very idea of it. He ar
rived at that conciusion-and what did he
do in spite of it' He read the letter
Lord Harry wrote with scrupulous po-
liteness of expression. He regretted that
circumstances had prevented him from
calling on Mr.. MountJov, before he left
England. After the conversation that
had taken place at Mr.. Vimpany's house.
he felt it his duty to inform Mr. Mouutjoy
that he had insured his life-and, he would
add, for sum of money amply, and more
than amply, sufficient TO provide for his
wife in the event of her surviving him.
Lady Harry desired her kind regards, and
would write Immediately to her old and
valued friend In the meantime. he would
conclude by repeating the expression of
his sense of obligation TO Mr. Mountioy.
Hugh looked back at the first page of
the letter, in search Of the writer's ad-
dress. 1t was simply Paris" The in
tention to prevent any further correspond
ence. or any personal communication,
lxn lrv hoxrs
piled. In another moment, the letter was
In the fire.
In two days more, Hugh heard from
Iris.
She. too, wrote regretfully of the sudden
departure from England; adding however.
that it was her own doing. A slip of the
tongue, on Lord Harry's part, in the course
of conversation, had led her to fear that
he was still in danger from political con-
spirators with whom he had imprudently
connected himself. She had accordingly
persuaded him to tell her the whole truth.
and had thereupon insisted on an imme.
diate departure for the Continent She
and her husband were now living in Paris:
Lord Harry having friends in that city
whose influence might prove to be of great
importance to his pecuniary prospects,
Some sentences followed, expressing the
writer's grateful remembrance of all that
she had owed to Hp Oh in past days, and
ucI cdTucSb tuttJ lHSN TnlXnU
hear of each other, from time to me, by
correspondence. She could not venture to
anticipate the pleasure of receiving Il visit
from him, under present circumstances
But she hoped that he would not object to
write to her, addressing his letters, Tor the
present, to post restante-
In q postscript a few words were added
alluding to Mr. Vimpany. Hugh was re-
Quested not to answer any inquiries which
that man might venture to make relating
to her husband or to herself. In the by
gone days she had been thankful to the
doctor for the care which he had taken,
medically speaking, Of RhOda Bennett
But, since that time, his behavior to his
wife, and the opinions which he had eX-
pressed in familiar conversations with
Lord Harry had convinced her that he
was an unprincipled person. All further
communication with him (if her influence
could prevent iD must come to an end.
Still as far as ever from feeling recon
ciled to the marriage, Mountjoy read this
letter with feeling of resentment which
disinciined him TO answer it.
He believed quite erroneouslyl that Iris
had written to HIM under the superiuteud-
ence Of her husband. There were GER
tain phrases which had been, as he chose
60 suspect, dictated by Lord Harry's dis
trust-Jealous distrust, perhaps-of his
Wife's friend. Mouutjoy would wait to
reply, until, as he bitterly expressed It,
Iris was able to write to him without the
assistance of her master.
Again he thonght of returning to Scot
land-and, again. he hesitatcti.
On this occasion, he discovered objec-
tions tO the cotr~-a v-hirh bad not or"',r'-
red TO him while Iris was a single woman.
The situation was solitary; his nearest
neighb0rs were fishermen. Here and
there, at some little distance, there were
only few scattered houses inhabited by
YAffHQd frQdQomQn Enpfhor Uof
there was the country seat of an absent
person of distinction, whose health suffer-
ed in the climate of Scotland. The lonely
life in prospect, on the shores of the Sol.
way, now daunted MOuntjoy for the first
time.
He decided on trying what society in
London would do to divert his mind from
the burdens and anxieties that weighed
% It, Acquaintances whom he had neg
lscted were pleasantly surprised by visits
nom their rich and agreeable young
friend. He attended dinnerparties: he
reused hope In mothers and daughters by
Invitations to balls: he reappear-
cd 1t his club. Was there any relief to
his mind in this. was there even amuse-
mentf No; he was acting a part, and he
found It hard task to keep up appear
ancea. After brief and brilliant inter
va :ociety knew him. him no more: , -.
happy evening in London. 1t was the
evening ON which he relented, in spite Of |
himself, and wrote to Iris.
@APrER xv.-LORD HARRYD HONEY.
NOON.
The next day Hugh received q visit from |
The last person in the little world Of his |
whom he expected to see.
The lost Mrs. Vimpany presented herself |
y the hotel.
She looked unnaturally older since
Nountioy had last seen her. Her artificial
was gone. The discarded
Voueo that had once oveflaid her cheeks
E6roQgh . long succession Of years, had
~ t6e texture of the skin coarse and had /
Iurned the color of It to . dun yeuowtah
linGD. Her hair, once % skil!ful!y dark