Dodge City times., 1890-05-30

The pleasant life in the country house
had lasted for nearly month when the
announcement of Hugh's approaching re-
turn to England reached Iris. The fatal
end Of his fathers long and lingering iu-
ness had arrived and the funeral had tax
en- place. Business connected with his
succession to the property would detain
him in London for few days. Submit
ting to this necessity, he earnestly express
ed the hope of seeing Iris again the mo-
ment he was ut liberty.
Hearing the good news, Mr.. Henley OBJ
stinately returned to his plans-already
twice thwarted-for promoting the mar
riage Of MountioY and Iris.
He wrote to invite Hugh to his house In
Q tore Of cordiality which astonished his
daughter, and when the guest arrived the
genial welcome of the host had but one ef-
fect-Mr. Henley overacted his part. He
gave the two young people perpetual op-
portunities Of speaking to each other priv
stely; aly and, on the principle that none % ars
to discover that the relations between
them continued to be the relations Of
friendship, do what he might Hugh's
long attendance on his dying father had
left him depressed in spirits. Iris under
stood him and felt for him. He was not
ready with his opinion of the new maid
after he had seen Fanny Mere.
MY inclination" he said, "is to trust
the girl. And yet / hesitate to follow my
inclination-and don't know why"
When Hugh's visit came to an end he
continued his journey in q northerly di.
rection. The property left to him by his
father included cottage, standing in its
Solway Firth. The place had been neg
lected during the long residence of the el-
der Mr.. Mountjoy on the Continent.
Hugh's present object was to judge, by
his own investigation, Of the necessity for
repairs.
ley (still obstinately hopeful of the mar.
riage on which he had set his mind) as.
sumed jocular manner towards Iris, and
asked If the Scotch cottage was to bs put
In order for the honeymoon Her reply,
gently as it was expressed, threw him into
. state of fury. His vindictive tempes
revelled. not only in harsh words, but in
which had especially attached itself to
Iris: and, seeing that she still enjoyed
the country, he decided on returning t,
London.
She submitted in silence. But the events
OF that past time, when her fathers merci.
less conduct had driven her out of his
house, returning ominously to her memory,
she said to herself:
rs day coming when shall leave him
again." 1t was coming-and she little
knew how.
cHAPTPR xvr.-THE DOCTOR IN FULL DRESS
Mr.. Henley's household had been again
established in London, when a servant ap-
peared one morning with q visiting card
and announced that gentleman had cali
ed who wished to see Miss Henley. She
looked at the card. The gentleman was
Mr.. Vimpany.
On the point of directing the man to
say that she was engaged, Iris checked
herself
Mrs vimpany's farewell words had pro
duced strong impression on her. There
had been moments Of doubt and gloom in
her later life. when the remembrance of
that unhappy woman was associated with
Q feeling (perhaps morbid feeling) Of
self-reproach. It seemed to be hard ON
the poor. -penitent wretch not to have
written to her. Was she still leading the
same dreary Life in the mouldering old
town. Or had she made another attempt
to return to the ungr.teful stage. The
himself with his card and his messsoe
could answer those questions II he could
do nothing else. For that reason onlv
Iris decided that she would receive MI.
Vimpany.
coveries awaiting her, for which she was
The doctors personal appearance exhib.
tied . striking change: he was dressed. in
accordance with the strictsst notions of
professional proprety. entirely in black.
More remarkable still, there happened to
be French novel among the books on the
table-end that novel NJ. vimpany. bar-
barous M. Vtmpony, was actually read.
ing with an appearancs Of understanding
I'll
.Iseem to surprise Jon, !" said the doctor.
us It thisi" He held up the French novel
- he put the question.
Il must own that I WaD not aware of tha
sange q your acconplishmsnts. Iris an