Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1890-06-12
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CHAPTER XLVI. WHAT NEXT.

Next the dreadful thought occurred to her
that she herself until the previous day had
been the mans nurse-his only nurse,
dav and night. What was to prevent the
doctor from fixing the guilt of poisoning
upon herself? Nay: it would be his most
obvious line of action. The man was left
alone all the morning; the day before he
had shown every sign of returning
strength; she would have 10 confess that
she was in hiding. How long had she
been there? Why was she in hiding? Was
1t not after she had poisoned the man and
when she heard the doctors footstep?
Naturally ignorant of poisons and their
symptoms, It seemed to her as If these
facts so put together would be conclusive
against her. Therefore, she determined
to keep quiet in Paris that day, and to
cross over by the night boat from Dieppe
in the evening. She would at first disclose
everything to Mrs. Vimpany and to
5ountjOy. AS to what she would tell her
mistress she would be guided by the a.
vice of the others.
She got to London in safety and drove
straight to Mr.. Mountjoy's hotel, propos-
ing first to communicate the whole busi-
ness to him. But she found in his sitting
room Mrs. Vimpany herself
1--WE must not awake him." she said,
whatever news you bring. His perfect
recovery depends entirely on rest and
quiet. There'-she pointed to the Chin
neypiece-''is a letter in my lady's hand
writing. | am afraid | know only too well
what it tells him."
What does it tell9''
This very morning." Mrs Vimpany
went on, 81 called at her lodging. She
has gone away"
Gone away My lady gone away'
Where is she gomez
'Where do YOU think she is most likely
to have gomez"
Nnto oI,I - I, ~ -
h1m?-Oh! this is more terrible-far more
terrible-that you can imaginep'
You will tell me why it is now so much
more terrible. Meantime | find that the
cabman was told to drive to Victoria.
That is all know. / have no doubt, how
ever, but that she has gone back to her
husband. She has been in q disturbed
Respondent condition ever since she ar
rived in London. Mr.. Mountjoy has been
as kind as usual but he has not been able
to chase away her sadness. Whether she
was fretting after her husband or whether
but this | hardly think-she was com
pairing the man she had lost with the man
she had taken-butI do not know. All I
do know is that she has been uneasy ever
since she came from France, and what |
believe is that she has been reproaching
herself with leaving her husband without
good cause"
Good causep' echoed Fanny. "Ohl
r.
cause enough to leave a hundred hus-
bandS!"
Nothing seemed to rouse her" Mrs.
Vimpany continued. without regarding
the interruption. Il went with her to the
farm to see her former maid, Rhoda. The
girls health is re-eSta bliShed: she is en-
gagged to marry the farmers brother
Lady Harry was kind, and said the most
pleasant things: she even pulled off one of
her prettiest rings and gave it to the girl
But | could see that it was an effort for
her to appear interested-her thoughts
were with her husband all the time. |
was sure it would end in this way, and
l am not in the least surprised. But what
will Mr.. MountJoy say when he opens the
letter?'
Back 20 her husband?" Fanny repeated.
"Oh, what shall we do?"
Tell me what you mean. What has
happened?"
Il must tell you | thought would tell
Mr.. Mountjoy first but l must tell you,
although"
She stopped.
Although it concerns my husband.
Never mind that consideration-go on'
Fanny told the story from the beginning.
When she had finished Mrs. Vimpany
looked towards the bedroom door Thank
God" she said, that you told this story
to me instead of to Mr.. Mountjoy. At all
events it gives me time to warn you not
to tell him what you have told me- We
can do nothing. Meantime there is one
thing YOU must do-go away. Do not let
Mr.. Mouutjoy find you here. He must
not learn your story If he hears what
has happened and reads her letter nothing
will keep him from following her to Passy
He will see that there is every prospect of
her being entangled in this vile cOnspir-
acy, and he will run any risk in the use
less attempt to save her. He is too weak
to bear the jOurney-far too weak for the
violent emotions that will follow: and, oh,
how much too weak to cope with my huS-
band-as strong and as crafty as he is I'M
principled!'
Then what, in Heavens name, are we
to do?"
nything-rather than suf
fer Mr.. Mountjoy, in his weak state, to in
terfere between man and wife"
'Yes-yes-but such mani Mrs. Vimp-
any, he was present when the Dane was
poisoned. He knew that the man was
poisoned. He sat in the chair his face
white, and he said nothing Oh! 1t was as
much as | could do noe to rush out and
dash the glass from his hands Lord
Harry said nothing"
My dear do you not understand what
you have got to do?"
Fanny made no reply
"Consider-mv husoaud-Lord Harry
neither of them knows that you were pres
ent. You can return with the greatest
safety; and then, whatever happens, YOU
will be at hand to protect my lady. Con
slider, again, rs her maid, you can be with
her always-in her own room, at night;
everywhere, and at all times; while Mr.
Mountjoy could only be with her now and
then, and at the price of not quarrelling
with her huSband.'
Yes, " said Fanny.
And you are strong, and Mr.. Mountjoy
Is weak and ILL.,
You think that should go back to
Passy"
AT once, without the delay OF an hour.
Lady Harry started last night. Do you
start this evening. She will thus have
you with her twenty-four hours after her
arrival"
~ will go" she said. ut terrifies me
even to think of going back to that awful
cottage with that dreaded man. Yet
will go. Mrs. Vimpany, | know that il
will be of no use. Whatever is going to
happen now will happen without any
power of mine to advance or to prevent.
| am certain that my journey will prove
useless. But will go. Yes, Twill go this
evening"
Then, with final promise to write as
soon as poSsible-aS soon as there should
be anything to communicate-Fanny went
AWAY
Mrs. Vimpany. alone, listened From
ucufvom came no SUuuu all. mr..
Mountjoy slept still. When he should be
strong enough it would be time to let him
know what had been done But she sat
thinking -thinking-even when one has
the worst husband in the world. and very
well knows his character, it is disagreea
BILE to hear such story as Fanny had told
that wife this morning
He is quite uead, saio the doctor, with
one finger on the mans pulse and another
lifting his eyelid. He is dead. I die
not look for 50 Sneedr an end Ii iS no,