Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1890-06-19

"No-nou another crime remember
that this money is mine. 1t will come to
my heirs some day, as sure as to-mOr-
rows sun will rise. Sooner or later it will
be mine: will make it sooner, that is all.
The Insurance COMPANY will lose nothing
but the paltrv interest for the remainder
of my life. My dear. if it is disgraceful
to do this | will endure disgrace. 1t is
easier to bear than the constant self-re-
prOach which | feel when | think of you
and of the losses l have inflicted upon
you"
Again he folded her in his arms; he knelt
before her: he wept over her. Carried out
OF herself by this passion, Iris made no
more resistance.
rs it's it," she asked timidly, too late
to draw back?"
1T is too late" he replied, thinking of
the dead man below. 1T is too late. All
is completed"
''My poor Harry! What shall we do'
How shall we live? How shall we con-
trive never to be found out?"
She would not leave him, then She &C
cepted the situation. He was amazed at
the readiness with which she fell; but he
did not understand how she was ready to
cling to him, for better or worse, through
worse evils than this; nor could he under
stand how things formerly impossible to
her had been rendered possible by the sub
tie deterioration of the moral nature, when
q woman of lofty mind at the beginning
loves and is united to a man of lower ma
ture and coarser fibre than herself. Only
a few months before, Iris would have
swept aside the sophistries with swift and
resOlute hand. Now she accepted them.
You have fallen into the doctors
hands, DEAR" she sail PRAY Heaven it
brings us not into worse evils! What can
l say? 1t is through love of your wife
through love Of your Wife-oh, husbandp'
she threw herself into his arms, and for
gave everything and accepted everything.
Henceforth she would be-thOugh this she
knew not-the willing instrument of the
two conspirators.
CHAPTER XLvIII.-ANOTHER STEP.
81 have left this terrible thing about
once too often already" and Lord Harry
took it from the table. Let me put it in
place of safety"
He unlocked a drawer and opened it.
81 will put it here" he said "Why"-as
If suddenly recollecting something-"he
is nv will. | shall be leaving that about
on the table next Iris, my dear l have
left everything to you All will be yours"
He took out the document Keep it for
me, Iris. 1t is yours. You may as we'll
have it now, and then | know in your
careful hands, 1t will be quite safe. Not
only is everything left to you, but you are
the sole eXecutriX."
Iris took the will without a word. She
understood, now, what it meant. If she
was the sole executriX she would have to
act. If everything was left to her she
would have to receive the money. Thus,
at a single step, she became not only cog
infant of the conspiracy but the chief
agent and instrument to carry it out.
This done, her husband had only to tell
her what had to be done at once, in con-
sequence of her premature arrival. He
had planned, he told her, not to send for
her-not to let her know or suspect any,
thing of the truth until the money had
been paid to the widow by the insurance
Company. As things had turned out, it
would be best for both Of them to leave
Passy at once-that Vert evening-before
her arrival was known by an body, and
to let Nimpany CARR out the rest of the
business. He Wa, Qllte TO be trusted-he
would do every thing, that was wanted.
''Already," ne s,tIu, ''rne office will have
received from the doctor u modification of