Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1890-05-29
Go on" she said. resignedlv.

60 on" she said, resignedly
He had expected her to take his arm, or
perhaps to caress him, or at least to en-
courage him by her gentlest words and
straint which she now manifested was a
sign, as he interpreted it, of suppressed re-
sentiment. Shrinking. honestly shrinking,
from the bare possibility of another quar-
REL he confronted the hard necessities of
further confession.
you mustn't look into the empty bedroom
tonight"
why not?"
''Ah, for the best of all good reasonsl
Because you might find somebody in
therer
Il asked you, Harry, whether the per-
son who is to occupy our spare bedroom
friends?'
Say one of Mr.. Vimpany's patients
and you will be nearer the TRUTH he an
swered, with an outburst of impatience
She could hardly believe him ''Do
you mean person who is really ill?" she
said.
"Of course mean it," he said, irritated
Into speaking out at last.
"a man? or woman?"
"a man"
MAY ask you if he comes from En-
gland?'
He comes from one of the French hos
pitfalls. Anything more?"
Iris left her husband to recover his good
humor, and went back to her chair. The
extraordinary disclosure which she had
extracted from him had produced a stupe-
flying effect on her mind. Her customary
sympathy with him, her subtle, womanly
observation of his characters her intimate
knowledge of his merits and his defects.
failed to find the rational motive which
might have explained his conduct She
looked round at him with mingled feelings
of perpleXity and distrust.
He was still at the window but he had
turned his back on the view of the garden.
his eyes were fixed in furtive expectation,
on his wife Was he waiting to hear her
say, something more? She ran the risk
and said it.
Il don't quite understand the sacrifice
she confessed. will you tell me, dear,
what it means?"
Here was the opportunity offered of fol-
lowing the doctors advice, and putting
his wlfe's credulity to the test. With her
knowledge of Vimpany, would she really
believe the story which had imposed on
the strangers who managed the hospital!
Lord Harry made up his mind to try the
experiment. No matter what the result
might be, it would bring the responsible
ties that were crushing him to an end. He
need say no more if the deception sue
t., IL,
Under the influence of this cheering re-
Election, he recovered his temper; his hand
some face frightened again with it's genial
bOyish smile.
what a wonderful woman you are!'' he
cried. Isn't it just the thing that | am
here for, to tell you what | mean-and nv
clever wife sees through ana through me-
and reminds me of what | must DO! Pay
my fee beforehand, Iris! Give me Il kiss
and my poor meaning shall be offered in
return. 1t will help me if you remember
one thing. Vimpany and | are old friends,
and there's nothing we won't do to accom-
date each other Mind that!'
Tried fairly on its own merits the stupid
fiction invented by the doctor produced
an effect for which Lord Harry was not
prepared. The longer Iris listened, the
word fell from her lips when he had done.
He noticed that she had turned pale: it
seemed to be almost possible that he had
frightened her.
If his bird-witted brains could have
coupled cause and effect. this was exact.
ly the result which he might have antici-
pated.
She was asked to believe that new sys-
tenn of medical practice had been invented
by such person as Mr.. Vimpany. She
was asked to believe that an invalid from
foreign hospital, who was a perfect
stranger to Lord Harry, had been willing
ly made welcome to bedroom at the cot
tage. She was asked to believe that this
astounding concession had been offered to
the doctor as tribute of friendship after
her husband had himself told her that he
regretted having invited Vimpany, for
the second time, to become his guest
Here was one improbable circumstance &C
cumulated on another, and a clever wO-
man was expected to accept the monstrous
excuses. thus produced, as trustworthy
statement of facts. Irresistibly, the dread
OF some evil deed in secret contemplation
cast it's darkening presence on the wife's
mind Lord Harry's observation had not
mISled him, when he saw Iris turn pale,
and when the doubt was forced on him
whether he might not have frightened
her.
''If my explanation of this little matter
has satisfied you," he ventured to resume.
"we need say no more about it,"
81 agree with yOu," she answered, "let
US say no more about it," Conscious, in
spite of the effort to resist of feeling of
oppression while she was in the same
room with man who had deliberately
she reminded Lord Harry that he had
proposed to take walk in the garden.
Out in the pure air, under the bright sky,
she might breathe more freely. Come to
the flowers" she said.
They went to the garden together-the
husband fearing the quick-witted wife.
Watching each other like two strangers,
they walked silently side by side, and
looked now and then at the collection OF
flowers and plants. Iris noticed delicate
fern which had fallen away from the sup
stopped and occupied herself in restoring
it TO its place. When she looked round
again, after attending to the plant, her
husband had disappeared and Mr.. Vimp-
any was waiting in his place.
Where is Lord HarryH' Iris asked.
The reply startled her: Lord Harry
leaves me to say TO your ladyship what he
has not had resolution enough to say for
HIMSELF
Il don't understand you, Mr.. Vimpany."
The doctor pointed to the fern which
had just been the object of Lady Harry's
care.
You have been helping that sickly
plant there to live and thrive" he said,
land l have felt some curiosity in watch
ing you. There is another Slckly plant
which have undertaken to rear ii the
thing can be done. My gardening is of
the medical kind-I can only carry it OF
indoors-and, whatever else it may be,
tell you plainly, like the outspoken sort
of fellow that am, it's not likely to prove
agreeable to lady. No offense, nope!
Your humble servant is only trying to
produce the right sort of impresslon-and
takes leave 70 doubt his lordship in one
particular"
in what particular, sir?'
'I'u put it in the form of question,
ma'am. Has my friend persuaded you to
make arrangements for leaving the cot
tages"
Iris looked at Lord Harry's friend with
out attempting to conceal her opinion OF
him.
Il call that an impertinent question:
she said BY what right do you pre-.
sumo to inquire into what my husband
and may, or may not, have said to each