Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1890-04-24

world; and the tale they tell me is, we
have been crying. When l ask what may
have happened to account fOr thiS-'N 9TH
ing, dear is all the answer | get. What's
the impression naturally produced on my
mind? There has been quarrel perhaps
between you and my wife"
Il fail entirely. Lord Harry, to see 1t in
that light"
point Of view. AS an Eaglishman you
fail to understand it. Let that be. One
thing, Mr. Mountjoy, I'll take the freedom
of saying at once. I'll thank you, next
time, to quarrel with me-
You force me to tell YOU. my lord, that
you are under complete delusion, if you
suppose that there has been any quarrel,
or approach to a quarrel, between Lady
Harry and myself"
"You tell me that, on your word of hon.
or as a gentleman?"
Most assuredIy!'
Sir! deeply regret to hear it."
"What does your lordship deeply regretf
That have spoken to you on my word of
honor or that | have not quarreled with
Lady Harry?'
Both, sir; BY the piper that played be-
fore Moses, bothn'
may have better chance of understand
ing each other" he suggested, ''if you will
be so good as to write to me-"
Put your hat down again, Mr.. Mount
Joy, and pray have moments patience.
I've tried to like you, strand Pm bound
in candor to own that Pve failed to find
bond of union between us. Maybe, this
frank confession annoys you"
Ear from it! You are going straight
to your subject, at last, if l may venture
to say 500
The Irish lords good humor had COM
pletely disappeared by this time. His
handsome face hardened, and his voice
rose. The outbreak of jealous feeling,
which motives honorable to himself had
hitherto controlled, now seized on it's free
dom of expression. His language betrayed
las on some former OccaSlOnS) that aSSOci-
aJ1on with unworthy companions, which
had been one of the evil results of his adj
venturous life
maybe Tll go straighter than you bar
gain for" he replied; "Im in two humors
about you. My common sense tells me
that you're my wife's friend. And the
best of friends do sOmetimes quarrel, don't
they? Well. sir! you deny it, on your own
account. ] find myself forced back on my
other humor-and it's black humor, /
can tell you. You may be my wife's friend,
my fine fellow, but YOU'RE something
more than that. You have always been in
now. Thank you for your visit, but don't
repeat it. Say! do we understand each
other at laSt?"
Il have too sincere a respect for Lady
Harry to answer you," Mouutjoy said.
'At the same time, let me acknowledge
my obligations to your lordship. You
have reminded me that [ did foolish
thing when l called here without an invi-
tation. agree with you that the sooner
my mistake is set right the better"
He replied in those words, and left the
cottage.
On the way back to his hotel, Hugh
thought of what Mrs. Vimpany had said
to him when they had last seen each 9TH
er: Don't forget that there is an obstacle
between YOU and Iris which will put even
your patience and your devotion to
hard trial" This obstacle of the husband
had set itself up, and had stopped him al
ready.
His own act "a necessary act after the
language that had been addressed to him)
had closed the doors of the cottage and
had put an end to future meetings be-
tween Iris and himself. If they attempted
to communicate by letter, Lord Harry
would have opportunities of discovering
their correspondence. of which his ieal-
ousy would certainly avail itself. Through
the wakeful night, Hugh's helpless situa-
ton was perpetually in his thoughts.
There seemed to be no present alternative
before him but resignation, and a return
to England.
CHAPTER XXI. THE SCHOOL FOR HUS-
BANDS.
On the next dav Mountjoy heard news
of Iris. which was not OF a nature to re-
lieve his anXieties. He received a visit
from Fanny Mere.
The leave-takfng of Mr. Vimpany, on
the previous evening, was the first event
which the maid had to relate. She had