Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1890-05-15
CHAPTER xXxvH.-THE FIRST oUARREL.


Once out in the street again, the first
open door at which Mr.. Vimpany stopped
was the door of Il tavern. He ordered a
glass of brandy and water, and a cigar
1t was then the hour of the afternoon,
between the time of luncheon and the
time of dinner, when the business of a
tavern is generally in state of suspense.
The dining-rOOm was empty when Mr..
Vimpany entered it. and the walters un-
occupied attention was in want of an OBJ
ject. Having nothing else to notice, he
looked at the person who had just come
in. The deluded stranger was drinking
fierv potato-brandy and smoking Cat the
foreign price, an English cigar. Would
his taste tell him the melancholy truth?
No; it seemed to matter nothing to him
what he was drinking or what he was
smoking Now he looked angry and now
he looked puzzled: and now he took long
letter from his pocket and read it in
Gil. "Upto some mischief" was the wait
er's Interpretation of the signs. The
stranger ordered a second glass of grog,
and drank it in gulps, and fell into such
deep thought that he let his cigar go out.
Evidently, man in search of an idea.
And, to all appearance, he found what he
wanted on g. sudden. In hurry he paid
his reckoning, and left his small change
and his unfinished cigar on the table, and
was off before the waiter could say Thank
you"
The next place at which he stopped was
fine house in spacious square. A car
riage was waiting at the door. The SER
want who opened the door knew him.
IS james is going out again, sir, in
two minutes" the man said. Mr.. Vimp-
any answered: Il won't keep him two
minuteS.'
floor; and a gentleman came out as Mr..
Vlmpany was shown in. Sir James steth-
oScOpe was still in his hand; his latest
medical fee lay on the table.
Some other day, Vimpany," the great
surgeon said; II have no time to give you
now.
viii you give me minute?" the hum
bic doctor asked.
Very we'll What is it?'
Il am down in the world now, Sir James,
as you know-and | am trying to pick my
self up again."
Every creditable, my good fellow. How
can help you? Come, come-out with it.
You want something"
II want your great name to do me a
great service. | am going to France. A
letter of introduction from you will open
doors which might be closed to an I'M
known man like myself"
What doors do you meanW Sir James
asked
''The doors of the hospitals in Paris"
=
anv particular object in view?"
"A professional object, of course" the
ready doctor answered. 81 have got an
idea for new treatment of disease of the
lungs, and | want to see if the French
have made any recent discoveries in that
direction"
Sir James took up his pen-and hesitated.
His ill-starred medical colleague had been
his fellow-student and his friend in the
days when they were both young men.
They had seen but little of each other
since they had gone their different ways
one of them on the high road which leads
to success, and the other down the by
ways which end in failure. The famous
surgeon felt passing doubt of the use
which his needy and vagabond inferior
might make of his name. For moment
his pen was held suspended over the pa
per. But the man of great reputation
was also man of great heart. Old asso-
Citations pleaded with him, and won their
cause. His companion of former times
left the house proviC ed with a letter of in
PRODUCTION to the chief surgeon at the HO-
tel den. in Paris.
Mr.. Vimpany's next and last proceeding
for that day was to stop at telegraph
office and to communicate economically
with Lord Harry in three words:
Expect me tomorrow"
Early in the morning of the next day
Lord Harry received the doctors tele
he sent for Fanny Mere. and ordered hel
to get the spare room ready for guest
The maids busy suspicion tempted hel
to put venturesome question. Sne asked
if the person expected was a lady or gen
tleman.
"What business isit of yours who the
visitor is?' her master asked sharply. Al
ways easy and good-humored with his in
feriors in general. Lord Harry had take1
a dislike to his wife's maid from the mo
ment when he had first seen her. Hi:
Irish feeling Tor beauty and brightness:
| was especially offended by the unhealth!
| pallor of the woman's complexion and thu
81 len self-suppression of her manner
| AL that his native ingenuity had beer
alb e to do was to make her means o
| pa ing compliment to his wife. "You
maid has one merit, in my eyes," he said
she is living proof of the sweetness o
| your temper"
Iris Joined her husband at the breakfas
| table with an appearance of disturbanc,
| in her face, seldom seen during the dull
| days OF her life at Passy. Il hear o
| somebody coming to stay with u.s." sh
said. Not Mr.. Vimpany again. l hop
| and trust?"
Lord Harry was careful to give his Gus
| tomary morning kiss, before he replied
"Why shouldn't my faithful old frient
! come and see me again?" he asked, viii