Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1890-07-17


with you, Iris. 1 have never pretended
to virtues which | do not possess. So
far"
"Hushl Do not speak to me, | have
something more to say, and then [ shall
never speak to you any more. Hush! Let
words. | cannot Wait wait! Ohr'
She sat down and burst into sobbings and
meanings. But only for a minute. Then
she sprang to her feet again and dashed
back the tears. Thine for crying" she
said, when all is done. Harry, listen
carefully; these are my last words. You
Will never hear from me any more. You
must manage your own life in your own
way, to save it or to spoil it; | will never
more bear any part in it. | am going back
to England, alone. | shall give up your
name and | shall take my maiden name
again, or some other. l shall live some
where quietly where you will not discover
me. But perhaps you will not look for
mef'
Il will not" he said II owe you so
much. will not look for you"
LAS regards this money which I have
obtained for you under false pretenses,
out of the fifteen thousand pounds for
which you were insured, five thousand
have been paid to my private account. [
shall restore to the Company all that
money"
Good heavens, Iris, you will be prose-
cuted on a criminal charge"
Shall i? That will matter little, pro-
vlded | make reparation. Alas! Who
shall make reparatiOn-Who shall atone
for the bloOd-splling? For all things
else in this world we may make what we
call atOnement but not for the splitting of
blood"
You mean this" You will deliberately
do this?"
Il mean every word. l will do nothing
and say nothing that will Detray YOU
But the money that can restore, | will
restore. so help me G0dp' With stream
ing eyes she raised her hand and pointed
upward
Her husband bowed his head.
She went to her own room and packed
single box with necessary things. Then
she called the hOuSemaid and informed her
that she had been summoned to return
suddenly to England she must reach Brus-
sells at least that evening. The woman
brought porter vino carried her box to
the station; and Iris left Louyain-and her
husband-fOr everl
CHAPTER LVI.-TnE BOARD OF DIRECTORS.
A Board Meeting of the Royal Unicorn
Life Insurance Company had been special
ly convened.
81 submit, Mr.. Chairman," said one
and he was harri5Uer-' that the Com
pany knows nothing at ali about Lady
Harry Norland. We have had to deaf
with the firm of Erskine, Mansfield, Den
ham & Co., of Liucoin's Inn Fields. and q
most respectable firm, too. Ga their rep
RESERVATIONS we paid The money. If it can
be ascertaned that we have been defraud-
ed we must look to them. If we have to
prosecute anybody, it must be that respect
able firm"
Good" said the Chairman
At this moment Il card was brought in.
1t was that OF Mr.. ErSkine himself senior
partner in the very firm.
III came in Old emiuentlV rpkD2ctabtr
but shaken. He WAS greatly shaken.
"Gentlemen," he said. nervouSly, 81
hasten to bring you Il communication, u
most extraordinary communication, which
l have just received. 1t is nothing less
than a confeSsion-a full confession
from Il person whom | had every reason to
believe was dead. 1t is from Lord Harry
Norland."
Pray read it," the chairman said.
Gentlemen" the lawyer read, You
will be surprised and panied to learn that
l am not-as you were given to understand
dead; but, on the OJner hand, living and
in the enjoyment of rude health l see no
reason why my life should not DE prolong-
ed to three score years and ten.
The claim, therefore, which you sent in
to the Royal Unicorn Life Insurance Com
pany was fraudulent 1t was the result
OF deep aid conspiracy. You have been
made the Innocent accomplish OF great
crime.
My wife, who now knows the whole
truth, is most anxious for restitution to
be made. She is about to restore that por-
ton of the money which lies in her name.
The rest will be sen. back by myself, on
certain conditions.
In communicating the fact of my being
still alive to the head of my family you
will please also to Inform hun that | au-
thorize the disContnuance of the premium.
This Will save the family $500 Il year.
This will be Il sOlatium to him for the fact
hnt hjS ROT HAIRS t, die -,
name. Il SHOULD die before the next
premium is due / order my heirs not TO
claim the money. | remain, gentlemen,
your Obedleut servant,
HARRY NoRLAND."
1.-The premium, which should have teen
paid under ordinary circumstances" said
the secretary, twas due six week ago. The
policy has therefore expired"
He will not be caught" observed the
Chairman. 1.-The letter is from too cool
hand. He has prepared retreat. | dare
say by this time he is in some safe and
convenient disguise. We are only con-
cerned-are we not?-for the moment with
the lady. She has received the money
from you. We paid it to you on your rep
RESERVATIONS"
Observe" said the lawyer, ''that the
moment she learns the truth she hastens
to make restitution"
"Humphn' said the Director, turning
should not be able to read the contents.
Have you seen her?'
Il have not. / expect to do so before
long. She will certainly call upon me-"
"She will be ill-advised," said the Chair
man, ''if she calls upon anybody just at
present Well, sir, confess that l am
sorry-every member of this board would
be sorry--to see that lady, placed in the
dock beside her husband"
"In the interests of the noble family con-
cerned, | hope that neither of them will be
placed in the dock"
I'VE are much obliged to you, sir. for
your prOmpG action. 1t is, of course, only
what We should have expected of your
firm. Meantime, remember that the claim
was made by you, that you received the
money, and-but we will communicate
with you in a few days.
The Secretary wrote such letter as was
suggested. BY return of post check was
sent, signed by one William Linville, for
the sum of eight thousand pounds The
Company had, therefore, recovered thir-
teen out OF fifteen thousand pounds. The
Secretary had another interview with Mr..
Erskiue, the result of which was that the
Company recovered the remaining two
Thousand pounds.
Every firm of solicitors contains its own
secrets and keeps them. Therefore, we
need not inquire whether it was intended
that this money should be paid by the firm
or by the noble family TO which Lord Har-
ry Norland belonged. 1t is, however, GER
tain that a few days afterwards Mr..
Hugh MountJoy called at the Office and
had long conversation with the senior
partner, and that he left behind him q
very big check.
CHAPTER LVII.-A REFUGE.
1t was all over. Iris had sent in her