Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1890-02-06

ever he overeats himself he Sends for me,
and pays literally. | ought to be grateful
to him, and am. Upon my soul, | be-
ieve | should bein the bankruptcy court
but for the Squirrels stomach. Look at my
wifel She's shocked at me. We ought to
keep up appearances, my dear? Not II
When L am poor | say am poor When
| cure patient | make no mystery of it;
everybody's welcome to know how it's
done. Don't be down-hearted. Arabella.
nature never meant your husband for
doctor, aud there is the long and short o.
1t. Another glass Of sherry, Mr.. Mount
joy?'
All social misunderstanding the
curious English custom which sends the
ladies upstairs, after dinner, and leaves
he gentlemen at the table-found de-
voted adherent in Mrs. Vimpany. She
rose as if she had been presiding at ban
quet, and led Miss Henley affectionately
to the drawing-room. Iris glanced at
Hugh. No: his mind was not at ease yet;
the pre-occupied look had not left his face.
Jovial Mr.. Vimpany pushed the bottle
across the table to his guest, and held out
handful of big black cigars.
NOW for the juice of the grape" he
cried, "and the best cigar in all Englandf'
He had just filled his glass, and struck
light for his cigar, when the servant
came in with note Some men relieve
their sense of Indignation in one way, and
some in another The doctors form of re-
lief was an oath. Talk about slaveryp'
he shouted. Find me such slave in all
Africa as man in my profession. There
isn't an hour of the day or night that he
can call his own. Here's stupid old wc-
man with an asthma, who has got another
spasmOdic attack-and | must leave my
dinner-table and my friend, just as we are
enjoying ourselves. 1 have half mind
not to CO."
The inattentiva oyuect Suddanlv cot him
self right in his hosts estimation. Hugh
demonstrated with al appearance Of in
terest in the case, which the doctor in
terpreted as a compliment to himself:
ooh, Mr. Vimpany, humanity humani-
typ
"Oh, Mr.. Mountjoy, money! money!"
the facetious doctor answered. THE ofd
lady is our Mayors mother, sir. You
don't seem to be quick at taking a joke
Make your mind easy: shall pocket my
fee"
AS soon as he had closed the door, Hugh
MOuntjoy uttered a devout ejaculation.
''Thapk Godp' he said-and walked up and
down the room, free to think without in
terruption at last.
The subject of his meditations was the
influence of intoXication, in disclosing the
hidden weaknesses and vices of a mans
character by exhibiting them just as they
are, released from the restraint which he
exercises over himself when he is sober
That there was weak side, and probably
vicious side, in Mr.. Vimpany's nature
it was hardly possible to doubt. His blus-
tering good humOr, his audacious self
cOnceit, the tones of his voice. the express
sion in his eyes, all revealed him Ito use
one expressive word) as a humbug. Let
drink subtly deprive him of his capacity
for self-cOncealment, and the true nature
of his wife's association with Lord Harry
might sooner or later show itself-say, in
after-dinner talk, under Skillful manage
ment. The right method of entrapping
him into state of intoXication (which
might nave presented serious difficulties
under other circumstances was suggest
ence between good wine and bad and
partly by Mountjoy's knowledge of the
excellent quality of the landlady's claret.
He had recognized, as soon as he tasted it,
that finest vintage of Bordeaux, which
cenceals its true strength-to a gross and
ignorant taste-under the exquisite deli
cacy of its flavor. Encourage Mr.. Vimp-
any, by means of a dinner at the inn, to
give his opinion as man whose judgment
in claret was to be seriously consulted
and permit him also to discover that
Hugh was rich enough to have been able
to buy the wine-and the attainment of
the end in view would be simply a ques-
ton of time. There was certainly the
chance to be reckoned with, that his thick
head might prove to be too strong for
the success of the experiment. Mountjoy
determined to try it. and did try it never
theleSS
Mr.. Vimpany returned from his medical
errand. thoroughly well satisfied with
himself