Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1890-04-24
CHAPTER XXVIII.-THE MAID AND THE KEY
L

confidence NO greater service could be
rendered to Iris than the removal OF this
man-but how could it be accomplished,
without giving offense to her husband?
Mountjoy's mind was still in search of a
means of overcoming the obstacle thus
presented, when he heard the door open.
Had IRIS recovered herself? or had Lord
Harry and his friend returned?
The person who now entered the room
was the strange and silent maid, Fanny
Mere.
"Can I speak to you, sira''
'Certainly. What is it?'
''Please give me your address,"
"For YOUR mistress?"
eyes"
"Does she wish to write to me?"
eyes"
Hugh gave the strange creature the adj
dress of his hotel in Paris. For moment
her eyes rested on him with an expression
of steady scrutiny. She opened the door
TO go out stopped - considered-came
back again.
Il want to speak for myself" she said.
DO you care to hear what servant has
to say?'
Mountjoy replied that he was ready to
hear what she had to say. She at once
stepped up to him, and addressed him in
these words:
.. Il think you are fond of my MISTRESS
An ordinary man might have resented
the familiar manner in which she had
eApEGSSeu uclSeil. MOuutJOy waited IOr
what was still to come. Fanny Mere alb
ruptly went on. with a nearer approach to
agitation in her manner than she had vet
shown:
my mistress took me into her service:
she trusted me when other ladies would
have shown me the door. When she sent
for me to see her, my character was lost:
| had nobody to feel for me- nobody to
help me. She is the one friend who held
out a hand to me. hate the men; don't
care for the women. Except one. Being
servant | mustn't say | love that one
If was lady, don't know that should
say it. Love is cant: love is rubbish. Tell
me one thing. Is the doctor friend of
yours?"
"The doctor isnothing of the kind"
perhaps he is your enemy?"
81 can hardly say that"
She looked at Hugh discontentedlv. "I
want to get at it," she said. "Why can't
we understand each other? viii YOU
laugh at me il l say the first thing that
comes into my head? Are you good
SWimmer?"
An extraordinary ques ion, even from
Fanny Mere. 1t was put seriously-and
| seriously MountjOy answered it. He said
that he was considered to be a good swim
mer.
"Perhaps,' she continued, you have
saved peoples lives?'
II have twice been so fortunate as to
save lives" he replied
''lf you saw the doctor drowning, would
you save him? | wouldn'tp'
DO you hate him as bitterly as that?"
Hugh asked.
She passed the question over without
notice.
Il wish you would help me to get at it."
she persisted. Suppose you could rid
| nv mistress of that man by giving him a
kick, would you up with your foot aud do
| it?"
,,,1n,
Thank you, sir. Now I've got it. Mr.
MOuntJoy, the doctor is the curse of nv
mistress life. | can't bear to see 1T. If
| we are not relieved of him somehow,
shall do something wrong. When | wait
at table, and see him using his knife,
want to snatch it out of his hand and
stick it into him. had hope that my
lord might turn him out of the house
when they Guarreled. My lord is too
wicked himself to do it. For the love of
God, sir, help my mistress-or show me
| the way how,''
Mountjoy began to be interested. GLOW
do you know" he asked, that Lord Harry
and the doctor have quarreleds'
Without the slightest appearance of en-
barrassment, Fanny Mere informed him
that she had listened at the door, while
her master and his friend were talking of
their secrets. She had also taken an OPP
portunity of looking through the keyhole.
81 suppose, SIR" said this curious woman.
still speaking quite respectfully, 'you
have never tried that way yourselt?'
certainly not"
"Wouldn't you do it to serve my mis-
'ress?"
No"
And yet, you're fond of herl You are
merciful one-the only merciful one, SO
far as L know, among men. Perhaps, IL
you were frightened about her, YOU might
be more ready with your help. / wonder
whether l can brighten you? VIII you
let me try?'
The woman's faithful attachment to Iris
pleaded for her with Hugh. "Try, if you
like" he said kindly.
Speaking as seriously as ever, Fanny
proceeded to describe her experience at the
keyhOle. What she had seen was not worth
| relating. What she had heard, proved to
be more important.
The talk between my lord and the doc
tor had been about raising money. They
had different notions of how to do that.
My lords plan WAS to borrow what was
wanted on his life insurance. The doctor
told him he couldn't do that till his insur-
ance had been going on for three or four
years at least. L have something better
and holder to propose says Mr.. Vimpany.
It must have been also something wicked
for he whispered it in the masters ear.
My lord didn't take to it kindly. How do
you think could face my wife, he says,
Don't be afraid of your wife; Lady Harry
will get used to many things which she
| little thought of before she married you
Says my lord to that: 4 have done my
best, Vimpany, to improve my wife's
opinion of you. If you say much more, |
shall come round to her way of thinking.
Drop itl' All right says the doctor, mi
drop it now, and wait to pick it up again
till YOU come to your last bank note >"
There he talk ended for that day-and
Fanny would be glad to know what Mr..
Mountjoy thought of it.
Il think you have done me a SERVICE"
Hugh replied.
Tell me how, sir?"
Il can only tell you this, Fanny. You
have shown me how to relieve your mis-
treSs of the doctor"
For the first time the maids impenetra-
! smouldering fire in Fanny Mere famed
up. She impuisivelv kissed Mountjoy's
hand The moment her lips touched it
| she Shrank back; the natural palfor of her
| face became whittier than ever. Startled
| by the sudden change, Hugh asked if she
| was ILL
| She shook her head.
st isn't that Yours is the first mans
| hand | have kissed since" She checked
| herself. Il beg you won't ask me about
| 1t. | only meant to thank you. sir: do
| thank you with all my heart mustn't
stay here any longer"
! As she spoke the sound of key was
| heard opening the lock of the cottage door,
Lord Harry had returned.
| CHAPTER XXIX.-THE CONQUEST OF Mr..
| vIMPANY.
| The IriSb lord cama in-yvitb his N, ad;o,l