Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1890-03-20
CHAPTER XVIII.


Number five was near the center of the
row of little suburban houses, called Red
burn Road. When the cab drew up at the
door Mr.. Vimpany himself was visible
looking out of the window Oh the ground
1oor-and yawning as he looked. Iris
beckOned to him impatiently "Anything
wrong?" he asked. as he approached the
door of the cab. She drew back, and sill
emily showed him what was wrong. The
doctor received the shock with composure.
When he happened to be sober and sad,
looking for patients and failing to find
them, Mr.. Vimpany's capacity for feel
ing sympathy began and ended with him
self.
This is a new scrape, even for Lord
Harry" he remarked. Lets get him in
to the house,
The insensible man was carried into the
nearest room on the ground floor Pale
and trembling, Iris related what had hap
pened, and asked if there was no hope of
saving him.
..Patiencer' Mr.: Vimpany answered; "I'l
tell you directly"
He removed the bandages and examined
the wound. There's been adea of blood
lost" he said ''Il try and pull him
through. While am about it, miss, go
upstairs, if you please, and find your way
to the drawing room" Iris hesitated.
The doctor opened Il nea t mahogany box.
''The tools of my trade" he continued;
"I'm going to sew up his lordship's throat"
Shuddering as she heard those words, iris
hurried out of the room. Fanny followed
her mistress up the stairs. In her own
very different way, the maid was as i'm
penetrablv composed as Mr.. Vimpany
himself There was second letter found
in the gentlemans pocket. miss" she said.
will you excuse my reminding you that
you have not read it YETI"
Tric no haf
Forgive me, my dear, for the last time.
Ny letter is to say that shall trouble you no
more in this world-and, as for the other
world, who knows? l brought some money
back with me, from the gold-fields. 1t was
not enough to he called a fortune-I mean the
sort of fortune which might persuade your
father to let you marry me. Well! here in En-
gland had an opportunity of making ten
times m-re Of it en- tie turf; and. let me aid.
I might certainly count on to win. 1 don't
stop to SIX by what cruel roguery [ was
tempted to my ruin. My money is lost and
with it. my last hope of happy and harm less
life with you comes to an end. I die, Iris dear.
with the death of that hope. Something in
me seems to shrink from suicide in the ugly
gloom of great overgrown London. / prefer
to make away with myself among the fields
where the green will remind me of old Ire
land. When you think of me sometimes, say
perhaps the earth will lie lighter on Harry for
those kind words, and the flowers {if you favor
me by planting few may grow prettier on
my grave
There it ended.
The heart of Iris sank as she read that
melancholy farewell. expressed in Ian
guage at once wild and childish. If he
survived his desperate attempt at self-de-
struction to what end would it lead? In
silence, the woman who loved him put his
letter back in her bosom. Watching her
attentively-affected, it was impossible to
say how, by that mute distress-Fanny
Mere proposed to go downstairs, and ask
once more what hope there might be for
the wounded man. Iris knew the doctor
too we'll to let the maid leave her on use
less GRAND.
''Some men might be kindly ready to
relieve my suspense she said: ''the man
downstairs is not one of them. / must
wait till he comes to me, or sends for me.
But there is something | wish to say to
you, while we are alone. You have been
but short time in my service, Fanny. is
it too soon to ask if you feel some interest
in me?"
"If l can comfort you or help you, miss,
be pleased to tell me how" She made
that reply respectfully, in her usual, quiet
manner; her pale cheeks showing no
change of color. her faint blue eyes rest
ing steadily on her mistress face. Iris
went on:
ITO be continued.