Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1892-09-22
Eyre caught up the child. and kissed
CHAPTER ".

Duchess" he said, not raising his
voice as she passed him. But the horses
stopped like clockwOrk, and she looked
up, without speaking, at the man who,
III his black ridingcloak, showed
The regal port
And faded splendOr wan,
that in some minds is associated with
the idea of Satan himself.
And SO you are back again, " he said;
land we're both married since we last
met. for | think you and the Duke left
Immediately for abroad on our coming
to settle here: so you've never seen my
wife. SuppOSing you waive ceremony,
and come with me to see her nOW?1
The firmly held reinS suddenly slack
enad, and the woman who held them
looking up, and knowing her master,
took the hand extended to her for Mr..
Eyre had already dismounted), and
aighting, without q word walked beside
him up the winding hill, her breath
coming quick and short with the exer-
ton, as though she had been hurried.
Mr.. Eyre heard this, and drew her
hand through his arm, AS he did so,
their eyes met.
You have been missed he said; cit
was time you returned. And you won't
find my wife very bright just now;
those mutes at my fathers funeral
frightened her. [ think. I've put it
down in my will that she's to mourn me
in lOIljte-if she mOurnS me at all, he
added, with q tone of mockery in his
voice that misled her into the belief
that, like all the Eyres, he had grown
tired of his wife at last.
The Duchess was not bad. 4 woman
who has profoundly loved but one man
in her life seldom is; it may be doubted
too, il she ever heartily dislike5 the
man from the violence Of whose love or
enmity she may have sutfered-what
she cali never be brought to pardon is
his Indifference, and there was none of
the latter in the glance just then bent
upon this one by Mr.. Eyre.
I'VE are neighbours" he SAID, as they
neared the house, land [ mean that we
shall be friends. Suppose you ask us
to stay with you for a few days" he
added, pausing abruptly; II have fifty
things to talk over with the Duke-and
you" he added, in lower tone.
Il will ask your wife" she said, re-
covering her Self-pOSSesSiOn as she
spoke. But Madcap was nowhere to be
found, though Mr.. Eyre opened four or
five doors in search of her. AS he OPEN
ed a sixth, something Sprang out from
just behind it, and, with a peal of
laughter, hung round Mr.. Eyre5s neck,
crying out
Pm hiding from my sweethearts;
but heard you coming, and [ thought
-" but here, seeing that Mr.. Eyre
was not alone, she stopped short, and
retreated, putting up her hand to a ruff
He'd head, and colOring brilliantly.
And so this was Mr.. Eyre's Madcap,
thought the Duchess, hardly breathing
as she looked at her-this laughing,
rOundlimbed young romp, whose hair,
lips, and eyes laughed equally in the
sunshine, with
All things else about her drawn
From Maytime and the cheerful dawn.
Perhaps it was the thought of how this
same beauty had detached Mr.. Eyre
from another, and very different style,
that nerved her to go through the cere-
mOny of introduction with apparent in
difference.
You Stedleded away, mummy" said
little voice at the window in tones of
reprOach, and the Duchess looked round
to see two miniature copies of the mas
ter of the house shyly approaching to
hide themselves behind Madcap'S white
gown.
Those children would content her if
he died tomorrow" thought the Ouch
esS, as she preferred her request. and
saw the dismayed look that flashed over
Madcap's face, while she twined hand
closer about each little neck.
"Of course she will come" said Mr..
Eyre, cutting short Madcap's refusal,
and then in some subtle way in which
women understand each other, Madcap
knew that her husband and this wo-
man had been sweethearts once. and,
favored by the infinite possibilities OF
life might be SWeetheartS again-the
thought made her proud in her attitude
to the Duchess, as to Frank, il is so easy
for the interrupted to assume those
hOnOrS of virtue that are never really
won, till wrested by an effort of SUI
preme courage over the adversary; and
in those days Madcap was harsh and
unrlpe in her judgments, as was natural
to her youth and ineXperience. And
perhaps that GOODNESS of hers preSaged
forth the DucheSS'S triumph (fOr cOur-
age never doubts itself, or its powers),
SO that it was with a renewed sense of
Duchess presently departed, escorted to
her pony carriage by Mr.. Eyre himself
Il am glad you are back" he said
abruptly, as he wrapped the light rug
about her; land there's that poor fell
low Frank LOvel," he added, you know
[ always loved him-and the talk about
him is mere mOOnshine-andy you'll help
me with the Duke about it," he added,
as he put the reins in her hands and
forced her to look at him.
Il will try" she said. speaking firm
ly, as she thought of her power in the
county, "but Colonel Busby has already
been to see him."
"Oh, Busby," said Mr. Eyre, laugh
ing. THAT best good man with the
worSt-tempered muse;' but you'll get
the Duke to reserve his judgment till
tomorrow. You can influence him,
and you will"
You seem to love Lord Lovel very
much" she said, turning her beautiful
blonde head away.
He is an old friend,' said Mr.. Eyre,
carelessly; land l never forget old
tr.ends-do your" he added. in a tone
that sent the blood to her cheek, and
the horses away at gallop, SO that Mr..
Eyre got no reply; but did not seem to
miss it as he went back in search of his
wife.
1t was long hunt, but he found her
at last investigating the gOOSeberrv-
bushes as If her lie depended on the
ripening Of the berries, the most infalli-
bic sign of madcap's being out Of sorts,
Dody and Doune conspicuous by their
absence.
Has your Duchess gomez" she said,
not looking round.
Yes"
why did you not marry her instead
of me?'
Perhaps she preferred being Ouch
esS 10 Mrs. Eyre
Did you ever ask her?" cried Mad
| cap, turning round with flashing eyes,