Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1895-07-06
CHAPTER Iv.-THE GAME-MoUyrJo

CHAPTER v.-TTE GAME-MoUNrJoY LOSES.
Surprise silrnced Hugh for the mo
ment. Iris understood the ook that he
fixed on her, aud answered 1t. II I'm
quite sure" she told him. "of what ! say"
Mountjoy's well-balanced mind hesitat-
ed at rushing To u conclusion.
Il am sure you are convinced OF what
You tell me" he said. "Bnt mistakes dc
sometimes happen in forming IA judgment
OF handwriting
In the state OF excitement that now pos
Bessed her Iris was easily irritated: she was
angry with Hugh for only supposing that
she might nave made n mistake. He had
himself, as she reminded him, seen Lord
Harry's handwriting in past days. Was
1t possible TO be mistaken In those bold.
thickly written characters, with some OF
the letters SO quantity formed?
"Oh, Hugh, | am miserable enough as II
Is. she broke out; don't q stract me By
disputing what | knowl Think of a wo
man SO kind, so diSintercsted, so charm.
Ing-the very opposite OF u false creature
think OF Mrs. Vimpany having deceived
me!'
There was not the slightest reason. thus
far, for placing hat Interpretation on what
had happened. Mouutjoy gently, very
gently, demonstrated.
'My dear, we really don't know vet that
Mrs. Vimpany has been acting under Lore
Harry's instructions. Wait a little before
you suspect your fellow traveller of offer.
ing her services for the purpose of deceiv'
ing You"
Iris was angry with him again: "why
did Mrs Vimpauy never tell me that she
knew Lord Harry Isn't that suspicious''
Mountjoy smiled. Let me put a ques
ton on my side" he said Ibid you tell
Mrs. Vimpauy you knew Lord Harry
iris made no reply; her face spoke for her
We'll, then" he urged. rs your silence
suspicious' | am far, mind, from saying
that this NAV no be n very unpleasant
discovery. Only let US be sure first that
we are right"
With most OF a woman's merits, Miss
Hculey had many OF Il woman's faults
Still holding To her w conclusion, SHIT
asked how they could expect To be sur
OF anything il they addressed their inquir
les to a person who had already deceived
them.
Mountjoy's ine~xhaustible indulgence
still made allowances for her. When
Mrs. Vimpany IN back" he said, Il
will find an opportunity OF mentioning
Lord Harry's name. IL she tells us thai
she knows him, there will be good reason
In that one circumstance, as IL seems &c
me. for continuing TO trust her"
suppose she shamsi ignorance" Iris per
sisted, 'and looks as IL she had never hearc
of his name befores"
"Iu that case, l shall own that I was
wrong. and shall ask you to forgive me-"
The finer and better nature OF Iris re
covered its influence at these words. ut
is | who ought to beg pardon" she said.
''Oh, | wish l could think before | speak:
how insolent and ~ill-tempered | have been!
But suppose / turn out to be right, Hugh
what viii you do them"
Then, my dear, 1t will be my duty to
take you aud your maid away from this
house. and to tell your father what serious
a.an1.a flt4ra q. NJ ~ DA uhrnntty ehaekad
himself. Mrs. Vimpany had returned: she
was in perfect possession of her lofty
courtesy, sweetened by the modest dignit,
of her smile.
II have left you. Miss Henley. In such
good company" she said, with a gracious
inclination Of her head in the direction
OF Mountjoy, that l need hardly repeni
my apologies-unless, indeed, | am inter
rupting a confidential conversation"
IL Was possible hat Iris might have be-
| ira ed herself. when the doctors wife had
| looked at her after examining the address
| on the packet. In this case Mrs. Vimp
ton" would have operated as q warning
to a person OF experience in the by-ways OF
deceit. Mountjoy's utmost exertion OF
cunning was not capable Of protecting him
on such conditions as these. The oppor-
tunity OF irving his proposed experiment
| with Lord Harry's name seemed to have
DItctitNo AsoSAA NAASeSJ $500
on 1t.
You have interrupted nothing that was
confidential" he FASTENED to assure Mrs.
Vimpany. "We have been speaking OF q
reckless young gentleman, who Is an &C
quaintance Of ours. IL what l hear Is r
he has already become public property: his
adventures have found their way into
some Of the newspapers"
Here, liz Mrs. Vimpany n answered
Hugh's expectations, she ought TO lave
asked who the young gentleman was. one
merely listened ia polite silence.
With a woman's quickness OF percep-
ton, Iris saw that Mountjoy had not only
pounced on his opportunity prcmaturely,
but had spoken with u downright direct
| ness of ~allusion which must at once have
| put such o ready-witted person as Mrs.
| Vimpany on her guard. In trying to pre-
| vent him from pursuing his unfortunate
experiment In social diplomacy, Iris limo
| Gently repeated Mountjoy's own mistake.
| She, too, seized her opportunity prema-
! turcly. That Is to say, she was rash enough
To change the subject.
"You were talking just now, Hugh, OF
| our friends adventures she sail; IL am
! afraid you will fnd Yourself involved IN
IL ,ou engage a bed at the iun. | never
saw n more wretched-l0oking place."
II was N Of Mrs. Vimpany's many
merits that she seldom neglected an op-
portunity Of setting her friends At their
ease.
mo. no, dear Miss Henley" she hasten
| ed To say; 1.-THE inn is really a more clean
/! aud comfortable place than you suppose.
A hard bed and a scarcity OF furniture are
| the worst evils which your friend has to
: fear. DO you know" she continued, nd
| dressing herself to Mountjoy, that l was
| reminded Of a friend Of mine. when you
| spoke Just 10 OF the young gentleman
| whose adventures are in the newspapers
Is IL possible that you referred 10 thu
| brother OF the present Earl Of Norlaud,
A handsome young Irishman-with whom
l first became acquainted many year,
since. Am right IN supposing that. yon