Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1895-07-27

80 ~ tDft>N ~ IRAhts thtiAN
returning from her interview with heI
husband At the inn. She looked first at
Iris, aud at once perceived signs OF dis
turbance =, the young lady's face.
Concealing her anxiety under that won
derful stage smile. which affords a refuge
70 50 many secrets, Mrs. Vimpany said
few words excusing her absence. Miss
Henley answered, without the slightes.
change In her friendly manner TO the doc
tors wife. The signs Of disturbance were
evidently attributable TO some entirely un-
important cause, from Mrs. Vimpany',
point Of view. Mr.. Mountjoy's discoveries
had not been communicated yet.
In Hugh's state Of mind there was some
Irritating influence In the presence OF the
mistress OF the house which applied the
spur TO his wits. He m~ischievously pro
posed submitting 10 her the question ia
dispute between Iris and himself.
1T is a very simple matter, Z" he said 70
Mrs. Nimpany. Miss Henley's father is
a anxious that she should return to him
after al enlargement between them which
is happily at an end. Do you think she
ought to allow any accidental arrange.
ments TO prevent her from going home al
oncet II she requests your indulgence
under the circumstances, has she any rea-
SOL to anticipate a rcfusalt"
Mrs. V~impany's expressive eyes looked
up, with sanity resignation, at the dirty
VIZ "a 1'ANN III aohiD Hbp" Ah
she had done to deserve the injury implied
by a doubt!
insult me by asking the question. Deal
Miss Henley, " she continued, turning to
Iris, you Will do me justice, l am sure
Am ! capable Of allowing my own feelings
10 stand In the way, when your flisl duty
is concerneds Leave me, my sweet friend
Col | entreat you, go homer
She retired up the stage-no. no. she
withdrew 10 the other end OF the room
and burst into the most becoming Of all
human tears-theatrical tears. Impulsive
Iris fastened TO comfort the personifca-
tion of elf-sacriice, the model of all that
was most unselfsh In female submission
For shame! for shame!' she whispered,
as she passed Mountjoy.
Beaten again by Mrs. Vimpany-with no
ties OF relationship 10 justify resistauce
to Miss Henley: with two women against
him. intrenched behind the privileges OF
their sex-the one last sacrifice OF HIS own
feelings. I'm the interests OF Iris. that Hugh
could make was to control the Impulse
which naturally urged him 10 leave the
house. In the helpless position ia which
he had now placed himself, be conld only
wait 20 see what course Mrs. Vimpany
might think IL desirable To take. Would
she request him. in her most politely ma
licious way, to bring his visit 10 an end
No; she looked at Observation-Disclosures
ed a furtive glance towards the view of
the street from the window-smiled mys-
terious!y-and completed the sacrifice OF
her own feelings in these words:
Dear Miss Henley, let me help you 10
pack up"
Iris positively refused.
NO she said. II don't agree with Mr..
Mountjoy. My father leaves It to me to
name the day when we meet. I hold you,
-, l.a, 60 at.e 1aaFe l....
an affectionate friend as | might leave a
stranger"
Even IL Mr.. Moun,joy communicated his
, discoveries to Miss Henley on the way
home there would be no danger now of
her believing him. Mrs. Vimpany put
her powerful arm round the generous
Iris, aud, with infinite grace, thanked he'
by a kiss.
Your kindness will make my lonely lot
I'm life harder than ever TO bear" she muir
INJURED, when you are gone"
But we may hope To meet in London
Iris reminded her; unless Mr.. Vimpaay
alters his mind about leaving this place
MY husband will not do that, dear. He
Is determined TO try his luck. as he says
give me your address, won't your Per
haps you will even promise to write Il
me,b
Iris instantly gave her promise, and
wrote down her address In London.
Mountjoy made no attempt TO interfere
IL was needless.
Ii the maid had not fallen i'll on the
Journey, and il Mrs. Vimpany had follow
| ed Miss Henley TO London, there would
have been little to fear in the discovery OF
| her address-and there wa little to fear
now. The danger TO Iris wa not in what
might happen while she was living under
her fathers roof, but in what might hap
pen II she was detained (by plans for ex
cursious) la MIR. Vimpany's house. until
Lord Harry might join her there.
Rather than permit his TO happen
Hugh lin sheer DESPERATION meditateo
charging Mrs. vimpany, to her face
with beiEg the Irish lords spy, and prov
ing the accusation by challenging her e
produce the registered letter and the dia
mond pin.
While he was still struggling with hi,
own reluctance to infiict this degrad
| ing exposure on a woman. the talk between
| the two ladies came to an end. Mrs. Vimp
| any returned again TO the window. Or
| this occasion, sine looked out into the street
with her handkerchief twas 1t used rs 9
signal0 exhibited in her hand. Iris. OF
her side, advanced TO Mountjov. Easily
moved TO anger. her nature was incapable
/ Of sullen perseverance in a state Of enmity
To see Hugh still patiently waiting-stil
IoAlll ku0 31S W 'thN -
her. and forgiving her-was ut once a re
proach that punished Iris. aud q mute
appeal that no true woman's heart coult
resist.
With tears In her eyes, she said to him:
''There must be no GOODNESS between yot
and me. l lost my temper. and spok'
shamefully to You. My dear. | am indeed
sorry for Il. You are never hard on ME
you won't be hard on me nowi"
She offered her hand TO him. He hat
Just raised IL 10 his lips-when the draw
ing-room door was roughly opened. The.
both looked round.
The man OF all others whom Hugh leas
desired to see was the man who now en-
tered the room. The victim OF "ligh
claret"-privately directed TO Turk In I'll,
street, until he saw a handkerchief nutter
ing at the window-had returned to tn
house; primed with his clever wife's Ia
structions: ready aud eager to be eve
with Mountjoy for the dinner at the Inn.
CHAPTER Ix.-MR. vIMPANY ON ISroxIcA
TON.
There was no u~usteadiness in the doc
tors walk, and no fush on his face. ii
certainly did strut when he entered tn
room: aud he held up his head with digul
seemed to preserve his s~elf-control. Wa
the man sober again already
His wife approached him with her sc
smile, the appearance of her lord and mas
ter filed Mrs. vimpany with perfectly rs
sumcd emotions OF agreeable surprise.
This Is an unexpected pleasure" sh
said. 'You seldom favor us with yon
company. my dear, SO early in the even
ing. Are there fewer patients In van o
your advice than usual,"
"You are mistaken. Arabella. an
here In the performance of a uainful duty.
The doctors language and the doctor
manner pres ented him to Iris in a charac
ter thai was new to her. What effect ha,
he produced on Mrs. Vimpauys That ex
cellent friend to travellers la distress low
cred her eyes to the floor AND modesto,
preserved silence. Mr.. vimpauy proceed
ed to the performances OF his duty: his pain
ful responsibility seemed TO strike him n
drst from . medical point Of view.
III there Ia q poison which undermine
the sources OF lffe." he remarked, lit
alcohol. II there L. vice that degrade
humanity, it q intoxication. Mr.. Mount
jos, are you aware that | am looking a
you"
Impossible not to DO aware OF taat,
Hugh answered. MAY I ask why you ar
looking ut met' II was not easy to listel
gravety 20 Mr.. vtmpanv's denunciatiou o
intemperance after what had taken placa
It the dinner Of that day. Hugh smiled
The moral r-atesty OF the doctor entere'
This z really :h.msful," he said