Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1895-11-16

CoDi| scOunNreI felOl9eti.
As he made that insolent reply Fanny
came in again. with n sufficient excuse for
her temperance. she announced hat n
PERSON from the hospital wished TO speak
to the English doctor.
The messenger proved TO be n Young man
employed IN the secrctary's Office. Oxbye
soil persistinG In his desire o be placed
under Mr.. Vimpauy's care, one last re.
sponsibility rested on the official gentle
men now IN charge OF him.
They could implicitls rust the medical
assistance and the gracious hospitality of.
fered TO the poor Danish patient: but. lie.
fore he left them. they must also be salts.
fed that he would be attended 10y n com.
petent nurse. Ii the person whom Mr.
Nimpany proposed to employ in this en-.
pacity could be brought TO the hospital. il
wouid be esteemed a favor; and. II her
account OF herself satisfied the physician
in charge of OXD e's case. the Dane might
be remove to his new quarters on the
same day.
The next morning witnessed the first 10
a series OF domestic incidents at the cot.
tage which no prophetic ingenuity conld
have foreseen. Mr.. Vimpauv and Fanny
Mere herself left Passy together for Paris
The day on which the doctor took hs
newly appointed nurse with him 10 the
no pltal became an occasion associated
with distressing recollecticns ~ he mer:.
ogy Of Iris.
In the morning Fanny Mere had asked
Tor leave to 60 out. For some time past
tins request had been so frequently grant.
Ell. with such poor results so far as the
maids " designs were concerned. that
Lady Harry decided on administering n
t8cit reproof by means of "A refusal. Fan
ny made no attempt ut rcmonstrance: SIN
left the room in silence.
Half an hour later Iris had occasion &c
ring for her attendant. The bell was an.
swered by the cook. who announced, In
explanation OF her appearance, that Fanny
Mere had gone ont. More distressed thar
displeased by this reckless disregard OF
her authority on the part of q woman who
had hitherto expressed the most grateful
sense of her kindness. Iris only said
Send Fanny to me as soon as she comes
back
Two hours passed before the trutnt maic
returned.
Il refused 10 let you 90 ont this morn
ing LAZY Harry said. land you have
taken the liberty OF leaving the house fol
two hours. You might have made me un-
derstand. in i more becoming manner
that Won inteaded 10 leave my service"
Steadily respectful, Fanny answered
81 don't wish 10 leave your ladyship's ser
vice
Then what does your conduct meaui"
at means, If OF please, that | had {
duty To do-1nd did it,"
"A duty 10 yourself?" Iris asked.
"No, my lady; a duty TO you"
As she made that strange reply the dooi
was opened, aud Lord Harry entered tn,
room. When he saw Fanny Mere h,
turned away again, In a hurry 10 go out
Il didu't know your maid was with you,'
he said. Another time will do"
His permitting a servant 10 be an obsta
Gle IN his way when lac wished To speak Il
his wife vas "A concession so entirely IN
becoming ia the master of the house aIo
so strangely contrary TO his CUSTOMARY
sense OF What was due 10 himself that Irl:
called him back in establishment. she
looked at her maid, who at once under
stood her, aud withdrew.
What can you possibly be thinking
OFF, she said to her husband, when they
were alone. Putting that question, she
noticed au embarrassment ia his name
and an appearance OF confusion in hi!
face which alarmed her. Has some
thing ~happenedf' she asked; ''and Is 1t Sc
serious that you hesitate To mention it Il
me.h
lie sat dow. Nv her and took her hand.
The loving look in his eyes, which she
knew 80 well. was not in them now: they
expressed doubt and something with Il
which suggested au effort at Cancellation
81 am fearing | shall surprise you," hs
said.
Don't keep me in suspensey' she re-
turned. what is ity'
lie smiled uneasily: cts something
about Vimpany."
Having got as far as that, he stopped
She drew her hand away from him. -.
understand now" she said. Il mus
endeavor 10 control myself-you hay,
something 10 tell me which will try my
temper"
IL .-fl 49, 1t, l,-1, - $50
test: "Ah, my Daring, here's your ylvic
Imagination again, making mountains ou'
OF molehiils, as they say! lis nothing
half 50 serious as you seem to think; / nav,
only TO tell you OF "A little change"
"A little changer" she repeated. "Wha
changer"
We'll, my dear. you see" He hest
tated and recovered himself. II mean yol
must know hat Vimpany's plans are al
tered. He won't any longer occupy his
bedroom in the cottage here"
his looked inexnressiblv relieved Go
ing away nj laStt'' she exclaimed. "Oh,
Harry, il you have been mystifying me
hope you will never do it again. 1t isn't
like you: it's cruel TO alarm me about
nothing. Mr.. Vimpany's empty bedroom
will be the most interesting room in the
house when ] look into it to night"
Lord Harry got up and walked to the
window. As a sign of trouble in his mind.
aud OF nm instructive effort to relieve il.
the object OF this movement was well
known to Iris. She followed him and
stood by his side. liz was now plain to her
that there was something more TO be told
and that he was hesitating how to con-
fide IL to his wife.
Go on" she said. resignedly.
He had expected her 10 take his arm, or
perhaps TO caress him, or at least 10 en-
courage him by her g~entlest words and
her prettiest smiles. The steady %self-re-
straint which she now manifested was a
sign. as he INTERPRETED IL, OF suppressed re-
sentiment. Shrinking, honestly shrinking,
from the bare possibility OF another quar-
rel, he confronted the hard necessities OF
further confession.
We'll, now" he said. "it's only this
you mustn't look into the empty bedroom
tonight"
"Why not,"
"Ah. for the best OF all good reasonsi
Because you might fiud somebody in
there."
II asked you. Harry, whether the per
son who is TO occupy our spare bedroom
tonight was u OF Mr.. Vimpany's
friendsf"
Say one OF Mr.. vimpany's patients
and Won will be nearer the truth" he an
swered, with an outburst of impatience.
She could hardly believe him. "'Do
you mean n person who is really illi" she
said.
"Of course I mean it," he said, irritated
into speaking ont at last.
"A MANI or a woman"
"a man."
NAV | ask you IL he comes from En-
glandi"
"He comes from one of the French hos
pitfalls. Anything moreg'
Iris left her husband to recover his good
humor, aud went back to her chair. The
extraordinary disclosure which she had
extracted from him had produced q stupe-
flying effect on her mind. Her customary
sympathy with him. her subtle, womanly
observation of his character, her intimate
knowledge OF his merits and his defects,
failed to find the rational motive which
might have explained his conduct. She
looked round at him with mingled feelings
of u~erplexity and distrust.
u, was still at the window, but he had
turned his back on the view of the garden,
his eyes were liked In furtive expectation,
on his wife. Was no waiting to hear ner
say something morei She the risk
wad said il.
IL don't quite understand the sacrifice
you seem to be making to Mr.. vimpany,"
she confessed. "Wiu you tell me, dear,
what IL meansl"
Here was the opportunity offered of fol-
lowing the doctors advice, and putting
his wife's cre,lulity TO the test. With her
knowledge Of Vimpany, would she really
believe the story which had imposed OF
tha strapuars who mauaua1 tha hnonftnlf