Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1895-08-10

StTOUklg duu SLFhubsAy CDNtFdSkeu. buc
two confronted each other on the stairs.
The faded woman. wan and CHASTITY I'M
der cruel stress Of mental suffering, stood
face to face with a fine, tall. 1.-THE a
In the prime OF his health and strength.
Here were the bright blue eyes. the win
ming smile, and the natural grace of move
ment, which find their w WAY to favor
Ia the estimation of the gentler sex. This
lrreclaimable wanderer among the peril
Gus by-ways OF the earth-christened
Irish blackguard," among respectable
members of society, when they spoke OF
him behind his back-attracted attention,
even among the men. Looking at his
daring, finely formed face, they noticed
las an exception to a general rule, In these
days. the total suppression, by the razor,
of whiskers, mustache and beard. Stran-
gers wondered whether Lord Harry was
an actor or a Roman Catholic priest.
Among chance acquaintances, those few
favorites OF nature who are possessed Of
active brains, guessed that his life of adj
venture might well have rendered dis
guise necessary TO his safety In more than
bne part OF the world. Some lines they
boldly put the question TO him. The hot
temper OF an Irishman. in moments OF ex-
element, Is not ~infrequently "A sweet tenn
per In moments Of calm What they call
ed Lord Harry's good nature owned really
that he had beSn indebted. on certain oc-
c~asions. to the protection of a false beard,
and perhaps a coloring OF his face and hair
to match. The same easy disposition now
asserted itself. under the merciless enmity
of Mrs. Vimpsny's eyes.
1T / have lone anything to offend you"
he said. with an air of puzzled humility,
'I'm sure / am sorry for II. Don't be an
CRY, Arabella, with an old friend. Why
won't You shake hands,"
II have kept your secret anG done your
dirty work,"Mrs. Vimpany replied. and
syhaf 10 N rawardS Niua Haplay aau tnll
you how your Irish laundering has ruined
me In a lady's estimation. Shake hands,
tndeedf YOU will never shake hands with
me again as long as you live"
She said those words without looking at
him: her eyes were resting on Iris now.
From the moment when she had seen the
two together, she knew that it was all
over: further denial in the face of plain
proofs would be useless indeed! Submis-
Sion was the one alternative left"
Miss Henley" she said, III you can feel
pity for another woman's sorrow and
shame. let me have a last word with you
out OF this mans hearing
There was nothing artificial in her tones,
or her looks: no acting could have initiated
the sad sincerity with which she spoke.
Touched by that change, Iris accompanied
her as she assembled the stairs. Attor a
little hesitation, Lord Harry followed
them. Mrs. Vimpany turned on him
I W = NlCy ~ ~ Twin ANhA
ing. Must | shut the door in your facet
she asked.
He was as pleasantly patient as aver.
You needn't take the trouble TO do that,
my dear; I'll only ask your leave to sit
down aud wait on the stairs. When yop
nave done with Miss Henley. just call me
In. And, by the way, don't be alarmed In
case Of a little noise-Say "a heavy man
tumbling downstairs. IL the blackguard
it's you misfortune To be married tC
happens to show himself, | shall be under
the necessity Of kicking him. That's allr
Mrs. Vimpany closed the door. She
spoke to Iris respectfully, as she might
have addressed a stranger occupying
higher rank in life than herself.
"There is an end. madam, TO our short
acquaintance; and, as we both know, ar
end for ever. When we first met--let me
tell the truth at last!-i felt a malicious
pleasure in deceiving you. After that
time | was surprised 10 find that you grew
IN my liking. Can you understand the
wickedness that tried TO resist your IL
was useless: your good influence has been
too strong for me. Strange! isn't 1t,
have lived a Afe of deceit among the peo
pie. What could you expect OF me after
THAR / hesped lies upon lies-I would
have denied Chat the sun was liz the heay.
sns-rather than find myself degraded In
-FOUR opinion. Welli that is oil over
useless. quite useless now. Pray don't
mistake me. ] am not attempting to ex-
chse myself; a confession was due TO you:
the confession is made. II is too late to
hope thai you will forgive me. II you will
permit 1t, have only one favor 70 ask.
Forgive me-"
ste turned away with q last hopeless
look, which said as plainly as If in words:
II am not worth a reply"
Generous Iris insisted on speaking to
her.
II believe you are truly sorry for what
you nave DONE" she said: II can never
forget that can never forget you" She
held out her plying hand Mrs. Vimpany
was too bitterly conscious OF the past 10
touch il. Even u spy is not beneath the
universal reach OF the heart-ache. There
teere tears In the miserable woman's eyes
when she had looked her last ut Iris Hen
ley.
cHAPrER xIL-LoRD HARRY's DEFENSE.
After a short interval, the drawing room
door was opened again. Waiting on the
threshold the Irish lord asked II he might
come In.
Iris replied coldly. This is not my
house" she said; II must leave you to de-
eide for Yourself"
Lord Harry crossed the room to speak to
hsr-and stopped. There was no sign of
yslenting towards him In that dearly
loved face. ~ wonder whether IL would
be q relief to you" he suggested. with
piteops humility, "if I went away"
have said Yes" Where is the woman to
be found. In her place. with a heart hard
anongh to have set her that examples
ehe pointed to q chair. He felt her in
pulse of the moment, ne attempted to ex-
cuse his conduct.
''There Is only one thing that I can say
for myself" he confessed. IL didn't be-
gin BY deceiving you. While you had
your eye on me- Iris. ! was an honorable
This extraordinary defense reduced her
10 silence. Was there another man In the
world who would have pleaded for pardon
"Im afraid / have not made myself un.
derstood." he said. May l try AGAIN."
The yagsbond nobleman made a reso
lutte effort to explain himself Intelligent
''hSee nowI We said good-hye, over there.
In the poor old island. Well, indeed 1
meant Il. when I owned that l was I'm
worthy Of you. I didn't contradict you,
when you said you could never be my
wife, after such n lie as | have led. Aud.
do remember, I submitted to your return
fhg TO England. without presuming to
make q complaint. All, my sweet girl, IL
MI easy to submit, while l could look at
you, and hear the sound OF your voice,
and beg for that last kiss-and get it.
Reverend gentlemen talk about the fall
of Adam. What was that to the fall of
Harry, when he was back In his own little
cottage, without the hope Of ever seeing
You againi To the best Of my recollec.
ton, the serpent that tempted Eve was up
q tree. found the serpent that tempted
me, sitting waiting IN my own armchair.
and bent on nothing worse than borrow
ting q tribe Of money. Need | say who she
wasf don't doubt that you think her q
wicked woman"
Never ready IN speaking OF acts Of kind
meas. on her own part, Iris answered with
some little reserve: II have learned To
think better OF Mrs. vimpany than you
suppose"
Lord Harry began to look like . happy
man. for the first time since he had enter
I'd the room.
III ought to have known it!" he burst
ont. Yours Is the well-balancsd mind,
dear, that tsnpers Justice with mercy
Mother vjmpaKt has had o hard life Of II.
Just change plaoss with her for . minute
OF so-And you'll understand what she
has lad to 90 through. Find yourself. foi
Instance, In Ireland, without the means to
TIA req back 70 England. Add TO that,
. RH6bahd who dsAds you away to make