The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1895-07-06

CHAPTER IV.-TIIE GAME-MoUNTJOY LOSES.
Surprise siIanced Hugh for the mo.
ment. Iris understood the look that he
fixed on her, and answered it. Il am
quite sure she told him. 'of what | say"
Mountiov's well-balanced mind hesitat-
ed at rushing to conclusion.
II am sure you are convinced Of what
you tell me-" he said. But mistakes dc
sometimes happen in forming a judgment
OF haudwriting.n
In the state of excitement that now pos
sesscd her Iris was easily irritutcd; she was
angry with Hugh for only supposiug that
she might have made n mistake. He had
himself. ms 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 qunintly formed?
on, Hugh, ! am miserable enough as il
is" she broke out; don't distract me BY
disputing what know. Think of n wo.
man so kind, so DISTINGUISHED, so charm.
lng-the very opposite of II false creature
think OF Mrs. Nimpany having deceived
meih
There was not the slightest reason. thus
far. for placing hatinterprctatiou on what
had happened. Mouutjoy gently, very
gently, demonstrated.
My dear, we really don't know yet tina:
Mrs. Simpany has been acting under LORD
Harry's instructions. Wait a l:ttle before
YOU suspect your fellow traveller of offer.
ing her services for the purpose of dcceiv.
ing you"
Iris was angry with him again: "Why
did Mrs. Eiripany never tell me that she
knew Lord Harry? Isn't that suspicious,'
Mountioy smiled. Let me put n ques
ton on my side" he said did you tell
Mrs. Nimpany YOU knew Lord Harry''
iris made no reply: her face spoke for her
well, then he urged, lis yonr silence
suspicious? am far, mind, from saying
that this NAV no be Il very unpleasant
discovery. Only let Us be sure first that
we are right
With most of a womnn's merits, Mis-.
Henley had many of II womau's faults.
sui holding To her W conclusion, sht
asked how they could expect to be sure
of anything If they addressed their inquir
les to n person who had already deceived
them.
Mountioy's i%nexhanstible Indulgence
still made allowances for her. "NVhel
Mrs. Vimpany comes back" he said, Il
will find an opportunity of mentioning
Lord Harry's name. If she tells us tnal
she knows him. there will be good reason
in that one circumstance, as it seems tc
me. for continuing to trust her.
Suppose she shams ignorance" Iris per
sisted, land looks us if She had ncverheard
of his name beforc?'
in that case, shall own that l was
wrong, and shall ask you to forgive me-"
Inc finer and better nature of Iris re.
covered its influence at these words. at
is | who ought to beg pardon" she said.
oh, ] wish | could think before | speak:
how insolcnt and ill-tcmpered | have been
But suppose | turn out to be right, Hugh
what will You do them"
Then, my dear, it will be my duty to
take you and your maid away from this
house. and to tell your father what serious
lteasons there are" He abruptly checked
himself. Mrs. Vimpauy had returned; she
was III perfect possession OF her lofty
courtesy, swcetcned by the modest dignity
of her smile.
II have left you, Miss Henley, in such
good company" she said, with Il gracious
inclination of her head in the direction
OF Mountjoy, that | need hardly repcui
my apolosies-unless, indeed, | am inter
rupting IL confidential conversation"
1t WAS possible that Iris might have be.
trased herself. when the DOCTORS wife had
looked at her after examining the address
on the packet. In this case Mrs. Nimp-
"iv,. ''lusipu to "a cnlA1antiul cpnverS.l-
ton" would AVE operated az n warning
TO n person of experience in the hy-ways of
cunning was not capable of protecting him
on such conditions rs these. The oppor-
tunity of trying his proposed experiment
with Lord llarry's name seemed to have
presented itself already. He rashly seized
on it.
LOU HAVE interrupted NulnlIlS iIftl WAS
CONFIDENTIAL he FASTENED to assure Mrs.
Ninlpany. eve have been speaking of a
reckless young gentleman, who Is AN ac-
quainthnce of ours. If what | hear is true
he has already become public property: his
adventures have found their way into
some of the newspapers"
Here, il Mrs. Nimpany had answered
Hugh's cNpectations. she ought to have
asked who the young gentleman was. she
merely listened in polite silence.
With n woman's %qnickness of percep-
ton, Iris saw that Mountjoy had no.! only
pounced on his opportunity prcmaturely,
but had spoken with Il downright direct
ness of a~llusion which must at once have
put such a re~ady-witted person as Mrs.
Niinpany or her guard. in trying to pre-
vent him from pursuing his unfortunate
experiment in social diplomacy, Iris limo
cently repeated Mountjoy's own mistake.
She, too, seized her opportunity prcma-
turely. That is to say, she was rash enough
to cti;ng the subject.
You were talking just now, Hugh, of
our friends adventures" she said; II am
afraid YOU will find Yourself involved in
an adventure of no very agreeable kind,
if on engage II bed ut the inn. | never
saw a more wrctchcl- looking place"
1t was one of Mrs. Nimpnny's many
merits that she seldom neglected an op-
portunity of setting her friends at their
ease.
no, no, dear Miss Henley" she hasten
cd osay; the inn is really n more clean
and comfortable place THAI you suppose,
A hard bed and Il scarcity of furniture are
the worst evils which your friend has to
fea:. Do you know" she continued, nd
dressing herself to Mountjoy, that l was
reminded of a friend of mine. when you
spoke just now of the young gentleman
whose adventures are in the ~wspupe
Is it possible that you referred to til
brother Of the present Earl of Norlandy
A handsome young l~rishmnu-with whom
| first became acquainted many year.
since. Am ! right in surprising that yot.