Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1895-08-31
CHAPTER xx.-rIRsr SUSPICIOUS OF IRIS.

CHAPTER XX.-FIRsT Suspicious OF IRIS.
From the last memorable day, on which
Iris had declared TO him that he might al
ways count on her as his friend but never
as his wife, Hugh had resolved to subject
his feelings TO n rigorous control. AS to
conQuering his hopeless love. he knew but
too well that il would conquer him on any
future occasion when he and Iris happen
ed to meet.
He had been true to his resolution, at
what cost OF suffering he, n he alone,
knew. Sincerely, unaffectedly, he had
tried to remain her friend. But the IA
ture of the truest and the firmest man has
its weak place. where the subtle influence
of a Is concerned. Deeply latent,
beyond the reach of his own power OF
sounding, there was jealousy of the Irish
lord lurking in Mountjoy and secretly
leading his mind when he hesitated in
those emergencies of his life which were
connected with Iris. Ignorant of the in-
fiuence which was really directing him,
he viewed with contempt Mr.. HeDley's
suspicious Of a secret understanding be-
tween his daughter n the man who was,
by he. own acknowledgment, unworthy
OF the love with which IL had been her
misfortune to regard him. At the same
time Hugh's mind was reluctantly In
search OF an explanation which might ac-
count without degrading lris) for her
having been traced 10 the Doctors house.
In his recollection Of events mt the old
countrS town he found a motive for her
renewal Of intercourse with such "A man
as Mr.. Nimpany. in the compassionate
feeling with which she regarded the doc
tors unhappy wife. There Nigh well be
some humiliating circumstance, recently
added to the other trials of Mrs. Vimp-
any's married life, which hadappealed TO
all that was generous aud forgiving in the
,at,s. .F Iris LnnufDn nafhfn1 Of tho
resolution to live apart which had latterly
separated the doctor aud his wife, Mount.
Joy decided on putting his idea to the test
by applying for information TO Mrs. Vimp-
any at her husbands house.
In the nature of u sensitive man the
bare idea of delay. under these circum-
stances, was uncomfortable. Hugh called
the first cab that passed him, and drove 10
Hampstead.
Fundamentally careful, perhaps-not
TO attract attention needlessly to himself.
he stopped the cab at the entrance to
Redburn Road, and approached Number
Five on foot. A ~servant-girl answered the
door. Mountjoy asked II Mrs. Vimpany
was at home.
The girl made no immediate reply. She
seemed TO be puzzled by Mountjoy's sim
pie question. Her familiar manner. with
It's vulgar assumption OF equality in the
presence OF "A stranger, revealed the on
don-bred maid-servan of modern times.
'Did you say Mrs, ~Vimpanys" she inquir-
cd aS SHARPLY.
"There's no such person here"
1t was Mountjoy's turn to be puzzled.
"Is this Mr.. Vimpauy's house. lie said.
Eyes. to be sure IL is"
"And yet Mrs. vimpany doesn't live
herei"
mo Mrs. Vimpany has darkened these
doors" the girl declared positively.
Are you sure you are not making .
mistaken"
quite sure. l have been In the doc.
tors service since he tirst took the -'ouse.n
Determined to solve the mystery, il il
could be done, Mountjoy asked IL he could
see the doctor. No; Mr.. Vimpany had
gone out.
"There's q young person comes to u.s.
the servant continued. II wonder wheth-
er you mean her, when you ask for Mrs.
Vimpanyf The name she gives Is Hen
ley"
"You can't see her-she's engaged"
She was not engaged with Mrs Vimp-
any, for no such person was known to the
house. She was not engaged with the
doctor. for the doctor had gone out.
MountJoy looked at the hat-stand In the
mans greatcoat. To whom did they be-
longs Certainly not to Mr.. Vimpany, who
had gone ont. hepellant ~ IL was, Mr..
Henley's idea that the explanation OF his
daughters conduct was 10 be found In the
renewed influence over her OF the Irish
| lord, now presented itself to Hugh'a mind
under q new point OF view. He tried IN
| vain to resist the impression that had been
produced on him. A sense Of injury.