Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1898-07-27

to know, yet he admired her all the
more for the dignity and reticence which
prompted her to hide her sufferings
from the eyes Of the world. That she
had suffered there could be no doubt,
but at whose hands? Was she the vic
tim of mans treachery and brutality?
Had Mr.. Long treated her badly? or was
she simply a disconsoIate widow, mourn
ing her husband? Never mind. Wife or
widow, she was a charming woman,
one to whom a man could speak freely,
i'll the delightful certainty of being
quickly and fully understood. SO far as
lay in his power, Mr.. Fenton determined
to do his utmost to brighten her narrow,
ioyless life. For instance, she had
spoken of her loneliness. Country So
ers,' she said. II know nobody here"
Well, that was soon remedied A word
to Lady Louisa Ryland, the most hos
pitable woman that ever kept a neigh
horbood alive, and the thing was done:
The word was spoken. He walked
across to lunch the next morning on pur-
pose-but the thing was not done.
Il shall be charmed to do anything in
my power for any friend of yours" de-
clared her ladyship. ''Tell me all about
her. Who is she? One of the Hamp-
shire or Yorkshire Longs? And where is
Mr.. Long? Is she making a long stay
here?"
REALLY, Lady Louisa, it never oc-
CURED to me to ask for Mrs. Longs pedi-
gree before making her acquaintance"
was the answer. "All I know is that
she is a charming person, a perfect lady,
| that she seems lonely and delicate, and I
am sure would greatly appreciate any at
| tention you might show her"
Lady Louisa's manner altered. 81 sec"
| she murmured vaguely, wondering how
any man could have so little sense of the
| fitness of things as to try and foist the
woman upon decent society. 1T is un-
fortunate, for on account OF the girls |
have to be careful. Howeyer''-as a CON
cessiOn to the owner OF AbbottsthOrpe
Park-"1 will talk to Mrs. Riddell. the
rector wife. l am going to town my
self shortly, but, if all is we'll. I might
send Mrs. Long card for my Whitsun-
tide garden party" an omnium gatherum
to which all the neighborhood, tenantry
| and tradespeOple, sent representatives.
Oh, the Grass stupidity and narrow
mlndedneSs of these country squiresses!
Young Eenton went away raging. N
mind. Since AbbOttsrhorpe society chose
to boycott one whose little finger was
worth ali their eminently unattractive
persons ten times over, all the more rea-
son he should show himself superior to
such petty prejudice and want of charity.
And SO hencefOrth he made a point of
| showing Mrs. Long every attention in his
power. He went to see her every day.
| de sent her flowers and fruit; and, if she
| would have allowed it. he would have
placed a horse and carriage at her dis
posal. And so, since he had done every
thlng he possibly could for her, he was
| good deal taken aback when one day, Il
! nave crow to pluck with you she said
reproachfully. You do not treat me with
Ine franknesS one expects from a friend
| why, tor instance, have you concealed
the fact of your engagement from me?"
., what was he, to say? Anything but
h 1oplx- no.
ne mad forgotten Glare as completely as
| II she had never existed
| -, Engaged people are such bores when
| they prose about one another he an
swered vaguely. Besides, Clare and I
are not the regulation idiots who can
! themselves"
Which means that / am impairment
IN mentioning your private affairs, and
| that you mean to keep your tiancee to
yourself. Very well, 1 will not offend
| again."
She impertinent! He offended, Was
ever mistake more absurd, more uncaIled
Tor! on are quite wrong"' he burst
out. l Will tell you anything and every
| thlng you want to know. From you
| have no secrets. If [ didn't speak Of
myself 1t was only because 1 was afraid
OF boring you. and also because when |
am with you, / forget everything and ev-
YOU
Il believe you are the best and truest
| frlend that ever a woman was privileged
to ind, she said softly, land, being so,
| never doubt that everything which CON
| Germs you is of supreme interest TO me-
Do not hesitate, then, to tel me of your
| pursults-yoUr hunting, your shooting
| your yacht, your - She broke off BY
! the way, are you the Mr. FentOn of whom
the papers Just now are SO full mean
as the owner OF horse which is run
ming in the Derby? You are? And is it
| going TO win? Oh, hope sou
He smiled. $50 do I, for if it doesn't
| shall drop a good deal more money than
can conveniently spare"
But It IS sure to win, is it not?' she
said So - IL ~ F." 'i''' 'e- .
Oh, the adorable naivete of the woman
Again he smiled. My dear lady, the
only certainty in connection with racing
IS the glorious uncertainty of what may
come to pass" he declared; the truth of
which assertion was brought home to him
the next morning by a telegram announc-
ing, in guarded terms, the news of Soil
taire's breakdown. Here was a pretty
kettle of fish! L must be off to town at
once, before the thing gets wind, and
hedge he declared. Yet he had prom
iised to escort Mrs. Long bicycling, and
he was 10th to disappoint her and him
self also. Could he do his business by
wire? No, no. Such orders as he had
to give must be given by word Of mouth
He must start in good time, call at the
| cottage, and explain that business called
| him away. He did so, arriving in the
nick of time to save his friend a loss she
| could but i'll afford. For ina CINE what the
dear, good creature had done. Il have
| come into small legacy" she told him,
| "a hundred pounds or so, a large sum to
| me. l ought to be satisfied with it. but
am not. And so I have made up my
| mind to a bold coup, and have written
| to friend who understands these mat
| ters to back your horse for me. l shall
| win small fortune, [ am sure of it.
| Your horse would never be so cruel as to
| disappoint me-
! But he was in no mood for such pref
ty batteries. Have you posted the let
| ter he asked abruptly.
! mo. 1t will go
! ''Then tear it up. Solitaire will never
win another shilling for you or anybody
| ing"
1t was here that Mrs. Long showed