Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1898-01-20
CHAPTER XIV

almes ma guere dure, jeune file; il a
passe CONNIE un coup de vent!'
Old Breton Ballad
| The next morning dawned, cold and
dismal. a dense yellow fog hung over
the metropolis like a pall-the street
lamps were lighted, but their flare
scarcely illumined the thoroughfareg,
| ana bne chill OF the snow burdened air
| penetrated into the warmest rooms,
and made itself felt even by the side
/ OF the brightest fires. Sir Philip woke
with an uncomfortable sense Of head
| the and depression, and grumbled,-
as surely every Englishman has a right
| to grumble, at the uncompromising
Wretchedness OF his country's winter
climate. His humor was not improved
v hen telegram arrived before break
fast, summoning him in haste to dull
town in one OF the Midland counties,
on pressing business connected with
his candidature for Parliament.
What bore!" he exclaimed, show
ing the missive to his wife. Il must
go,-and | shan't be able to get back
tonight. You'll be all alone, Thelma.
| wish you'd go to the Winsleighs!"
"Why?' said Thelma quietly. shall
much prefer to be here. l do not mind,
Philip | am accustomed to be alone"
Something in her tone struck him as
particularly sad, and he looked at her
intently.
Now, my darling" he said sudden
ly If this Parliamentary bother is
making you feel worried or vexed in
any way, I'll throw it all up-by Joye,
Will" And he drew her into his
warm embrace. after ALL" he added
with "a laugh, what does it matter!
The country can get on without mel"
Thelma smiled little.
You must not talk so foolishly,
Philip" she said tenderly. 1T is
wrong TO begin thing Of importance,
and not go through with it. And am
not worried or Vexed at all. What
would people say of me if |, your wife,
were, for my own selfish comfort and
pleasure OF having you always with me,
to prevent you from taking a good
place among the men of your nation?
Indeed, | should deserve much blame!
And so, though it is gloomy day for
you, poor boy,-you must go to this
place where you are wanted, and /
shall think of you all the time you are
gone, and shall be SO happy to welcome
you home tomorrow"
And she kissed and clung to him a
II 0ment in silence. All that day
Philip was haunted by the remem-
her farewell embrace. BY ten O'Clock
brance OF the lingering tenderness of
he was gone, taking Neville with him;
and after her household duties were
over, Thelma prepared herself to go
and lunch with old Mrs. Lorimer, and
see what she would advise concerning
the AFFAIR OF Sir Francis Lennox. But,
ut the same time, she resolved that
nothing should make her speak OF the
reports that We're atloat about her hus-
band and Violet We're
Il know it is all false" she said to
herself over and over again. "And the
people here are as silly as the peasants
in Bosekop, ready to believe any UNI
truth so long as it gives them some
thing to talk about. But they may
chatter as they please shall not say
one word, not even to Philip-for it
would seem as II distrusted him"
Thus she put away all morbid fancies
that Threatened to Cypress her. and be-
came almost cheerful.
And while she made her simple
plans for pleasantly passing the long,
dull day OF her husbands enforced alb
stnce, her friend, Lady Wnsleigh, was
making arrangements OF very differ
ent nature. Her Ladyship had re-
ceived Y telegram from Sir Francis
LonuoX that morning. The pink mis-
siye had apparently put her in an ex-
ccllent humor, though, after reading 1t,
she crumpled it up and threw 1t in the
waste-paper basket, from which re-
cCptacle, Louise Renaud, her astute
attendant, half an hour later extracted
It. sccrcting it in her own pocket for
private perusal at leisure, She ordered
Ter hrougham, saying she was going
out on business, and before departing
she took from her dresstng-case GER
tain bank-notes and crammed them
hastily into her purse purse which
in all good faith, she handed to her
maid to put in her sealskin
muff-bag or course Louise man
aged to make herself aware Of
its contents but when her ladyship
at last entered her carriage her uneN-
pected order. ITO the Brilliant The
atre. strand" was sufficient to startle
Briggs, and cause him to exchange
surprise signals with "Mamzelle,' who
merely smiled a prim, Incompetent
sble smile.
Where did your la'ship say?' asked
Briggs obviously.
Are you getting deaf, Briggs" re-
spcnded his mistress pleasantly. ITO
the Bulliant Thcater!" She raised her
voice, ard spoke with distinct empha-
sis. There was no mistaking her.
Briggs touched his hath tia same
instant he winked at Louise, and then