Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1898-03-03
CHAPTER XVIII.

Lord Winslelgh did not move. Sir
Philip fixed his eyes upon her in sill
ence. Some occult fascination forced
her to meet his glance, and the utter
scorn of 1t stung her proud heart to
Its centre. Not that she felt much
compunction-her whole soul was up
IN arms against him, and had been so
from the very day she was told of his
unexpected marriage. His evident
contempt now irritated her-she was
angrier with him than ever. and yet
she had sort OF strange triumph in
! the petty vengeance she had designed
she had destroyed us happiness for
a time, at least Ii she could but
shake his belief in his wife! she
thought vindictively. TO that end she
had thrown out her evil hint respect
ing Thelma's affection for George Lor-
inner, but the shaft had been aimed
uselessly. Errington knew too well
the stainless purity of Thelma to
wrong her by the smallest doubt. and
he would have staked his life on the
loyalty of his friend Presently he
C, ntrolled his anger sufficiently to be
able to speak, and still cycling her
with that straight. keen look OF i'm
measurable disdain, he said In cold,
deliberate accents
Your ladyship Is in error, the ac-
tIess in question Is the wife of my
secretary, Mr.. Neville. For years they
have been estranged my visits to her
were entirely on Nevilles behalf-Len-
nox must have known the truth all
along,-Violet We're has been his mis-
tress for the past five years."
He uttered the concluding words
with intense bitterness. A strange be-
widered horror passed over Lady
Winsleigh's face.
81 don't believe It," she said rather
family
Believe 1t or not, it Is true!" he
replied curtly. ASK the manager of
the Brilliant If you 'loubt me. Wins
leigh. it's no use my stopping here any
longer. AS her ladyshlp refuses to
give any explanation"
Wait moment Burlington" inter
posed Lord Winsleigh in his coolest
and most methodical manner. Her
ladyship refuses-but | do not refuse!
Her ladyship will not speak-she al
lows her husband to speak for her.
Therefore" and he smiled at his as
tonished wife somewhat sardonically,
Il may tell you at once, that her lady
ship admits to having purchased from
Violet We're for the sum OF f20 the let
ter which she afterwards took with
her own hands to your wife" Lady
N!nsleigh uttered an angry excla-
alton.
Don't interrupt me, Clara, II you
please" he said with an icy smile,
We have so many sympathies in
common that I'm sure | shall be able
to explain your unspoken meanings
quite clearly" He went on address,
ing himself to Errington, who stood
utterly amazed,
Her ladyship desires me to assure
sou that her only excuse for her action
In this matter is, that she fully be-
lieyed the reports her friend, Sir Fran
els Lennox, gave her concerning your
supposed intimacy with the actress in
question. and that, believing 1t. she
made use of it as much as possible for
the purpose of destroying your wife's |
p ace of mind and confidence in YOU
her object was most purely feminine |
love of mischief. and the qualification /
of rtivate spite! There's nothing like
irankuess!" and Lord Winsleigh's face |
was 4 positive study as he spoke
lyon see" he made slight gesture
towards his wife, who stood speeches.. /
and SO pale that her very lips were
colorless"her ladyship is not in
pc sition to deny what have said. |
Excuse her silence,"