Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1899-11-30
CHAPTER LII.
A Gathering Cloud.

why have You done this"
He was quite nj a loss what to say to
her; he was grieved for her, veNed
tai emotions caused him to turn
angrily round to her.
why did you take her" What is
Madame Vanira to you?" she asked.
My dear Marion, can YOU see any
harm in my giving madame q days
holiday and rest, whether on water or
on land?'
She was silent for minute before
she answered him.
mo" she replied, "the harm lay in
cnncealing it from me; il you had told
RE about it would have gone with
you,"
Poor simple, innocent Lady Marion!
The words touched him deeply; ne
thought of the boat among the water
lilies. the beautiful, passionate voice
Heating over the water, the beautiful.
passionate face, with its defiance as the
words Of the sweet, sad song fell from
her lips.
Lance, why did you not tell me-?
Why did you not ask me to so with
you? l cannot understand"
When man has no proper excuse
10 make, no sensible reason to give,
he takes refuge in anger. Lord Chcn-
dos did that now; he was quite at a
loss what to say; he knew that he had
done wrong; that he could say nothing
which could set matters straight; oh
viously the best thing to do was TO
grow angry with his wife.
Il cannot see much harm in 1t, he
said. Il should not suppose that am
the first gentleman in England who
has taken lady out for holiday and
folt himself highly honored in so do
ing"
but, Lance" repeated his fair wife,
sorrowfully. why did you not take me
or tell me?"
my dear Marion, did not think
that was compelled to tell you every
action of my life, everywhere | went,
everything l did, every one see; |
would never submit to such thing,
OF all things in the world, abhor the
idea Of jealous wife"
She rose from her knees, her fair
face growing paler, and stood looking
at him with strangely perplexed,
wondering gaze.
81 cannot argue with YOU. Lance"
she said, gently; II cannot dispute
what you say. You are your own
master you have perfect right to go
where you will and with whom you
will, but my instinct and my heart tell
me that you are wrong. You have no
right to take any lady out without tell
ing me. You belong to me and to no
one else"
my dear Marion. you are talking
nonsense, he said, abruptly; you
know nothing of the world Pray
cease"
She looked at him with more Of
of anger on her face than he had ever
seen before.
Lord Chandos," she said. is this
all you have to say to me? | am told
that you have spent n whole day in the
society of the most beautiful actress in
the world, perhaps, and when | ask
for an explanation you have none to
give me-"
No" he replied, II have none"
Lane, | do not like it," she said
slowly; "and ! do not understand. |
thought Madame Vanira was SO good
and true?"
$50 she is" he replied. You must
not say a word against her"
Il have no wish; but if she Is 30
good why should she try to take my
husband from me?"
"She has not done So" he replied,
angrily. Marion. will not be
annoyed by a jealous wife"
when I am told such a story, and it
81 am not Jealous" she replied; but
proves to be true, what am I to do?"
Say nothing. Marion which is al
ways the wisest thing a woman can
do" he replied.
His wife gazed at him with proud In
dignation.
II do not like the tone in which you
speak Of this Tell me frankly, Is It
with Madame Vanira You spend all the
time which you pass away from
home2"
81 shall say nothing OF Madame Va
Mira" he replied.
She drew nearer to him: she laid one |
white hand on his shoulder and looked |
wistfully into his face
Lance" she said ARE we to quar-
rel-over a woman, too?" ] will NOT
believe 1t. You have always been hon
est with me Tell me what Madame
Vanira Is to you"
"She Is nothing to me" he replied.
Then the remembrance Of what she
had been to him came over him and
'ro2e the words on his .lps His wife
was quick to notice II.
You cannot say it with truth. Oh, II
lance. how you pain me-"
There was such absolute. physical
pain in her face that he was grieyed.
Say no more about II, Marion" he ;
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