Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1899-11-30
CHAPTER Ii.
The Confession.


on a party of pleasure where you say,
he would have told me"
Il assure you, Lady Chandos, that il
is true, Captain Blake spoke to him
there, and Lady Evelyn saw him.
Madame Nanira was with him
The speakers were Lady Chandos
and Lady Iltield the place was the
drawing-room at Stoneland House; the
time was half past three in the after
noon; and Lady Ilfield had called on
her friend because the news which she
had heard preyed upon her mind and
she felt that she must reveal it. Like
all Observation-Disclosures Lady lltield per-
suaded herself that she was acting
uron conscientious motives; she her.
self had no nonsensical ideas about
singers and actresses; they We're quite
out Of her sphere, quite beneath her
notice, and no good, she was in the
habit of saying, ever came from aSso
ciating with them. She had met
Madame Vanira several times at Stone
land House, and had always felt an
noyed over it, but her idea was that a
singer, an actress, let her be beautiful
as a goddess and talented above all
other women. had no right to stand on
terms of any particular friendship
with Lord Chandos. Lady Ilfield per-
suaded herself it was her duty, her alb
solute Christian duty, to let Lady
Chandos know what was going on.
Sh was quite sure of the truth of what
she had to tell, and she chose beauti-
full, sunshiny afternoon for telling it,.
She wore look of the greatest impor-
tance-she seated herself quite close
to Lady Marion.
MY dear Lady Chandos," she said,
81 have called on most unpleasant duty.
am quite sure l ought to tell you, and
I really do not know how. People are
saying such things-you ought to
know them"
The fair, sweet face lost none of its
tranquility, none of it's calm How
to be stabbed by this woman's words?
"The sayings of people trouble me
but little, Lady Ilfield,' she replied,
with a calm smile.
What have to say concerns you"
she said, concerns you very much.
would not tell you but that consider
it my duty to do so. told Lady Eve
Ign that she, who actually witnessed
he scene, ought to be the one to de-
scribe it, but she absolutely refused:
unpleasant as the duty is it has fallen
on me-"
What duty? what scene?" asked
Lady Chandos, beginning to feel some
thing like alarm "If you have any,
thing to say, Lady Ilfield, anything to
tell me, pray speak out; l am anxious
now to hear it."
Then indeed was Lady Ilfield in her
glory. She fastened to tell the story
How Captain and Lady Evelyn Blake
had gone with few friends for a river
party and at Ousely had seen Lord
Chandos with Madame Vanira, the
great queen of song
Lady Marion's sweet face colored
with Indignation. She denied it EN-
phatically; it was not true. She was
surprised that Lady Ilfield should re-
repeat such calumny.
But, my dear Lady Chandos, it is
true. I should not have fepeated it if
there had been single chance of its
being a falsehood. Lady EVELYN saw
the boat fastened to tree. your nus
band and Madame Vanira sat on the
river bank, and when the captain
spoke to Lord Chandos he seemed
mite annoved at being seem
Lady Marion's fair face grew paler
as she listened; the story seemed so
improbable to her.
Lord Chandos, my husband. does
not know Madame Vanira half so well
as | do" she said. at is | who like
her nay, even love her. 1t is by my
invitation that madame has been to i
my house. Lord Chandos was intro
duced to her by accident. sought her
acquaintance. If people had said she
had teen out for day on the river
with me there would have been some
sense in it."
Lady Ilfield smiled with the air OF I
person possessed of superior know1- I
edge.
my dear Lady Chandos." she said
1T is time your eyes were opened; you
are about the only person in London
who does not know that Lord Chandoe
is Madame Vanira's shadow"
Il do not believe It." was the indig
nant reply. Il would not believe It
Es,s5y Ilfeld, If all London swore II
lady Ilield laughed. and the tingn
Of contemnt in that laugh made the
gentle heart beat with indignation
She rose from her seat.
Il do not doubt" she said. that yoa
came to tell me this with a good-na-
'ured intention ! will give Won cred'.
'or that always, Lady Ilfeld when 7
this painful scene hrf 7
have faith in my husband. Nothiuo
an shake It. And II the story Won tel :
,e trra. am quite sure Lord Chandos
an give good EXPLANATION of It /
oerrnit me 70 eav good-morring. LAZY
field and to decline anv further con- 6