Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1899-08-17
Continued.

pened will ever remain buried as re
CARDS myself. You are just as you are
know you love your husband. II
return for my forbearance | only ash
one favor; when l come to you anC
tell you | have found the lady l should
like to make my wife promise to hell
ne with all your influence"
and what if I refuse?" she added.
'In that case my course is very
simple" he replied; 81 shall go direct
to Lord Lynne and ask him for the
lady who is, or ought to be, my wife
If the English law is against me, and
you are not my wife, your disgrace
will be the greater; my lord will spurn
you. If you are my wife, you must
share your earthly goods with me.
give you the benefit of the doubt
Think twice before you give the world
such delicious dish of scandal over
the fair and dainty Lady Lynne
Hark!" he added suddenly; chat is
nv lords voice. / will wait to see
him: l am anxious to know more OF
him"
Inez could not interfere to prevent
It; she was obliged to stand by calmly
and see her husband touch the hand
of the man she loathed. Then Lord
Lynne went up to his wife and asked If
she was better, and spoke so kindly
and tenderly to her that Rinaldos
dark face grew even darker.
Glow he loves her, that quiet, cool
;cl, loHv VI would
not like to leave him." he said to him
self.
Then the door opened again and
Agatha entered. She looked very
graceful, the fair sweet face wearing
a delicate flush and a dropping white
plume contrasting with the golden
hair. She went up to her sister, and
asked anxiously if she felt better. The
count rose, and Lord Lynne, uncOn-
scious that by that very act he was
commencing tragedy, introduced him
to his sister-in-law.
This" thought Rinaldo to himself,
lis the co-heiress; and a fair, dainty
creature, too"
From that moment his plans were
laid
Thinking to please his wife, Lord
Lynne was most coruial to her friend.
He made him welcome in his generous,
hosptable way; he pressed him to
dine with them, but the look on my
iady's face warned him it were better
TO decline, and not try her too far.
Count RinaldO, who possessed a great,
almost magical power of charming
when he chose, laid himself out to
please Lord Lynne and Agatha. He
interested and amused them; when
he rose to take his leave they begged
him not to be long before he came
again.
eve are going to the opera tOmOr-
row evening" said Lord Lynne. Join
us there, and return with us. Lady
Lynne expects one or two friends to a
petit souper'
Count Rinaldo promised to do so.
"nez," said Agatha, why did you
never tell us that you had such a nice
friend as Count Montalti?"
q do not consider him very nice
said her sister. Il never thought of
naming him; it is so long since I have
seen or heard anything of him."
where did You '.now him." asked
Philip; ''he is on of the best bred
men I ever remember having seen.
did not know you received such courtly
visitors in your old castle of SerrantO.'
Nor did we as rule" she replied
His coming there was quite acct
dental"
at is wonder he did not fall in
love with you, Inez," said Agatha, with
a smile HE must be invulnerable."
"He is the last person l should i'm.
agine any one could love- said Inez
hastily: then seeing something like
surprise on the face Of her husband
and sister, she continued. carelessly
Il am preiudiced, perhaps; but {
frank, noble Englishman. seems to ms
the only kind of man to love. 7 an
heartily tired Of dark foreign faces"
Lord Lynne laughed, and thanked
her for the implied compliment
Agatha smiled, and yet thought he
sisters manner strange.
To her husbands distress. Lad!
Lynne did not recover from the little
indisp0sitiCn that had attacked her OF
the night of the ball. She looked i'll
her spirits were unequal. At time
she seemed to dread going out; an,
again, no persuasion could induce he
to remain at home. They saw he
flushed as with burning fever, an
again pale and cold.
"She has been out too much" h
thought This gay, fashionable If
is too great a change for her. I shal
be glad when the season is over"
Il do not think I shall go to tn
opera tonight" said Lady Lynne t
Agatha 4 am tired,-you can g
with Philip"
LAS you like, dear" replied Agatha
DO you think l can entertain tw
gentlemen? The count is to join u
you know
A sudden thought struck Lad
Lynne, and her face grew pale.
It had half forgotten that" she sait
Il think I will CO.
Agatha wondered why her siste
looked half impatient when she sa
her in her white opera dress.
What pains you have taken wit
your toilette tonight, Agatha!' 81
said. Are you equipped for col
Quest?"
No" replied the young girl, with
smile. "ConQuests are not in my line
She did look very sweet and love
in a dress of rich white lace, witho,
any ornaments. except a simple gree