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

shadow. Is that truee"
Lady lltield is gossip, and the
wife who listens to scandal about her
husband lowers herself"
She did not shrink now from his
Sords.
y have not gossiped about you,
tSnce" she said; but wish you
.,urselt to tell me why people talk
about you and Madame Nanira,"
How can tell@ Why do people
talk? Because they have nothing bet
ter to do"
But that did not satisfy her; her
heart aChed; this was not the manner
in which she had expected him to mnct
the charge-so differently either 10
deny it Indignantly, or to give her
some sensible explanation, AS it was,
he seemed to avoid the subject, even
while he owned that II was true
81 am not satisfied, Lance" she said;
you have made me very unhappy, IL
there is anything to tell me tell It
now"
What should have to tell you -
he asked. impatiently.
IL do not know; hut If there is any
particular friendship between Madame
vanira and yourself. tell me now"
1t would have been better II he had
told her II he had made an open con
fession OF his fault, and have listened
to her gentle counsel, but he did not
On the contrary, he looked angrily ut
her.
III you wish to please me, YOU will
not continue this conversation, Marion
In fact, decline to say another word
on the subject. | have said all that
was needful; let it end now"
you say this. knowing that | an
dissatisfied, Lance" said Lady Marioa
81 say 1t, hoping that you intend L
obey me-" he replied.
| without another word, an In perfect
silence, Lady Chandos quilted tn,
room, her heart beating with indiGna
ton.
HE will not explain to me-" she
said, II will find out myself"
She resolved from that moment tc
watch him, and to learn for herself
that which he refused to tell her. She
could not bring herself to believe thai
there was really anything between hei
husband and Madame Nanira. He hat
always been so good, so devoted to her
self
But the result of her watching was
bad 1t showed that her husband hat
other interests. Much of his time was
spent from home. A cloud came be
tween them. When she saw him leay
ing home she was too proud to ash
him where he was going, and IL ever
by chance she did ask, his reply was
never a conciliatory one,
1t was quite by accident she learned
he went often to Highgate. In The
stables were a pair of fine grays, Sh'
liked using them better than any othe
horses they had. and one morning Thu
carriage came to the door with a pai'
of chestnuts she particularly disliked
"Where are the grays?" she asked o
the coaChman.
zone of them fell yesterday, my
| lady" said the man touching his hat
Fell where?" asked Lady Chandos
Coming down Highgate HILL my
lady. 1t is terrible hill-so steep ant
awkward" replied the man.
Then she would have thought moth
ing of 1t but for n sudden look Of warn
ing she saw fash from the groom e
the coachman, from which she shrewd
~ guessed that they had been told t6
be silent about the visits to Hghgate
Then she remembered that Madame
Vanira lived there. She remembered
how she had spoken Of the hills, of The
fresh air, and the distance from town;
she watched again and found out thn'
her husband went to Highgate nearly
every day, and then Lady Chandos
drew her own conclusions and very
miserable ones they were.
The cloud between them deepened
deepened daily; all her loving amlabil'
lty, her gentle, caressing manner van
IBHtu, DHt blltnLt "hI'hihi
suspicious, no passion deterIorates the
human mind or the human heart more
quickly than jealousy. If, during those
watchful days, Lord Chandos had once
told his wife the plain truth, she would
have forgiven him. have taken him
from the scene of his danger, and al
might have gone well, AS II was, all
went wrong.
One day n sense OF regret for her
lost happiness came over her, and she
determined to speak to him about IT.
She would destroy this shadow that lay
between them; she would dispel the
cloud Surely he would do anything
for her sake-she would have given up
the world for him. He was alone in
his study. in the cleaning OF bright
day. when she went In to him and
stood once more by his side.
Lance" she said, bending her fair.
sweet face over his Lance. | want
to speak to you again. am not happy
dear there is a cloud between u.s. and
Il is killing me. You love me. Lance
DO you not?"
H.. 4