Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1899-11-27
Continued.

shadow. Is that true?'
Lady Ilfield is a gossip, and the
wife who listens to scandal about her
husband lowers herself"
She did not shrink now from his
words.
"I have not gossiped about you.
Lance" she said; "but I wish you
yourself to tell me why people talk
about you and Madame Vanira."
How can I tell? Why do people
talk9 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 meet
the charge-so differently-either GO
deny it Indignantly, or to give her
some sensible explanation. AS it was
he seemed to avoid the subject, even
while he owned that it was true.
EI am not satisfied, Lance she said;
'you have made me very unhappy. ii
there is anything to tell me tell 1t
now"
What should I have to tell you. -
ne dShOu, ILL
81 do not know; but if there is any
particular friendship between Madame
Vanira and yourself, tell me now
1t would have been better if he had
told her, if 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 at
her.
eff you wish to please me, you will
not continue this conversation, Marion.
In fact, decline to say another word
on the subject. I have said all that
was needful; let it end now"
rYou say this, knowing that am
dissatisfied, Lance" said Lady Marion.
''I say it, hoping that you intend to
obey me" he replied.
without another word, an in perfect
silence, Lady Chandos quilted the
room, her heart beating with indigna-
ton.
"He will not explain to me-" she
said; 81 will find out myself
She resolved from that moment 20
watch him, and to learn for herself
that which he refused to tell her. She
could rot bring herself to believe that
there was really anything between her
husband and Madame Vanira. He had
always been so good, so devoted to her
self
But the result of her watching was
bad. It showed that her husband had
Of h limo
spent from home. A cloud came be-
tween them When she saw him leav-
ing home she was too proud to ask
HIM where he was going, and if even
by chance she did ask, his reply was
never a conciliatory one
1T was quite by accident she learned
ne went often to Highgate. In the
stables were a pair Of fine grays. She
liked using them better than any other
horses they had, and one morning the
carriage came to the door with pair
of chestnuts she particularly disliked.
feWhere are the grays?" she asked OF
the cOachman.
Cone 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 a terrible hill-so steep and
awkward" replied the man.
Then she would have thought moth
ing of it but for sudden look of warn
ing she saw flash from the groom to
the COachman, from which she shrewd-
Iy guessed that they had been told to
be silent about the visits to Highgate.
Then she remembered that Madame
V8nlra 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 that
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 amiabil-
ity, her gentle, caressing manner van
ished. She became silent, watchful,
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 I'll
might have gone well. AS it was, all
went wrong.
One day a 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 a 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, I want
to speak to you again. I am not happy,
dear-There is a cloud between us, and
it is killing me. You love me, Lance,
d