Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1902-11-06

too speedy to guess. She had a sin
cere if rather fearsome admiration
Tor her hostess, and she kept up
gentle chatter about that lady's nice
ness, to the accompaniment of Ian
guid CALCULATIONS of admiration from
Mr.. Mason, until Armathwaite felt his
brain reeling, and was quite relieved
when Lady Croydon, anxious to draw
on the new arrival to one of her other
and palmer girls, graciously asked
him his opinion as to whether the
aZalea her daughter Carrie was paint
ing had not been rendered by that
young lady a trifie too deep in tone
He crossed the room meekly and criti-
cized, found the paintress a wide
mouthed but pleasant girl, who had
cary recognized that she must cult
vate the art of being agreeable, and
passed the time endurably until Lady
k1ldOnan re-entered the room and
carried them off to tennis in covered
court at the end of the cloister. This
was a spacious place, sufficiently
warmed by hot pipes, with high
glass roof and a carpeted gallery at
one end, from which the non-players
could watch the players luXuriously
in lounging chairs and low seats. This
gallery led into a conservatory which
ran alongside the house on ground
higher than the tennis-court.
Lady klldOnan, who was a far bet
ter player than anybody present ex-
cept Armathwaite, but bad playmate
for the poor girls, as they looked i'll
shaped and clumsy beside her, ran up
into the gallery to rest after about
half an hours play, and calling the
young doctor to her, was chatting mer-
rily with him when they both caught
sight of a man standing ha1fhidden
by the plants in the conservatory
Ned" cried Lady Kildonan,
springing up with a flash OF excite
ment.
Edwin Crosmont came forward,
sullen and silent. She stood looking
at him for one moment; then, with a
hasty apology to Armathwaite and an
anxious expression in her eyes, she
joined the agent, and they walked
away together, affecting to stop from
time to time to gather a leaf or smell
flower, but evidently intent on some
exciting subject Of talk. Armathwaite,
who was sitting at one corner of the
gallery where he could look both into
the conservatory and into the court
below saw them disappear together be-
hind the central grove of camelIias
and other tall plants, and tried to
interest himself in the game going on
below. He was alone, for Lady Grey
don had just descended from the gal
lery to join her daughters. Just as a
little excitement was caused in the
court below by the entrance of a tall
man, very much wrapped up, and
wearing blue spectacles, whom the
rest greeted as Lord Kildonan," he
suddenly heard the voice of Lady Kill
DOMAIN in tones of passionate excite
ment.
Il tell you you must insist upon her
staying. Use any means you like, but
. make her stay Am l nobody? Are
my wishes, is my life nothing to you?'
Into Armathwaite's mind rushed the
remembrance of the poor lady who
had saved his life, as it seemed
miraculously, the previous night; and
even before he could argue with him
self whether or not he should listen
to this talk, which might prove to
, throw some light on the mystery Of
| the unhappy wife's position, he heard,
after a whispered answer in the mans
voice, the lady's clearer, shriller
tones
eff you are tired of doing my pleas
ure, I can soon find somebody else
to-"
Another short, angry, inaudible
speech.
Then Lady Kildonan's voice again.
"Well, and haven't I made use of
doctors before now? Answer me
that"
To be continued.