Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1902-10-16
Continued.

was listening to the plaintive cutlery
of wife who felt, rightly or not, that
he had been cruelty wronged. By
What means this strange communica.
ion was being made to him r"
not know, he had no leis- pew
But he was convinced -
cident which he did NJ
bless, he was hearing the
woman who, as he began
was the victim of something
looked suspiciously like fouA er.
He was on the alert at once, list
boldly with all his ears, not fol''
instant doubling now that by som
agency he dared not name he had
been brought to this house to use
what wits nature had endowed him
with on behalf of a creature who was
being ill-used.
1t was impossible to distinguish
tones in the thread-like sounds which
alone reached his ears. But the
words told him that it was the mans
voice he heard next.
Dying. Stuff and nonsense. Don't
for goodness sake try to make your
self out a martyr to my cruelty.
What on earth have you to complain
Off"
The answer came very slowly, as il
the words were dropped out one by
one under the oppression of despair.
"What-have-I-to complain OFF,
well well, I don't pretend that
you did not expect a different sort OF
life from the one we lead. But cir
cumstances-''
Circumstances. What circum-
stances can justify a man for treat
ing a girl as you have done me? I
must speak, must speak; l will be
quiet enough tomorrow, but tonight
am excited, my head feels strange
and li2ht-you must hear me now. |
have something to ask you"
Well what is it?'
LET me 90 and see Dr. Peele.'
Or. Peele! What do you want to
so and see him for? There is moth
ing the matter with you; if you think
there is. you can consult this young
fellow Armathwaite if you like. I'm
sure he takes a deep interest in you,
and will prescribe you whatever you
have fancy for; that's the sort of
doctor you want, like all women; "a
good-looking fellow to feel your
pulse and look into your eyes, and
vow yours is the most interesting
case he has ever come across. I'll
speak to him tomorrow"
And | will go tomorrow and see
DR.. Peele"
"But why? Why? Look here; be
honest, and tell what you want to
see him for?"
Can you pretend to be surprised
that | want to see the man who has
beer my guardian and friend ever
since | can remember? 1t is nearly
lhree months now since [ have seen
him, except that one day when you
drove me over to Branksome, and two
or three times when he has called IN
for few moments, and seen me with
you and Uncle Hugh. I have not had
a talk with him alone since the winter
began"
What do you want to have a talk
with him alone for? 1t can be only
for one thing that you want ito
grumble at the life you lead, or at
me, or at something"
Ned, you might trust me that it
isn't for that. Why, if | wanted 10
complain, shouldn't I have begun be
fore? Do you ever think what a
strain upon me my life has been
ever since the day I married you?
The moment | saw Lord and Lady
kildOnan in the church that morning.
and noticed the change in your face
and the GOODNESS Of your hand as it
touched mine, l knew that I hao
made dreadful mistake, as clearly
as | know it now"
'Nonsense-all nonsense was
nervous. naturally enough. | hadn't
known they were in London, and
knew their coming meant that | must
give my mind to some dry busine~s
or other instead Of to the pleasure
a man naturally looks forward to on
his Wedding-day. Come, Alma,
swear | never expected to see them
that morning-I swear it,"
I believe that; l always have be-
lieved it,
And do you believe it was my fault
that | was sent off to Moscow ina,
very day on Lord Kildonan's bust
ness? Do you think | should have
married you at all if l had expected
to have to go off like that at a mo.
ment's notice? You know yourself
how annoyed l was, and that I said
things which no employer but Lord
klldonan would have overlooked"
1 know all that: I remember quite
we'll how they carried you away with
them. and l am glad now to remember
that l had the sense and spirit to hate
Lady Kildonan for it,
But you were hard and cold to
me. You said bitter things. You
would not even give me a wife s
goodbye. If you had been kinder
then. | should have hurried back to
YOU and everything would have been
different
NO, no, no! How could be tender
and sweet to YOU when I saw that
every word this lady said moved you
more than tears? It was not in human
nature to bear that-and on ones we'd
d1ng-day! All the time YOU were away
| was full of remorse that 7 had been
hard, but | knew even then that Won
never thoueht about it. If you had.
would you have stayed in Paris three
weeks after your business in Russia
was done, with bride waiting for