Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1902-09-18

dinner for one person. Was there
some third member of the household
whose presence was a discordl Who
was Edwin of whom mention had
been made? Two dogs lay stretched
on the rug by the fire, Newfound-
land and retriever; they raised their
heads as the gentlemen entered, gave
languid wag of the tail in greeting
to the one they knew, and reIapsed
into comfortable doze.
Are you fond of animals?" asked
Mr.. Crosmont, as he walAed to the
hearth-rug where the dogs were lying.
We'll, | think | like any dog better
than most human beings, and a good
horse better than my best friend"
well said, though You don't mean
it. AT any rate, you believe in their
intelligence. These brutes are half
human. Look here" He looked at
the two extended, sleepy heads, and
| said in the same tone: IL wonder
where the little one is
Instantly both heads were raised
with ears pricked on the alert
They know who | mean, you see.
Up here in the wilds one must make
friends with the beasts, or be solitary.
It's a dull life, can tell you"
Il hardly think | should find it so
under the same circumstances. For
bachelor living by himself it would
be dreary enough. But with a charm
ing wife and
did you think the little one was
my wife," asked Mr.. Crosmont, with
evident pleasure. 81 wish she were;
though Autumn and Spring don't go
well together. l am Uncle Hugh.
She is my niece, my niece by mar
riage, and my child by affection. |
would walk into the lake for her any
day. Some day shall walk her hus-
band into the lake, if he doesn't look
out" he added in a gruff comment to
himself, which was a little embar-
RAISING to his hearer. There was a
pause of a few seconds, during which
Mr.. Cresmont remembered that ne was.
speaking in parallels, and explained
briefly, in his usual abrupt manner:
My nephew is Lord Kildonan's
agent; he's good boy enough, but he
gets his head a little turned, up at
The Crags, between my lords con-
fidence on the one hand, and my lady's
on the other. In fact, the big house
takes the color out of the little one.
you see. | suppose it's natural
enough, but it's pity; and one can't
say word to him, because of course
if one does it is all zeal for his en-
ployer's interests: and they really
have been very kind to him. StiIl, it's
pity"
Armathwaite thought so too, and
| felt filled with compassion for the
soft-eyed wife, obliged, in the zenith
of her beauty and charm, to fall back
upon the companionship of a middle
aged relation of her husband when
she should have been enjoying the
| devotion of the husband himself. He
was trying to evolve a remark which
should show enough, but not too much
of the sympathy he felt. when sounds
of a mans angry voice and mans
heavy tread were heard in the hall.
and at the same moment the curious
| phenomenon was witnessed of the two
| dogs rising slowly from the hearthrug
and concealing themselves under the
table at the furthest from where the
dinner was laid. Armathwaite was
listening with great interest to the
tones of the unseen mans voice, as he
gave an order to one of the servants
with his hand upon the outer handle
of the dining-room door
''That is my nephew" said Mr.
Crosmont, shortly.
Armathwaite rose to his feet, feel
ing very uncomfortable. For he recog-
missed the voice as that of the man
who had been driving Lady Kildonan's
sleigh when she dropped her handker-
chief, and whom, from the livery he
wore, he had taken for the groom.
Little as he knew of the duties of an
agent to a country gentleman, ArIna-
thwaite felt certain that the wearing
of the latter's livery must be less
than optional, and he had an awkward
conviction that he had been an unde-
sired witness Of tho fact that the
pranks of Miss Dighton and Master
Ned had not ceased when the former
became Lady Kildonan and the latter
"agent to my lord"
To be continued.