Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1902-06-19
CHAPTER VIII.

The dinner that evening, was, for
two Of us at least, an anxious inter
val. Lady Culmore evidently did not
wish Mr.. Culmore to see the peculiar
footing on which she stood with Sir
Rudolph. He himself did not change
his manner in the least Except for
the needful civilities of the table. he
did not address his wife. She spoke
TO him several times, and between us
we managed to hide from the visitor
the terrible state of things that exist
ed. Yet | saw him once or twice look
from one to the other with strangely
wondering eyes, as though he could
not quite understand or make out how
matters stood. He was beWildered
and puzzled And, though it was a
delight to me to sit there at table with
him. where ] could see the handsome
face and listen to every bright, cheer
ful words that fell from his lips, I was
glad when he went away. It was
such an effort to keep up conversation
in the circumstances.
Mr. Culmore held the door open for
10 90 We pdSSSu tuIOuSH. he SInlISQ
at Lady Culmore.
we shall not be long, Nest" he
said. ct is a barbarous custom for
men to linger over their wine" But
felt sure Sir Rudolph would not join
US; it was not his custom.
Lady GILMORE could not rest
Play to me, Kate: sing to me-" she
said. when we reached the drawing.
room. DO something that will bring
them here: | dread leaving them
alone. She was pacing up and down
the room her hands clasped, her eyes
full of wistful sorrow "Sing some.
thing that will attract them she en-
treated
And l sang my best songs, French
and English. They did not come
knew they would not Her agitation
increased every moment. until it be
came almost hysterical.
What will he think, Kate? What
will Mr.. Culmore think? He must
see-he must notice the change. He
will never rest until he knows the
cause"
You may be quite sure that, if Sill
Rudolph does not come to spend the
evening with us. he will not spend i
in talking about you"
] read her fear. Whatever thu
secret of her life was she dreaded les
her husband should reveal it to hi
brother. I knew Sir Rudolph was in
capable of that.
| continued to play and sing: bu
the clock had struck eleven befor
they came, and then | saw that tn
gloom and the shadow had spread t
ulr1c.s handsome face and reste
there. Yet felt sure that Sir Ruolpl
had not betrayed his wife.
Mr.. Culmore looked wonderingl
from one to the other.
You must not blame me. Nest.
is not fair to tell tales out of school
but Rudolph would not come. H
would have all my Bar stories owe
again. | told him it was not polite
Then he came over to me. H
talked to me. and the sound of hi
voice was sweet and pleasant to m
ears. Yet was not so much engrosse
but that I saw Lady GILMORE 90 u
to her husband and speak to hin
She folded her hands, as though sh
were uttering prayer. but she di
not offer to touch him. I knew afte
ward that she was pleading with hin
in tones that might have melted an
heart. that he would be Just a littl
merciful to her while Uric was her
And he had answered:
"A contract is a contract. On,
cannot be broken"
The gentlemen remained in til
drawing-room for half an hour. an
the puzzled, bewildered look in Ulr
Culmore's eyes deepened In h
happy, cordial way he made an effo
to bring them together. He asked
we should like a game of whist. S
Rudolph said NO" In his convers
ton he appealed from one to IL
other; but Sir Rudolph was impen
trable, cold, impossible nothi1
stirred or moved him; and, when NJ
Culmore found this to be really tt
case. he was too much of a gentlems
to perseyere. He let matters tai
their own course, and looked on
silence
When something or other happen,