Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1902-12-11
Continued.

Jour physical health is perfectly
good"
Perfectly good" she echoed, in
disappointed tone. Don't you find me
feverish?"
She offered him her wrist again,
and, to satisfy her, he felt her pulse a
second time. But he shook his head.
"You are a little excited, that is
all"
Excited! I'm sure I'm not. One
never has a chance of getting excited
here. I wish somebody would come
and burn The Crags down, and we
should have one nights amusements,
at all events.
She said this with vehement intens-
ity, which for a moment entirely got
the better Of her languor. Recollect-
ing herself however, she ended by
falling back again with closed eyes.
Armathwaite tried another sugges-
ton
perhaps you didn't sleep very well
last night?"
q never do in this place!'' in
another vehement Outburst.
''You should play few more games
Of tennis during the day, or go skat-
ing, or riding. Take enough active
exercise to tire you out-and you can
lake a good deal, 7 am sure, without
hurting yOu-and at night you will
deep as sOundly as a dormOuse."
"HOw can you tell that l can do a
great deal when you don't understand
my constitution? DR.. PeeIe, who knew
me well never told me that"
No old doctor would have fallen into
this crude error of letting a healthy
feminine would-be invalid know that
she was as strong as a horse. But
Armathwaite while conscious that he
was ignoring the tricks of his trade
in a reckless manner, had reasons for
wishing the lady to know that he was
not a doctor pour passer lie temps.
He. therefore. merely said it was true
he could only judge by her appear
ance, and that extreme delicacy of
health was seldom found in conjunc-
ton with unimpaired Iustre Of the
eyes ard complexion. Lady KildOnan
was not satisfied.
Isn't my tongue white?" asked she,
as a last resource, displaying the tip
of that organ, which proved, however,
to be perfectly pink and healthy.
NO" He almost added, 81 am
afraid it isn't" but stopped himself in
time. CAS- | said before, the disturb
ance must be mental" he said "and
it prays upon you so much that you
can't help thinking it must have some
physical effects"
She lowered her eyes and sighed
81 have a great many worries, and
troubles too she said, 'but, of course
| couldn't think of troubling a doctor
with them. But when [ feel conciOus
f languor and lassitude which make
he slightest eXertiOn seem a fatigue
0 me-When / find my appetite is
variable-Oh, | didn't tell you that!
Yes; yesterday 1 ate three eggs for
breakfast, and this morning I only ate
one. That shows my appetite is fail
ing, doesn't it,"
Armathwaite thought it showed
chiefly that she had had an eXcep-
tionally good appetite yesterday, but
he suggested gravely, that if she
would follow his advice rouse herself,
and take long walk, he thought he
could promise that she would be able
to eat two eggs the next morning. She
shook her head: never was an invalid
so anxious not to get we'll
nrs A
began, stretching one arm above her
head to adjust the lace as it slipped
off her golden hair" because you
saw me yesterday gay and lively, that
that is my natural state, and that the
IistleSsness | complain of today is only
an imaginary ailment. Now confess
that is so. Indeed, am sure of it"
AT any rate, your gaiety became
you so we'll that it is difficult to
believe it was not natural to you"
1 won't tell you not to make pretty
speeches, for really it is treat to
meet anyone in this wilderness who
can string half a dozen words together
in civilized fashion. I believe that
gaiety would be natural to me if
were-happy." She paused. but as he
said nothing she very soon went on
again. "And I think it may be as you
say. that it is unhappiness and not
ill-health that is the matter with me-"
He had not said this, and he GER
tainly had not meant it. but as this
was an opening which promised to
lead to something definite, he was
careful not to interrupt her.
Il suppose" she said, with a pretty
mournfulness. that some people think
I have everything I can wish for: no
doubt | have everything that some
people could wish for I have a great
hideOus house that some people might
like, and a husband whom I made no
objection to when they married me
to him. and whom I've only one OBJ
lection to now. But that one objec-
ton is fatal" A pause, during which
Armathwaite still. while maintaining
an attitude of respectful attention,
asked no questions. She continued
with q weary sish. ''He treats me like
a childl never have his confidence:
I never have his trust"
Armathwaite was astonfshed. Re
memhering the way in which Lord
Kildonan had spoken of her. had
treated her: the friendly welcome he
had extended to himself. a stray
acquaintance whom Lady Kildonan
had nicked I'D in a particularly easy
fashion; the kindness he had shown
to the plavfel1ow of her childhood:
this CHARGE seemed not only without