Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1902-10-09
Continued.

which [ have been hoodwinked into
marrying woman whose eyes tel
everyone the horrible truth? Years
ago, DR.. Armathwaite," he continued
hotly, turning his back impatiently
upon his uncle, this house was a
lunatic asylum, very private, very
select, but none the less an asylum
in which there was a mad musician
who dabbled in your mesmerism and
your quackery as well. He was
cured, or said to be cured; at any
rate he was discharged, and Dr.
Peeie, who was some relation of the
proprietor of the place, took an inter
est in him which he extended to q
daughter the man had. When the
musician died, DR.. Peele was his
executor and guardian to the child
For some reason or other he took l,
into his head to make a match be-
tween US, and when l, at that time
suffering from a great disappointment
went to make a stay in London, he
introduced me to this girl, who was
then studying at the South Kensing-
ton art schools, and without telling
me word about her fathers history
never rested till he had made "a
match of it. Was that what you OF
any man can call honest?"
ION the face of it one hardly likes
to answer. Did he offer no eXplana-
tion?'
ooh. yes, he swore the father never
was mad at all But you have only
TO look into her eyes to see that it
was lie, and l don't care who
knows it from my lips instead"
Armathwaite was appalled,. On the
one hand, this seemed the only
rational solution of the problem pre-
scented by Wrc Crosmont's weird eyes
and mysterious manner; on the other,
he was unwilling, even passionately
unwilling to believe that the strange
spiritual fascination this woman
exercised over him, the atmosphere
of refinement of person and Of mind
which seemed to surround her, pro-
ceeded from nothing but weak or
deranged intellect. But the lady mad
a stronger ally than he could dare to
blue eyes alight with feeling, the
elder Mr.. Crosmont laid his hand
firmly on his nephew's shoulder and
said in a solemn voice:
You would see no madness in your
wife's eyes, Ned, if you hadn't been
bewitched by pair that have no
heart behind them"
speech minute of excited silence,
each man of the three waiting vii i
loud-beating heart for what wouiL
come Of the challenge. At last Nei
Crosmont raised his head: his salloA
skin looked gray in the lamp-light
under the influence of some strong
emotion, the lines seemed to have
suddenly deepned in his face and his
light eyes to have grown bright and
eloquent.
Don't talk about things you don
understand, Uncle Hugh" he said in
husky voice. What right have
you to pirate of the heart or no heart
of woman to whom you have only
said How do you do and Good day?'
And If you can learn so much by \
casual glance at a pair of blue eyes.
why shouldn't be able to learn some
thing by daily looking into a pair of
brown ones? I will listen to what
ever you have to say in excuse for
Alma, but not word in blame Of
anyone else"
Armathwaite kept very still, feeling
the awkwardness of being present at
this domestic sllirmish, and recogn1z.
ing with establishment and sympathy
the tragic intensity of the passions
that urged in the breast of each mem,
Der of this quiet country household
the fierce and fervid devotion which
the surly and coarse-mannered man
felt for his old play-feIlow; the tender
fatherly sympathy Of the elder man
for both rough husband and delicate
wife; the yearning unrest of a dis
appointed heart which looked out
from the sad eyes of the neglected
wife. Ned Crosmont pulled himself
together in few moments and will
a loud laugh said they were making
dull evening of it. He mixed more
punch and drank himself more deeply
than the rest, but the hilarity he wish
ed TO promote would not come
Uncle Hugh told some good stories
for he had been all over the world
hrst III the English and afterwards il
the Turkish army, and had gained
much strange experience and the ar
OF recording it we'll but through al
his laughter, Ned looked harassed
and Armathwaite found the Twins
drama among the personages O
which he had been suddenly cast
more interesting than any of til,
picturesque incidents of rowing life
When the little clock on tn,
mantelplece struck twelve, Uncl,
Hugh, giancing at the nodding hea,
OF his nephew. who had for the las
half-hour sunk into silence an,
moroseness, gave the signal for re
tlFement, which Armathwaite VIII
could scarcely keep awake. had lon.
been earnestly craving. Ned spran
up and angrily demanded what h
meant by breaking up the party ius
when they were beginning to enio
themselves; but his uncle merel
said:
I fancy after days har
travelling DR.. Armathwaite would er
JOY himself more in bed
Going out OF the room he returne
Immediately with three candles, an
lighting them deliberately witho,
needing his nephew's grumbling, b