Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1902-10-02
q Uoman S F ace
FLORENCE WARDEN

long after the lady had left the room,
and the husband had assailed his ear
with condolences which, in their turn,
he found unexpectedly interesting.
CHAPTER v.
The departure of the ladies is
usually hailed by the coarser sex with
relief as the signal for more I'M
restrained feast Of such reason and
flow of such soul as the august as.
sembly can command. When, how
ever, Mrs. Crosmont left her husband
and his two companions to their own
devices, there fell upon the group d
depressed silence, which was broken
by the host, who, rising abruptly, sug-
gested az adjournment to his owl
study. So he snatched up the lamp,
which f1ared and smoked under his
rough handling, and, followed by the
other two, turned to the left along
wide and rambling passage, which led
out of the hall to the servants offices
at the other extremity Of the house.
On their way they passed the prlnci-
pal staircase, a rather mean erection
in light oak, opposite to the dining
room door, and two or three closed
doors on either hand.
This house is nothing better than
a rabbit-warren, grumbled the master
of it, rising the lamp at every other
step to illustrate his words. CTS full
of little holes that won't hold more
than two people at a time, and there
isn't a room of decent size in the
whole place. You will laugh when
you see what l call my study, DR..
Armatbwaite.'
They had reached a door at the
end of the passage, and Mr.. Crosmont
explained that it was the back en-
trance of the house, and that it was
the one by which he himself went in
and out. On one side of it was a
rooms, and on the other another door,
which led them into the study
Armathwaite had not expected to find
himself in an apartment which
breathed learning and leisure, but on
the other hand he was not quite pre-
pared for such a bold misapplication
of the word Study as the room
which was scarcely larger than a
good-sized cupboard, betrayed
There was not a book in sight excep,
"Ruff's Guide to the Turf and two or
three more works of a similar kind
which low 10 c-4r
] with papers, in one corner There
! was a shabby carpet and worn
hearthrug. There were two large
and comfortable easy chairs, a high
office-stool, a straight-back hall
seat, and an iron safe, on which stood
a handsome punch-bowl. There were
more whips and fishing rods, another
gun, and a tennis-bat. Over the
mantelpiece was trophy consistins
OF a huntlng-crOp, a cavalry sword
and revolver, underneath which
were scattered a collection of pipes
an almanack, a clock, a matchbox, d
tobacco-jar, and several pieces Of
billiard-chalk. On a nail behind the
door hung a dear old lounging coat
threadbare, shiny at the seams
ragged at the cuffs the sort of
! treasure a dutiful wife makes away
with by stealth and bestows in
charity, afterwards disclaiming all
knowledge of the deed. Into this den
! Mr.. Crosmont brought his com
panions, and the atmosphere of it had
speedy and wholesome effect upon
his temper. He drew the chairs ND to
the huge, wel[banked-up fire which
was burning in the crate, and produc,
I ing bottle of whisky and glasses
! from cupboard in the wall put a
small kettle on the fire, and proceeded
to slice a lemon, with the sweetest
expression he had worn that evening.
Armathwaite, who had now lit a
cigar, watched his host through the
mellowing smoke with curiosity and
interest. The man was seen to more
advantage here in his own den than
IN his wife's presence in the more
conventional dining-room. Even the
dogs seemed to feel this, for having
followed the gentleman from the one
room to the other, they now absorbed
the warmest part Of the hearthruE in
a perfectly fearless manner One
little action too, which would scarcely
have been noticed except by very
keen eyes, revealed a more attractive
side to Mr.. Crosmont's character than
had yet been manifest. In passing
the office table he knocked off the
pile of sporting books, and out of one
Of them fell photograph which. after
examining it carefully to see that it
had sustained no damage, he put. not
into the book again, but into his
pocket. Whether the portrait was of
a man or a woman Armathwaite could
not see; but he felt glad that he
could not. Under the unromantic but
soothing influences of punch ano
tobacco Edwin Crosmont became
good-humored and genial, and the talk
turning upon the Englishmans fetch,
the horse, the utmost harmony pre-
vailed until his uncle suddenly asked
him why he had sold Alma's horse
when riding was her chief pleasure.
In an instant the young mans face
clouded.
Il can't let her risk her neck riding
about in the winter-time along these
slippery roads" he said in tone
which showed little of the affectionate
solicitude his words implied. when
the spring comes I'll get her a better
horse. Gray Friar was getting old
and was touched in the wind"
she never complained of him.
think she misses her rides. SHE'S