Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1902-10-23
Continued.

little short of marvellous that |
a woman Of so much sense and spirit |
as Mrs. Crosmont should submit to
the humiliation of living under the
same roof with man who not only
denied her the rights Of wife even
to the extent of treating her with
open neglect and discourtesy before
strangers, but who was also ad-
miLtedly under the influence of an
lther woman. Gentle and yielding as
ner nature might be, natural as her
shrinking from the parade of her
wrongs undoubtedly was, there was
yet something unexplained in the
meekness with which, while feeling
the bitterness of her position with a
passionate warmth, she had sub
nitted almost too suddenly to the en-
durance of it for an indefinite time
longer. Reused to chivalrous ardour
en- behalf of this lady, the young man
refused to admit even so much OF
blame to her as a too ready sub
mission would imply, and he insisted
on seeking some fault in the husband
to explain what looked like want Of
self-respect on the part of the wife.
In the midst Of his reflections, how
ever, he was OyerpOWered by physical
and mental fatigue, and fell into a dis
turbed sleep, from which he was
reused at haIf-past eight o'clock by the
knocking of a housemaid at the door
Of his room. 1t was difficult, in the
light of bright January morning, to
realize all the maryels which had
come under his notice since he last
saw daylight; and as he hastily
dressed and heard the sounds OF or
binary life about the house, he felt
more vivid curiosity to see how the
personages who had filled such dra-
matte roles by night, would look by
day, than perturbation over imaginary
crime and mysteries, such as had
agitated him before he fell asleep. He
was careful, however, to examine the
bedstead, and found that it was fixed
to the floor close to the wall; in the
centre OF the upright frame at the
head of the bed was the usual small
embossed iron ornament where the
level with the head of the sleeper. In
the middle the ornament was hollow,
and behind this hollow was a hole in
the wall which proved, on careful in
spection, to be covered with a grating
OF the finest wire This, Armathwaite
had no doubt, was the opening to a
tube, or series of tubes which, in days
dating before the telephone, formed an
ingenious means of communication
with another room. He had just re
solved, without much need for deliber-
alton, to keep his discovery to him
self when he heard another knock at
his door, and the voice of Uncle Hugh
asking if he was ready for breakfast.
My nephew has to be out early,
and so he breakfasts at eight" Mr..
CrosmOnt explained as they went
downstairs, while ArmathWaite no
ticed on the way that the upper floor
was constructed on the same principle
as the lower, with an irregular CORR
dor straight down the middle from end
to end, upon which the rooms opened
on each side. The little one has
nothing in particular to get up for, so
she waits till the chill is off the morn
ing, and generally breakfasts about
nine. | divide my favOrs between the
two, and have my chop with one and
my TOAST and marmaIade with the
othef Ned rather wanted to have
You pulled out for his breakfast, but
| protested in the interest of humanity
that you should be allowed to rest an
hour longer"
As they came to the last step of the
staircase, Mrs. Crosmont met them
coming along the corridor from the
back of the house. She looked very
fresh and sweet, and explained, as she
took off a little shawl that was
wrapped round her head and neck.
that she had been to the stable to see
Gray F'riar."
"Ned's gone, l suppose?" asked Mr..
Crosmont.
'Oh, yes, long ago! He's gong to
lunch at The Crags, and won't be
home till dinner-time," she answered,
as she led the way to the dining-room.
where breakfast was laid.
With the morning glow, caused by
her run through the frosty air to visit
her old fayorite, still upon her cheeks.
Mrs. Crosmont showed for a few mo-
mentS what nature had meant her to
be-a sWeet-faced young Englishwom-
an, with healthy pink skin. clear
eyes, that wholesome air of dainty
neatness which is a special charm of
the race, and a certain radiance. not
only OF hair and complexion, but of ex-
preston, which was like soft sun
SHINE. But Armathwaite haQ scarcely
noted these things with admiration
and surprise, when the glow began to
fade, and the smile disappear. and in
few minutes the dark rings OIL sleep
iessness showed under her eyes, and
the momentary viyacity died out of
her manner. She was perfectly sweet
and courteous to him, and affectionate
70 Uncle Hugh; but nothing could
have emphasized more strongly than
dld that little incident, the difference
between what she was. and what gen
tie treatment would have made her.
Both uncle and niece questioned
Armathwaite with much interest as
10 his adventures in the Dolly Warden
room, and were disappointed DIV his
assurance that he had met with none.
/ don't think I'm the sort OF person
even Observation-Disclosures ghost would
care to visit" said the young doctor.
quietly, looking down upon his egg.