Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1903-03-19

about her health, I am sure, your lord
ship. If you were as well as she is.
you would not trouble yourself So
much"
"Ah, well, we'll. perhaps not Re
member me kindly to DR.. Peele."
Armathwaite left him, returned
along the gallery, and had raised the
curtain which divided it from the hall,
when he came suddenly face to face
with Lady Kildonan. She wore hat
and long circular cloak, and was
leaning back against a high carved
cabinet with an expression Of sleepy
languor in her face and attitude which
made her even more strikingly attract
i've than usual AS ATmathWaite stoqp-
ped short at sight Of her, she pressed
one hand to her eyes, let it fall Imply,
and then held it out towards him with
6 sleepy, goOd-humored smile.
Been to see my husband?" she
asked Then. without waiting for an
answer. she went on in the same lazy
tone. You brought a letter from DR.,
PeeIe, didn't you? I'm sure 1 don t
know what I've done with it. How
ever, he wants to see me, and says he's
, very i'll. So, suppose, I'd better so.
Will you drive me? I'm awfully tired
today; | had a bad night, and I've
been asleep nearly all the afternoon to
make up for it, so | feel toe demon
allied for any active eXertion."
There was nothing for it but to put
himself at her service; and while
! they waited for the phaetOn to be
brought round, Lady Kildonan slipped
leaning her head against one of the
carved oak figures which supported the
mantelpiece, cOnVerSed about Mrs.
PeeIe, and Mile, and the doctor in a
pleasantly subdued and sleepy tone,
which, while forming a great contrast
to the high-spir:ted gaiety, the hungry
restlessness, and the hard irritability
Of the moods in which he had previous
/ Iy seen her, was infinitely more charm
ing than any of them. For the first
time during his acquaintance with her
he saw in the lady the. one quality in
which her buOyant nature had been
cCnspicuously, almost painfully, lack
, ing-repose. For the first time, also,
! the tints Of her complexion had lost
their almost startling brilliancy, her
eyes their fierce brightness: while in
place OF these temporarily dimmed at
fractions, her face had acquired that
subtle quality, suggestive Of storms
past and passions lulled, which we call
Interesting" She rose and strolled
languidIy to the door when the phae-
ton was announced, shivered at the
first breath of the chilly air Of the late
afternoon, and insisted on having the
hood up At first she lay back placid
ly in the corner of the carriage, with
out any attempt at conversation, even
without apparent consciousness of
her companions presence. But as
they came in sight of Crosmont's
house. and ArmathWaite said he had
been asked to call and see Mrs. CrCs-
mont. Lady Kildonan flushed and gave
him a glance Of half-irritable, halfwo-
manly, entreaty.
Not now" she said. when you
have left me at Dr.. Peele's, you can
come back"
They drove On, but he gave one visit
full glance towards the gloomy-looking
house; she noticed his expression, and
made a first restless movement Of her
hands.
4 am sorry for her." she said in a
low voice, more to herself than to him
There was faint remorse in her tone.
But then those passionless women
cannot suffer-at least not like
others"
There was a fascination in the
characteristic recl1lessness with which
she made this half-confession
Armathwaite redeemed as he answered
her.
DO you think not?" he said. q
am afraid that is a rash conclusion
Then. again. it is difficult to say what
you mean by passionless. You don't
mean Unconditional, doughty, like the
ladies Croydon"
3 Surely you don't want me to give
you a definition of the passions? By a
: passion-a real passion-one means
if one means anything an impulse that
cannot be resisted, that begins by be
ing nothing but little trouble, little
:. restlessness, which grows and grows
, until it becomes a gnawing pain, which
eats into you, and drives you, and
cries and Graves to be satisfed-til
the whole world round you seems ach
ing with it. and you yourself to be
burning night and day with fire moth
ing can put out That is what l cal
passion. What else do you mean by
| it?"
= We'll, whatever l might mean by it
| | shouldn't have thought of meaning
? that" said Armathwaite, simply. 8,
am a commonplace and unemotiona
Y sort of Briton, l admit; but if were
: troubled with any feelings of the kline
you describe, l would certainly never
, rest till l got them under.
There is only one way to do that.
| 'The best way would be to encour
: age and stimulate healthier ones.
mo, no; to wear out the stronge,
3 ones"
"A very dangerous attempt. One
l would wear out so much besides
: perhaps ones life ITSELF
l And what is the use of life if it 1:
: to be one long struggle with the
S strongest part of one?"
S Not much to oneself, perhaps, bu
sometimes we have the chance of max
: mo II CO ,,,ncb to others that the sac