Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1903-04-09

from one leg to the other.
Don't talk such nonsence, Aphra, =
he said, in a husky murmur. I've
been busy-ve1y busy; I've been out
early and late. I would have come to
see you if you had wanted me, really.
But Alma has been ill-seriousIy Ill.
You must allow a man some heart,
some conscience"
las much as ever you please" an
swered the lady, with a charming
! bend Of the neck. Only it is rather
late in the day to pirate about those
little things, isn't it," She paused,
insisting that he should meet her
eyes, and subject himself to the in
fuence Of such Witcnery of lustrous
blue and white, and slyIy curved
golden Iashes, as no man who had
once felt their power could resist.
"But just as you please, of course.
suppose 1t is DR.. ArmathWaite who
has opened your eyes to the fact that
your WE is a pretty woman"
She could never mention DR.. Arma-
thwaite without a discernible tone of
spiteful pique.
+ Il never see her" said Crosmont,
shortly. Il am ashamed don't sup
pose you know what that feeling is
and | am doing my best to atone for
what l have done by never seeing
her"
Never seeing her!" Kissed out
Lady Kildonan, in angry dismay.
Never seeing your wife! Then-yOur
influence over her-yOu must be
losing it-losing it every day!'
She shook with her sudden excite
ment till all the jet beads that hung
on her dress ratified and glittered in
the freight.
Yes" answered Crosmont, dog
gedIy, Il am losing it, and | mean to
lose it. But whether | do or not, l
never mean to use it again. And I've
set that YOrkshireman to save me
from becoming a greater blackguard
than | am
Though he uttered these words in
a whisper full of savage, sullen de-
termination, even while he spoke he
listened with anxiety to her painting
breath, and looked up with a sidelong
glance of yearning and entreaty at
her bea ltiful, angry face. She drew
a deep breath of fear at his last
words.
| you have told him-everything
''How dare you ask me such a
thing. A woman's secret! Your
secret, You might hang me first"
: For a moment she stood more
quietly, relieved from great dread.
Then she turned to him with a
hungry fever in her blue eyes.
And Liverpool Liverpool" she
painted out under her breath. How,
then, do you propose to do it-next
time?"
Il prOpose-never to do it again"
She stood quite still, glaring at him
like a tigress behind iron bars.
: and what shall | do? Do you
, know? Do you care?"
You will lie reasonable, you will
be wise. You will see that I have
done all | cam have ruined myself
body and soul-for I will never face
it, Aphra, | warn you that" he
irisked everything, lost everything to
please you. Remember, l have borne
the brunt of it all-risk, anxiety,
! fatigue, infamy; for l wasn't born a
rogue | have stopped at nothing.
But it has broken me, Aphra. | am
on fire all night as | sit up in my
study; I don't know what sleep is, OF
rest, or happiness. And all the time
| know | have done you only harm,
harm. God knows l will never face
the end-never see you disgraced.
Aphra, break with it, even if you
break with me-
There were other convers atoms
going on in the room, mostly in
whispers also. so that CrosmOnts ap-
peal, breathed out in low, broken,
husky voice, passed unnoticed, I'm,
heard, except by the lady to whom it
was addressed. She listened very
quietly, glancing at his face scrutiniz-
ingly from time to time in the fire
light; and when he had ended she
began in a very persuasive, good
humoured voice, having assured her
self that her influence was as strong
as ever.
Look here, Neddy, you're making
great fuss about nothing" she
cooed out, softly. Don't let us talk
about this any more. But come up
and see me tomorrow, and we'll have
nice talk all by ourselves, out of
reach of old Tabby Peele and her
ugly duckling-I mean daughter"
Crosmont refused promptly and
bluntly; hesitation would have been
fatal. But even resolution was of
little avail against her. She began to
cry, or look as if she was crying.
Crosmont got up, walked away, and.
= Of course, came back again.
What's the matter with you?" he
said. roughly, under his breath.
! She did not answer Although he
knew in the depths of his heart that
she was shamming, the mere attitude
of grief in her was enough to set him
on fire with self-reproach, remorse,
Iyearning.
He bent down and whispered
Leave off-leave off 1 tell you. I'll
come-just for minute"
And the tears, real or simulated,
were stayed.
Although after this Crosmont re-
Isumed his visits to The Crags, he
saw no more of his wife than before,
and he ENCOURAGED the attendance of
Armathwaite, between whom and