Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1903-05-21

Peele was heard coming down the
stairs. He opened the door for her,
impatient of seconds delay. As she
came III he saw at a glance that the
bundle of papers she held in her hand
was that with which he had seen Dr..
Peele, in the last days Of his life so
often occupied. The widow seemed
even at that moment to wish to keep
thin back, as he stood holding out his
hand to receive them.
Restore them" said Lord Kill
donan, coldly.
Don't, don't give them up" mul-
the packet with trembling fingers into
Armathwaite's hand.
But there was stronger will than
hers at work. AS soon as the papers
rustled into the doctors nervous
clutch, the old Scotchman held out his
own long, lean hand with look half
piteous, half-commanding which
FRANK could not resist.
For Gods sake give them up to
me-" he said with dry lips, in a rat
Ting voice For I know that they
concern-my wife,"
Armathwaite yielded them up with
out a word, and Lord Kildonan, with
steps that for moment tottered,
passed, with a cold inclination to the
lady, out Of the house.
CHAPTER XVII.
When Lord Kildonan left Mrs
Peele's house with the late doctors
papers clasped tightly in his hand,
Frank Armathwaite followed him,
fearing what effect the reading of the
documents might have upon him. But
the old Scotchman had self-command
enough to put off examining them I'M
til he should have reached the soil
tude of his own rooms. Hearing foot
steps behind him, he turned when he
came to the garden-gate, and stretched
his mouth to a little withered smile
as he noted the deferential sympathy
| in the young mans face.
'Have no fear for me-" he said,
kindly, as he laid his hand on Frank S
shoulder and moved on towards the
carriage with him Because I've
been an old fule for so long, it doesn't
follow that I've no wits about me
when occasion calls for them. "YOu
understand, Frank" he added, in a
graver tone, calling the young fellow
| by his Christian name for the first
time, that all you have seen and
heard this morning is a sealed secret
between you and me. And mind, lad
die, whatever happens this evening,
you will look upon in the same way
If you hear words you didn't expect to
hear, you Wilma look up or tax
notice of them; nothing will surprise
you, and whatever your kind heart
may prompt We to, you will not by SO
much as a look warn others that are
not so keen as yerser."
| Frank promised with heavy heart
The time for warning the victims of
their guilty folly was indeed past now.
Remember, you will be with us
this evening to dine"
Frank had forgotten the dinner
party at The Crags, and he now wished
he could get out of it. Sitting in the
presence of Ned Crosmont and Lady
Kildonan, he would feel like a con-
spirator. However, there was 10
help for it; the old lord was deter
mined he should come. So he assured
| him that he would certainly not for
get, and then offered to drive him
home, as he was afraid Of the effect of
so much unusual exertion upon a
frame already tried by a terrible ex7
element His offer was accepted,
and they drove almost in silence back
to The Crags, and separated with a
grave farewell.
At Seven o'clock, Frank Armath-
waite found himself again at the great
house. He was feeling so guiltily
nervous under the consciousness of
some awful catastrophe pending over
the inmates, that it scarcely seemed
to him possible that Lady KildOnan,
who sprang up from sofa in the
drawing-room as he was announced,
could fail to detect the guilty knowl-
edge which seemed to Frank to be
inscribed all over him. He was the first
guest to arrive, and such a strong de
fined dread seized him of the few min
utes' tete-a-tete which might be before
him, that he stopped short in the mid
die of the room as if lightning struck,
watching the lady with fascinated eyes
as she bounded across the carpet to-
wards him with the lissom, rapid, grey
hound movements peculiar to her
To be continued.