Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1903-05-14
q Woman' S Face
FLORENCE WARDEN
Continued.


set his face homewards He was then
a good mile north Of Mereside, and
when he had come through the village
he turned aside to the higher road in
order to pass by CrosmOnt's house, al
though no attraction more mysterious
than his deep interest in the lady who
lived there drew him today in that di-
rectien. He felt rather an mex
plicSbly strong longing to reach home
quickly, and by the time he was in
front of the agents house he had
changed his walking pace for a run,
and was grudging the few minutes
this little detour cost him. There
was light in the window of the study,
but none in the draWing-room; Frank
asked himself, with pang of anxiety,
what had become of the mistress of
the house. Was she lying in the dead
stupor which was so unlike healthy
sleep, alone, neglected in her own
room? Or was she sitting, cold and
solitary, in the little chamber where
her father had composed his darling
work, and where the dangerously
dreamy and imaginative side of her
nature received unchecked indulg-
.ence? There was no light in the up
per windows, and they told him moth
ing. At the gate was standing Lady
Kildonan's pOny-carriage, and just as
Frank passed it the mistress Of The
Crags came out, attended by CrOs-
mont. The lady started back a step
at sight of the doctor, and even in
the gathering dusk. Frank saw them
both she and her companion looked at
him with an expression of fear and
hatred. Armathwaite suddenly
slackened his pace. Should he take
the opportunity of speaking to them
both together, of assuring them en-
phaticaIly that their common ruin
could only be averted by an instant
mending of their ways? Or would any
such words from him only induce a
possible catastrophe? Even as he
hesitated the chance was lost: the
pOny-carriage, containing only Lady
Kildonan and the groom. who was
driving, had turned and was disappear
ing fast down the hill in the opposite
direction. Still there was CrosmOnt
Frank ran back to the house. but just
as he reached the steps, the front
door was slammed in his face by the
agent himself and the doctor knew
that to ring would be only to expose
himself to useless humiliation. So
he went on his way towards Drank
some without further pause, and with
4, ~, 1,
growing stronger than ever. While
m ~ than a mile of the distance
remained to be traversed, Frank left
his heart grow lighter, for an explain
alton of this impulse had occurred to
him. He was not in need of rest,
he had no mad desire to see either
Mrs. Peele or Mile; somebody else
must be there, somebody who wanted
his help or his counsel. Then his
excitement got the better of his rea-
son. and in the evening wind he heard
Alma's voice, and in the darkness he
saw her face, and the cold air cut his
cheeks and made a breeze behind him
as he ran like a schoOlboy the last
half mile.
When he drew near the little house
and saw the lights in the windows he
Slackened speed and moved more de-
corously: and when at last he opened
the door of the Sitting-rOOm and saw
Alma sitting by Miles side, it was
without the least surprise that he
came forward and held out his hand to
her.
Aren't you surprised to see herr"
asked Millie, jubilantly.
She was in high spirits. having a
three-sheet letter on her lap, covered
thickly with a mans handwriting.
NO" answered Frank, simply, with
out thought Then he corrected him
self, seeing establishment on Miles
face and inquiry on Almas. Il mean
Tn more pleased than anything else
Mrs. Crosmont looked pale and sad,
but there was a determination in her
face which reminded him oddly of the
expression he had seen on Lord Kill
domains face when he spoke of the dis
coyery Of his agents harshness to the
tenants. He was prepared, there
fore. for another disclosure; and when
Mile, who believed. or affected to be-
lieve. that Alma had come for a con-
sultation with Armathwaite as her
medical adviser, left them together,
he encouraged her to come at once to
the point by assuring her that he
guessed about what subject she was
going to consult him.
1T is about my husband" said She
Go on" said Armathwaite.
CHAPTER XVI.
1t was not easy for Alma to go on
with her story Ned Crosmont had
been husband to her only in name;
but the very word forms a claim upon
pure-hearted woman, who remem-
bers the hopes and affection with
which she looked forward to a life
with the man of her choice, long after
those feelings have given place to
doubt and despair. So she hesitated
to make the confession which laid
,Sare the mockery her married life had
been; and, at last, after a pause,
Frank Armathwaite asked her if she
had slept we'll the night before.
A deep blush rose to her face as she
raised her eyes to his.
q slept long time" she said. in a
broken voice. "And I had the dread
was very early in the morning, and l
was out-of-doors, walking towards the
house"