Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1903-01-29
Continued.

Lady K.idOnan, who had come step by
step nearer to the group at the door,
stole behind A-mathwaite and left the
room quickly, returning in a moment
with Crosmont. Instead Of being
nervous and shaken as Lady Kildonan
had been, and anxious to avoid the
sight Of his wife's face, the agent
walked in stoIidly, his features set
with a sullen determination, which
showed him under new aspect, and
revealed an unexpected will-pOwer
which, while partaking more Of the
dOggedness of the brute than Of the
earnest purpose of the nobler side Of
man, was undeniably impressive and
striking. He went straight up to his
wife, who, instead of shrinking from
him as Armathwaite had half expected,
turned her eyes at once towards him
on his entrance, kept them steadily
fixed upon his, and held out her hand
20 take his with cold, fascinated sub
mission which set a freezing current
running through the young doctors
veins. Lord Kildonan, on the other
hand, whose purblind eyes and blue
SpectacleS destroyed for him all nice
ties of expression, was charmed with
this pretty little token of the strong
sympathy which existed between hus-
band and wife, and with gentle MUIR
muir of appreciation, was for leaving
the loving young couple together.
Some words from Ned Crosmont, ut
tered IN a harsh, grating voice, ar
rested him.
well, how do you feel now? Are
you better?"
yes, quite we'll"
Are You ready to go home?"
Eyes, whenever you like"
''You won't soon forget your first
visit to The Crags, will you?"
A pause. Then in very soft voice:
rs it my first visit, Ned?"
'Of course it is! What made you
think it wasn't? You have got some
of those wild fancies in your head
again"
She did not like this speech Still
holding his hand, she bent her head
and made slight, hardly perceptible
movement, as if a faint, half-formed
impulse to escape had stirred within
her. CrOsmont turned to Lord Kill
dOnan confidently.
This little head gets some astonish-
ing ideas into it sometimes, your lord
ship. What do you think of her hear
ing halps, and violins, and trombones,
and comets played by invisible
hands?'
Dear me, dear mel"
But Alma gave a little moan of dis
tress, and her husband went on quick
ly, with a significant glance at his en-
ployer.
We'll, well, we won't talk about
that. What makes you think this is
not your first visit Alma?"
Tt don't know. 1 seem to remem-
ber-some place-so like it."
But you didn't remember the house
when you came up to it."
moo! | remembered the gallery
Cutsi lie, and
"And"-he took up her other hand
as he spoke and held them both, gently
and roassuringly strolIing them
don't YOU remember my describing to
you palt of the inside of this house,
how the staircase was oak, and the
galleries all wainscoted and hung with
old tapestry curtains?"
Yes, yes; | do remember all that
oh. AMI a great deal more. Yes, l
Iecollect it all very clearly now, like a
picture-the steep pathway, with
steps, up the hill; the staircase that
led upstairs; the"
She locked before her dreamily as
she described it in a soft, slow voice
Her husband dropped her hands and
interrupted her.
She takes the delight of a child in
these descriptions, your lordship, and
she never forgets a single detail. 1t is
one of her great pleasures to hear a
full true, and particular account of
where have been and what 1 have
been doing"
And very pretty, too-very pretty,
indeed" said Lord Kildonan. and in
future l hope she will often come with
you, and see what you are doing for
herself
"She will be delighted, I am sure"
said Crosmont, answering for his wife,
whose arm he had drawn through his
to lead her from the room. ":And now,
if you will excuse us, think she had
better go home and change her damp
dress before she takes cold''
ooh, but she must stay 10 dinneri
I'm sure we can find he- some dry
clothes: she won't mind not looking
quite so coquettish as usual for once"
Il am afraid your lordship must
really excuse her this evening. She
has already been induced today to
exert herself a great deal more than
is good for her.
With a sullen and vicious glance at
Armathwaite to emphasize this thrust
at him, Crosmont took leave of his
hosts, and, ignoring the doctor alto
gethor, led his wife from the room.
Run after them, Aphra, and per-
Suade the little lady to come again. said
guileless Lord Kildonan; and. inviting
the doctor to accompany him. he led
the way into his study, where a lamp
with green shade was burning. light
ing up Just a small spot where the
table and chair of the student stood
He gave loving pat to the pile OF
papers on which he was at present
Working. and honored his guest with
: short sketch of his pathological la
bors of the last fortnight; but pres