Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1903-06-04
Woman' S F aee
FLORENCE WARDEN
Continued.

Have you anything important to do
tomorrow EVENING"" he asked, laying
his hand with more of command than
affection on the young mans shoulder.
Nothing whatever, Lord Kildonan."
Then will you come up here some
time between six and half-past? You
need not say anything about it, think
to anybody. Bring your ulster"
Having received a somewhat reluct-
ant assent, he was moving away, when
Frank detained him, saying, in a very
deferential but earnest-Voice:
Il beg your pardon, Lord Kildonan.
have something very important to
tell you, to suggest to you. You will
allow me to speak frankly, will you
not?"
with as much frankness as you
can, if you please. It is virtue which
needs encouragement in this part of
the world"
Il had talk, on my arrival with
Lady Kildonan. She is i'll, very serious
ly i'll, in spite of her brilliant appear
ance Lord Kildonan, beg you, don't
treat her harshly just now. A shock,
a sudden disturbance of any kind,
might have the most dangerous eff
feet upon her. She is in a highly
excited and excitable state, and the
very least harm you might anticipate
from shock would be the complete
Infringing Of her mind"
Lord Kildonan listened quite cOldly,
with his mouth set in a straight hard
line, and without a moments sOftening
of the eyes.
Armathwaite continued: "Put off
your Investigations; make them I'M
necessary. Take your wife away;
give her change of air, and scene, and
amusement. Then, when her mind
has recovered its usual tone, you can
make what accusations or reproaches
you WILL and spare yourself the re-
morse you will feel if you attack her
when she is weakest-with the cOnse-
quences | fOresee. Remember, her
wishes, her caprices have been in
dulged all her life until she is utterly
unable to fight against them. Is it not
fair that those who have helped to do
her this harm, although it was done
in kindness, should Judge her lightly?'
But during this appeal the Scotch
mans face remained quite unmoved.
The only sign of agitation he betrayed
was the Gaelic accent which appeared
in his next words.
Judgment, DR.. Armathwaite," he
said, drily, Should be in proportion to
the offence, or it is not Justice. AT
present, the matter in hand is to ascer-
tain the measure of the offence Judg,
ment should come afterwards. In your
case, unless your knowledge is greater
than mine, which | doubt, judgment
seems to have been severe and prema-
ture. If you have no confidence either
in my justice or my judgment, l will
release you from your appointment to.
morrow night"
Even when thus challenged Frank
would not pledge himself to approval
of the harsh determination he saw
stamped on Lord Kildonan's face.
IF you want me, your lordship, of
course | am at your service" he said
simply.
And his host, instead of letting him
off, repeated: Between six o'clock and
half-past then" and left him.
Soon after Armathwaite took his
leave. AS he took the hot hand Lady
Kildonan held out to him, and looking
at her face, saw that her blue eyes
scarcely noted a detail of the scene be.
fore her, and that her mind was busy
with far-away thoughts and calcula.
tions, he knew that no further warning
he could give, consistently with keep,
ing his promise to her husband, could
save her now. He glanced back at
her from the door. She was crossing
the room, with her white and gold
train sweeping behind her. Like a
queen she looked, he thought, as he
watched her with irrepressible yearn
ing sorrow and admiration-but a
queen on the last night of her reign.