The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1909-11-25
CHAPTER TX.

OIl<AL III A1
November began. The days were
dark and dreary. 1t rained a great
deal; it was not cold. only damp and
grey and wretched. The dead leaves
were nearly all stripped from the trees.
and swirled about in melancholy ed
dies down the lanes, or lay in dank
brown heaps against the hedge-rows.
As to the river. it was the most mis-
cradle place in the world. All the
beauty was drenched out of it. and the
only moving thing TO be seen on the
sullen waters was an occasional barge.
laden with wood or Goals, dropping
slowly down stream, and vanishing
again into the gloom of the distant
mists. The Paradise was Paradise no
longer. 1t was as though life and
youth and beauty were dead. n old
e and sorrow alone were left.
One afternoon Irene and her mother
walked to a village about two miles
from Chatswell-away from the river
towards the hills. On their way home
it came on to rain in torrents; they
had umbrellas. but not waterproof
cloaks. The rain dwas very heavy and
the wind blew it slangingly against
them. so by the time they reached The
Cottage they were both drenched TO
the skin.
You must change everything at
once. Irene. you will catch cold" said
Mrs. Garland, and although she was
very wet herself, she would not leave
her daughter until she had seen with
her own eyes that she put on dry
clothing. and hat she was thoroughly
warm. Perhaps she fingered in her
own wet garments too long in her
daughters room, or perhaps it was,
after all. mainly because of that letter
that came the next morning from Lady
Garland; Irene never quite knew, but
no doubt Mrs. Garland caught a chill
in the rain. and the one thing came on
the top OF the other.
When Irene came downstairs to
breakfast the next morning, she found
her mother sitting by the table with
al open letter in her hands. Her face
was deadly pale, and she shook all
over. as though she had ague.
"Oh. my child. my child," walled
Mrs. Garland. your aunt has seen him
she has spoken to him-there is no
longer any doubt about him: he is the
most wicked mar in the whole world"
1t was Irene's turn to tremble and
turn pale. She too,S the letter from
her mothers hands and read it.
AT length. my dear Gertrude" wrote
Lady Garland. II am able to tell you
something about that man Carroll. Ny
dear. he Is even worse than / supposed
him to be! In fact. had 1 not heard 1t
with my W ears l could never have
believed IN such inhuman cruelty. 1t
happened in the Army and Navy
Stores. ! was just coming out Of the
drug department, having been there to
get some lozenges for my cough. when
/ saw a back that seemed familiar to
me. Two gentlemen were standing to-
gether. Then one Of them wished his
friend goodbye and went away, the
other turned half round. and I saw at
once that / raj right in my SUPPOSE
ton. and that 1t was Rupert Carroll.
Well. nobody can say that I am not a
courageous woman-I have always
plenty of pluck at my command In an
emergency. I fiatter myself. so I walk
ed straight up to him:
II wish to speak to you,' I said.
without any further preamble.
Mr.. Carroll turned round, took off
his hat. and remained staring at me.
He did not even change color-he only
put on an air of surprise.
81 wish to speak to you about your
conduct to my niece / said.
Your niece. madam he replied.
with an air of unconcern. and who.
pray. Is your niece?'
MY niece, Miss Garland, SIR I an
10000 -,, 1900 DALI It. -@N1
ness. whose affections you have trified
with for your own amusement, and
whom you have basely deserted with
out a word OF explanation
My dear madam. l never heard OF
the lady in my life.' this finished
scoundrel had the insolence to reply.
Never heard of Mrs. Garland and
her daughter?' I cried. with hot indig-
nation. Have you forgotten the house
where you were welcomed with such
warm hospitality and where you were
treated with every kindness? a kind
ness you repaid by deceit and base In
gratitude. making love to Miss Gar
land without her mothers knowledge
and consent, and then leaving hel
without a word or a sign when you
were tired Of her.?
Then his shameless villain actually
laughed. laughed in my face. Gertrude!
~ think you mur. be mad. my good
woman,' he actually dared to call me-
that. his good woman indeed!
81 never heard of Mrs. Garland OF
Miss Garland I never received any
kindness or hospitality from them mol
did / eve make love to either lady In
my life. 1 beg hat you will not annoy
me any further by these absurd accu-
s%ations. or else must request the au
thorities here to remove you from the
place
My dear, after that went away
positively crushed. / pass over his In
science myself-but that he SHOULD
have denied all knowledge of you anc
of poor dear Irene, seems to me to sur.
pass everything that / nave ever heard
in my life concerning the duplicity and
wickedness of man-and that is saying
a good DEAL"
Mamma, do you think Aunt Anna
can have made any mistaken" SAID
Irene at length when she had read TIL:
letter carefully all through-"she ought
never to have mentioned my name
never, 1t was horribly bad taste o.
her. but still / cannot help thinxins
that she may have made some blum
der. Perhaps
She never finished the sentence. She
looked up across the table at her moth.
er. and was Mortified to see her fac'
drawn and contracted with pain.
Mamma darling. you are ILL.," Shit
cried =. she flew to the bell-Mrs. Car.
land was gasping for breath
"It-it-is only a stitch-I think
but she held her hands clutcheC
clutched against her side and coulC
hardly bring the words out, and she
shivered from head to DOT
Irene put her to bed and sent for the
doctor. 1t was acute Inflammation Of
| the lungs. brought on no doubt by the