Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1863-09-03
GRATIA'S FORTUNE.

shot through the heart J."
The newspaper dropped from Gratia Ever
etts nerveless hand as her eye met that one
line in the ghastly list of q Killed and Wound
ed" and the blood receded from her cheek,
leaving it whittier than a marble statue
The morning sunshine lay on the purple vi
olet wreaths OF the Administer carpet, and
glimmered over the gilded chairs Of the
dainty little apartment where the young
heiress sat at breakfast with her solemn old
governess. She was a slight, fragile little
thing with large, brilliant eyes, and cheeks
just tinted with tremulOus pink, like white
roses stained with sunset, and her dress, of
snowy muslin, tied at the waist with simple
blue ribbons, seemed exactly adapted to her
pure childish loveliness.
Mrs. Allaire took up the paper and scanned
the columns through her gold spectaclcs.
Charles Everett-so it is, she muttered
Gone at last, poor fellow! l wonder what
his wife and little ones Will do You ought
to help them a little, Gratia."
g Help them? of course | will He was
my distant cousin, wasn't he, aunty 2" she
asked, unconsciously using the pet name by
which she had known her governcss for
years.
Mrs. Allaire nodded he head.
"Your cousin, child-and your rival for
years"
My rival, aunty? | do not understand !"
our rival in the affections Of old Colonel
Everett, my dear. All, you may we'll look
surprised-you have been heiress to this
property ever since you were child, and
never knew how it came to YOU"
" Tell me about it, aunty," said Gratia, set
ting down the tiny Sevrcs chocolate-cup and
folding her little hands tightly together.
There is not much to tell, Grata, only
-l,r,,- i I
while you were but remote cousin. And
when Charles dispIeased his uncle by marry
ing poor young girl in open defiance Of his
wishes, and the old man willed all the prop
erty which was to have been his nephew's to
you, a babe in the cradle, there were plenty
to declare it an act of gross injustice"
6 1t tcaS injustice" said Gratia, with burn
ing cheeks and compressed lip. ''Why have
Inever been told this before"
My dear, Colonel Everett had a right to
bestow his property where and how he
pleased !"
Had not Charles Everett been brought
up i'll expectation of being his uncle's heir?
Was he not the nearest blood relation, while
| am but distant connection :"
eyes, but"
More than this has not Charles laid down
his life, under the crimsoned folds of his
in restitution, while | am reyeling in the
wealth that should have been theirs? Great
Heaven, that this thing should have been for
years, and | not to know of it Z"
Gratia had risen from her seat and was
walking up and down the room with strange
fire flashing i'll her humid dark eyes Mrs
Allaire watched her with a troubled face
Suddenly she stopped.
''Aunty, this injustice shall be repaired
this wrong shall be righted far in me
lies. | will give this money back to the wi
dow and the tatherless-alas that it should
be too late to render restitution to the brave
man who lies ON the red field of Gcttvs-
burg!"
''Gratia, my child, are you insane ?"
mo, aunty, | am only sane. Do not irri-
tate me with useless arguments and I'M
meaning sophistry-my mind is made up and
wish to lose no time. VIII you send for &
lawyer"
For Mr.. Southall?"
The sudden carmine blazed III the pearl
pure chcek-the eyelids dropped with mo
mcntary shyness, but it was but for second
For Mr. Southall, if you like. He has al
ways had charge Of my affairs and is per
haps the best person to consult in this emcr
gency."
Very well, my dear, l will do as YOU de
think with me that this is absurd piece o
Quixotsm."
"He will not, aunty," said Grata, softly
yet positively, Il know that he will not"
"Oh, dear, DEAR" groaned poor Mrs Al
laire, in a conflicting tempest of ANNOYANCE
and veXation; 'if | had only held my fooIsl
tC que about Charles Everett and hi
claims I"
But Gratia, wrapped in deep thought, ha,
no car for the poor old lady's lamentations.
1t was quaint old room that library witt
its heavy Gothic furniture and nut-browl
carpet sprinkled with scarlet and amber
CLEANS from the stained glass window. il
whose deep recess stood the round oakcn ia
Bile. There was a faint odor of Ru STA leath
er in the apartment, and a strange sense o
quiet rested IN every nook and corner
Gratia sat at the table, one round arm
white as carved pearl and circled with plai1
band of gold resting upon the piles of pa
pers; and the other hand towing idly with hel
watch-chain, while her wistful ewes were fix
ed full upon Warren Southalrs face
The deed, then, gives all unconditional,
to Charles Everetts widow and children
aU?"
at does, Miss Everett"
90 And it takes effect immediately ,"
Yes"
urdIld uEtN Il uCCp bICdII Oh teiici.
You will see that they receive the benef
Of nisdocument as soon as possible, SIR"
Certainly, if you wish it, And now
Miss Gratia, another subject demands you
consideration"
Gratia looked up at the dark bright eye
fixed with such kindness on her chidisl
brow, and looked down again with strang
CULVER at her heart.
1t was not a handsome face-no one hat
ever called Warren Southall handsome-ye
there was nameess something in the gray
eyes and earnest mouth that irresistibly I'm
PEELED you to turn and look after him as h
passed you in the street. People had said
''What pity, poor fellow" when he cam
back from Antietam with his left sleeve fast
ened, empty, to his breast; but Gratia ha
always felt a strange secret pride in that fold
ed sleeve-was it not badge of the Legio
of Honor brought back from the rolling cloud
of battle, the very mouth of red-throated al
tillery.
Another subject F." she repeated hesitat
ingly
Yes. You have transformed youself fror
an heiress to a poor girl-almost pennies
girl"
=" know it" said Gratia, calmly. Il hav
been thinking it all over, Mr.. Southall.
am perfectly aware that it now becomes ne
aessary for me to earn my daily bread. Nee
say how cheerfully shall do it,
de bowed most reverentially before tn
clear light of those hazel eyes, and she wen
on: