Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1873-09-11

an historical scene, and held nothing tina
particularly interested him except one u q
finished white cloud.
Il gueth that'th kite" he commented
scrutinizing critically "Twould look
10th better with tail to it, and | don't
thspothe papa'n never think to put any
tail on"
He picked up brush with an intense
desire to add a beautiful red and green
streamer; but as similar efforts at assist
ance had been wofully unappreciated in
days past, he laid down the implement
again with sigh, clasped his hands be
hlnd him to keep them out of temptation,
and finally turned away and walked over
to the table. A portfolio with its collec
ton OF sketches lay conveniently within
reach, and he secured it at once. He had
often been allowed to look at its contents
and it was just what he needed for his
enterprise, why should he wait any
longer?
papa thells the big pictureth for mon.
ey, and l'll thell the little oneth, like the
man." he decided, with nod of satisfac-
ton. Then, as a thought of some posi-
bic objections fitted into his mind, he
added, with reluctant generosity, II
thpect III give papa thome of the money,
IL.
That was just and equitable, certainly
He slipped the portfolio under his small
arm, and departed with clear conscience.
Once outside the gate his courage slightly
faitered. The world looked large, and he
resolved to make first attempt where he
was acquainted, and accordingly present
ed himself at Miss Grey's door
Pm going to thell ever tho many pic
| tureth,h he announced
The lady looked up from her letter
writing, and laughed as she saw the wee
salesman. "Indeed? Then ! think |
must patronize you. What shall buy y,
she asked
You can have any of them for five
thenth," and Paul deposited the portfolio
in her lap. She turned over the sketches
smllingl y until, in among them, her glance
fell suddenly upon bit of writing, and a
swift flush leaped 20 her cheek as she
lifted the paper with hand that trem-
| bled. The young art-vender noticed
neither flush nor tremOl, but ii did occur
to him that she was studying one draw
ing long time, and he could not quite
make out what it was picture of, either
Paul, did papa know you were com
lng?n she asked, presently.
Moo" answered Paul, Just a trife con
fused; "cauthe | couldn't wait all day for
him, tho | took it off the table and come
| mythelf; but I'll give him thome of the
money"
Then this was not intended to meet her
eyes yet. Had it been laid aside to be
completed some other time? Scarcely:
1t was not the sort of message one would
write at different sittings, like an ordin-
AIRY letter. Had he left it unfinished be-
cause he fancied that writing it at all
would be useless and hopeless? Intui-
lively She felt that this last surmise was
correct. It explained his Slight avoid
ance of her these last weel<s-the almost
imperceptible constraint that had tingcd
his manner. And what should she do
with this tell-tale sheet? Send it back
without a word and let the secret find
other voice Or d e in silence as the future
should determine? Something in her
own heart cried out in swift rebellion
against that. Keep the paper? That
would never do! She glanced at the I'M
suspecting child. How absurdly it had
all happened! \ CLEAN Of mischief fash
ed over her face, and catching up her pen,
she wrote upon the dOcument-"Read and
approved;" then slipping it into its place,
she gave the portfolio back to Paul
There! III give you five cents for one
picture, but you may keep it for me until
| want it. And, Paul, don't think YOU
had better 90 anywhere else with the pic
lures until you ask papa about them.
There are some that he wouldn't want
sold. Take them home, dear, and wait
until he knows about it."
After having so far yielded to impulse,
her WOmanly pride of course took its re
yenge, She wondered how she could
have been so insane as to do such a thing
What had possessed her? She hurried to
the door to call Paul back; but he was
beyond reach Of her v0ice;and she sought
her room again, smiling a little, though
tears of veXation stood in her eyes as she
caught sight Of her own crimson face in
the mirror.
'Twenty-cight years old, and no wiser
than thisl Mildred Grey, YOU will never
be feminine solomon! OH dear!"
Meanwhile Paul, somewhat consoled in
his waiting by the profits already re-
ceiyed, nearly fell asleep on the piazza
before papa arrived; but he aroused sutfi-
ciently to tell the story of his specula-
tiOns as far as developed.
"Tho NTH Gray bought one-only it'll
in here yet-and thaid | better wait till
YOU wath home" he concluded.
VERY sensible advice said papa, lift
ing his eyebrows at the magnitude of the
enterprise undertaken in his absence.
" And what drawing did Miss Grey pur-
chase?n
4 don't know. You can tell it though,
'cauthe her nam'th to it. | thaw her
write it,
SO Mr.. Rivers looked over the sketches,
one by one, until he saw something that
made him hurriedly drop the whole port
folio and hasten down the walk and across
the street.
"WeH'' exclaimed the astonished Paul
"he'th gone to thell her thome too"
The waiting was so long this time that
he had ample chance for full visit to the
land Of dreams; and Mrs Nartha's tempt
ing dinner waxed cold, and her temper
warm at the delay. But the loiterer re-
turned with eyes too radiant to notice
small clouds in any horizon, domestic or
otherwise
After that-everybodv knows what came
after that; how the white-robed figure
changed porticos, and the dream grew to
a sweeter reality. To be sure Mrs. Martha
who had before been afflicted because she
had so much TO look after, now became
vaguely pathetic over being laid on a
shelt-put aside for a stranger; but it was
| a comfortable, easily managed trOuble-a
sort Of picked tribulation-that could be
so readily bottled up and put out of the
way when it was not wanted, and so easily
warmed over, and made as fresh as new
when it was needed, that it was really in
valuable to her
! Just the old story, YOU see-old as the