Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1873-09-18

really your" ~ ~
Il believe it is" said Mr.. Devne, smil.
ing, with perfect outward composure,
though his whole self was in sort of
whlri, with a rushing wreck of old asso.
cations and memories going down to
cnaos; and amidst them all, reason, awake
aiter sleep of years, seemed to stand
wondering at the destruction of her pris-
on -house-contused, and yet with a sense
OF relief and rising life that was delight
1T is such lovely evening I should
so ike to go out on the piazza said Mrs.
A.,rmer, with rustic and sway of all her
sllken draperes.
She hung on his arm; she looked up ap-
peallngly into his face as she crossed the
room; she minced as she went in the
manner that of old moved the ire of the
prophet.
DR.. Lyon looked after her as if he won,
dered what sort of beast this might be
that had come into his ark Menango, as
represented then and there, drew itself to-
gether little, exchanged glances, and
was inclined to think Mrs Armer "not
nice" Mrs. Vale, stately, old fashioned
lady, iDwardly resolved that her cousin S
visit to herself and daughters should be
short
Mrs. Armer had the effrontery to stop
and speak to Mrs Hassan, and expressed
a desire that they should meet where they
could talk over "old times" Mrs. Hassan
was intensely polite, but very cool, and
she did not even look at her brother
Mr.. Devine and Mrs. Armer did not
stay more than ten minutes on the piazza,
and during that time she did all the talk
ing. dwelling mostly on the subject of her
poor dear husband" and intimating,
firstly, that he had never understood her
nature; and, secondly, that he had left her
very well off," but TO neither intimation
did Mr.. Devine respond with sympathy or
interest. In his sudden revulsion of feel
ing he hardly knew whether to be most
disguised with himself or with his COM
panion. The worshipers who came to
the temple in the morning and found that
only the tishy part of Dagon was left to
| him, could hardly have been more startled
than Sydney Devine in the presence of
his once adorable Anna He took her to
supper, a tended her with polite care, and
shortly after found out his sister, and asked
her If she were ready to 90 home
Mrs. Hassan was more than ready. Her
whole soul was stirred within her, and she
| lOnged to utter her whole opinion of the
fair widow, but refrained, fearing to do
more harm than good.
Neither brothCrnOr sister spoke till they
were halt way home, and then Mr. De
vine reused himself from his silence and
| said:
BY Jove"
1t did not seem as if this appeal to "a
heather deity was dictated either by de
votion or by renewed passion, and Mrs.
! Hassan vcntured TO ask what he wanted
OF Jupiter
Look here, CASEY" said Sydney, with
sudden earnestness. "Do tell me; was
she always like this?"
Mrs. Hassan drew subdued long
breath of intense relief, and answered,
with studied quietness:
Il do not see much change in her She
! IS as pretty as ever, and her manner is
much the same as when used to see her"
Casey" said Mr.. Dcvine, after another
silence, Il have been tremendous fool"
"lndecd!' said Mrs. Hassan. I'VE are
ali that, more or less, | suppose. Doesn't
| Mrs. Armer strike YOU as unchangcd?"
AS the same; and yet there is the Won
der, Classy. you saw her as l do now,
why didn't you tell me?"
Il tried to, Sydney; but you said I was
| jealous of her beauty" said Mrs. Hassan,
bctraying little thorn that pricked her
! at intervals for years.
well, well, can not sec what l was
thinking Of"
And then come another sigh, as of
mingled relief and regret, and then he
! discovered that his sister was crying a
little.
why, Classy what is that for" he
said, gently.
Il am so glad. l was so afraid you
would fancy her again
Classy" said Mr.. Devine, speaking
with great deliberation, as the carriage
drove up to the door, Il shouldn't fancy
her if there wasn't another woman in the
world"
Mr. Hassan had come home on the late
train, and his mother had little supper
ready for him. and instead Of going back
to his solitary den behind his office,
| Sydney staid to partake of the little re
past, for neither he nor his sister had
taken supper at the presidents.
A cloud seemed, in some mysterious
manner, to have lifted from the face OF
creation and to have dispersed itself in
empty air.
How pretty his Sister looked in her
blue silk Classy was an uncOmmonIy
never noticed it before. What an excel
lent fellow was his brotherin-law; what
a charming old lady was Mrs. Hassan
the elder What delightful, well-ordered
home-Iike place was the house! Where
had his wits been that hitherto all these
| things had never seemed to claim from
him more than listless, halt-Weary in
terest? He had not talked s. much be
fore in years and he made good supper
and then fed bits Off his fork to the cat
which she, much condescending, took
daintily.
He felt like man who has dreamed OF
wandering along, heavily burdened
through waste places, and who wakes to
find himself in the familiar room, with
the visionary load left behind in the land
of visions.
Before he went away he had promised
to think about an Ott-repeated proposal to
make his home with his brother-in- law
He thought to such good purpose that be
fore the week had come to an end he was
established under his sisters roof, to the
ladv'S great cOntentment.
He saw Mrs. Armer two or three times
before she ended her visit; indeed, she
came to him to consult him about a law.
suit in which she was engaged with her
husbands relatives, but Mr.. DBine in.
formed her that the matter was out of his
line of practice. Once and again he en-
countered his old love, but with no more
dangerous emotions than ever increasing
disgust. The once sweet unconventional
| loo ,1frori % of