Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1873-10-30

| pause, in which he had attentiyelv CON
| sldered Minnie, who had fallen to beatinr
the eggs again with still greater energy
which was perhaps what made her cheek :
so red NO
The ideal" answered Miss Minnie
with toss of the head that sent Lalf =
score of little curls flying loose. Before
he can have household he must have n
house; and, though dare say the willis
good enough, if wait till he can take
| me home" and Minnie completed her
broken sentence with an expressive flour
ish OF the egg-beatel
well, but you can take him home
then" SAID Mrs. Heaton. 'sIt comes to
the same thing"
Same difficulty in the way" replied
Minnie, seeing Pm not an Aladdin to
make palace out of toad stool"
And if you were, would you make
young Wyndham King Toad?n asked
Jack, laughingiy, but watching her close
ly the while.
ooh, you uncivilized John! did Won
! never hear that direct questions were the
bane of existence?" exclaimed Minnie
vanishing into the pantry in search of a
| nutmeg crater, as she said
Is it really true?" asked Jack of his
mother, in a low voice
"Why, where have your eyes been?"
answered Mrs. Heaton, in the same tone.
1t was scarcely week later that Mrs
Heaton was thrown into regular furry
by observing what looked suspiciouslv
like building preparations in the vacant
lot ADJOINING, an open green, forming a
part OF their grounds. Had Jack sold it
to some building Spectator? That was
| an important question under the circum-
stances, for, as there was only the garden
fence between, a great deal would be de-
| pending on the sort of tenants the new
| house might have. Mrs Heaton could
hardly wait Jack s coming home to satisfy
her Impotence.
"Jack"-she began the attack directly
"there seems to have been some kind of
building people in the vacant lot this
| morning"
81 know it." answered Jack; and after
little pause, " In fact, sent them"
"Oh, jack" exclaimed his mother re-
proachfully, Il never thought you would
have sold that ground"
i haven't sold it," answered Jack; and
added, Il think of building myself"
! Your said Mrs. Heaton, in tone of
surprise-'you, of all people in the world,
| turning Spectator! But now, my dear
| boy, have you considered the risk YOU
run? It is so near: disagreeable people
there could make themselves so 0eru dis
| agreeable to U.s."
III promise to take nobody into the
new house who can disturb the peace of
the old one" replied Jack, with smile.
Besides, mother, it isn't even begun yet ;
| time enough to worry when you see the
| states on the roof and the chimney smok-
| ing
''Ah, that Won't be long first, I'm afraid !"
said Mrs. Heaton, ruefulIy.
| Il hope nOt,n reioined her son. "I'm
bound to get the thing through as soon as
| possible"
"But what for?" replied Mrs. Heaton;
what good is it all going to do?'
ooh, building pays" answered Jack,
| vaguely, and changing the subject
! 1t looked as if Jack meant to lose no
time from the way things went ahead
Minnie declared that he had made some
unholy compact, and that invisible hands
at night took up the work where his Irish
| hod carriers had left it. And certainly
the hOuse-that is, myself, you under
| stand-greW with a rapidity that gave
some color to her accusation.
| Finally the day came when | stood fin
ished from head TO foot, or, if You prefer
it, from roof to basement. And though |
say it, that perhaps should not say it,
was handsome structure. | had a
| piazza, balcony, bay-window; no mod
| ern improvement or adornment had been
| spared on me. | was as yet empty, to be
sure, but that was a lack easily supplied
| all the more easily that Jack the very
| evening | was done brought over his
wOman-kInd, with the addition Of young
! Ned Wyndham, who hGppened to be max
ing Call al the old house, to give their
united voice about the furnishing.
! | remember just how the party looked
as they entered Minnie came first of all.
| She wore a thin white dress, covered with
nOunces and puffings, and the folds OF
which she had gathered up out of the
dust, so that / had a peep at the rosettes
on her little high-heeled slippers. Her
black wavy hair had red rose bud on the
left side, to balance the pink dimple in
her right cheek, [ suppose, and her black
| eyes were wide open and sparkling.
Altogether | approved Of her, and if had
not been afraid, being so new, Of doing
some harm to myself, should have Civ
en- some sign Of satisfaction. Ned Wynd-
ham followed her, quite an elegantlook-
ing young fellow, with white hands and a
taWny moustache, and whO-t/tdt l saw at
once-admired her quite as much as
| did. Jack and his mother brought up the
rear, Jack carrying a notebook and pen
Gil, and Mrs. HeatOn with look OF sur
prise and remonstrance on her face. She
was speaking as she entered
but, my dear boy she said, Il can
not conceive why you should want to
| throw away your money on this house"
| Now, this of course was not pleasant for
me to listen to, but l resolved to
hear further, and not take any hasty
prejudices. at isn't everybody, you
know" she continued, who cares to
take furnished house"
'And it isn't everybody | would let it
to- answered Jack. "Have you forgotten
our agreement, mother? | mean to have
nice people in here, so | must bait my
trap accordingly. That's why | have
brought you all over this eveningto give
me the benefit of your taste. Come, won't
somebody begin?"
ooh, what dear little bay-window
roomn' here cried Minnie, who had been
fitting about without much attending to
the others eff it were my house | should
make this my snuggery; I'd put my
piano in that recess there, and disgrace.
fully easv chair here in the bay-window."
and fill the balcony with roses and
things" completed young Wyndham,
whose mind was plainly distracted by
that red rosebud.
"Not bad suggestions either" said Jack,
whose pencil was already jotting down
| nianos easv chairs and plants. NOW