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

,ie eouI vi Tic Cllllu one was ScruDu
lously nice housewife; the house was
beautifully kept, but it was no home
Paul Rivers the elder sighed little as be
reached this thought that came often now
Only body of rooms with no home heart
In them! 1t was different at that COW
sunny little nook over the way, and the
musing eyes wandered in that Direction
as they frequently did of late, to catch
now and then the luttering of a delicate
dress through the vine-leaves, or the
| glimpse of graceful figure in the garden
Little Paul had first established q
friendship with this nelghbor over the
| way. His small hands, pushed throuoh
| the fence tor flowers, were generously
| 1llled. His wise remarks ana scientific
! Investigations, cautiously ventured he
| tween the palings, received due attention
| and he soon found his way in at the gate
The father followed-to bring Paul home
at first, atterward to stop and talk for q
! little Of the child, of flowers. and tho
| books and pictures that Mildred GREY also
loved Gradually the talks grew longer
There was charm in the gentle womanlv
| presence; the face, past its first finish ot
girlhood,. had gained in nobleness and
sweetness more than it had lost in bloom
and the frank, true eyes with the shadows
OF some things accomplished and suffered
lying little way back in them, We're
more winsome than girlhood's sparkling
brilliancy.
Little Paul's visits were finally unre-
strained. He came and went as suited his
own caprlcious will, and Miss Grey be-
came the sympathizing contidante of
many OF his grave ponderings and mar
vicious researches. One day the treacher-
Gus wind swept back the shading leaves
from the opposite porticO, and revealed
the boys golden head pillowed for its
afternoon nap on somebody's arm. The
attlst rather, unseen at his window,
sketched the white-robed figure and the
sleeping child but into the first moment
OF satisfaction at his success, flashed a
sudden thought-a swift pain and long
lng-that had never wholly left him since.
tie 1ancled that same figure sitting near
him IN his studio, pictured il on his own
moonllt piazza IN the evenings, and the
whole household seemed to grow s,yeeter
and brighter for the mere dream. Itcame
to him now. All! if it might be, how the
work and the life would grow real, and
blessed, and bright, once more, Paper
and pencils were scattered over the table
beside him; he drew a fair white page
nearer, and wrote a few hurried lines-nOt
with any definite intention concerning
them, but only following out a vague i'm
pulse born of that haunting fancy.
"Mildred Grey, dear Mildred! must I
watch you forever across the way, Just be-
yOnd reach ofmy life and home and heart :?
VIII you not come nearer? It is love /
nave given you, dearest, not friendship
have learned to love my neighbor better
than myself; | want her for my own-mv
wife"
There! the nameless dream was fairly
IN words; but he smiled a little sadly at
the absurdity Of having so clothed it, and
suddenly closed his portfolio upon the
unfinished note
mo, no; | shall never write or speak
such words to her! Her life holds f,.irer
possibilities than can offer 1t is little
Paul she loves, not his father. and | must
not mistake her kindness nor risk the
friendship SO invaluable to him, and so
precious to ne, for the faint hope ofgain-
ing something dearer."
He sighed sottly-a sigh that ended in
another faint smile-walked over to the
easel, and took up his brushes, and then,
though it was not in the least a sentiment
al or discOnsolate thing to do, he began TO
whistle-"Away dull caren
Mrs. marina caught me SOUND oeloW
STAIRS, ana accepting II as evidence that
the master OF the establishment was en-
tlreIy unconcernca about the loss OF her
pIush ana nef various otner 'flouia1ions,
puISeu uP hef mourn sun more grllnly as
sile went aooul lo9klng aller an the
"heelS, PoIIeys' ana shal's OF hef UNI,
verse knock on the open door startled
hef tai, thln, green Spectacled gentle
man, "l'A d large poftIoilo uhdeT ms arm
$1,000 po"lhg IN me doorway IKE
heavy-toppeq "eeu III 'he whit
haudh' nave mere some oeauIli"I
ehgfaVlhgs 10 "hlch deslFe 10 call your
attention
was an inaasplc!ouS moment. MRS:
Marina was III no -, aiaiaDle nulnof to"aIo
anything ol tliat iih' anu Io"heu as 'ile
o" ~ % DPonC" .,3
i don't want any she announced
ShoTIly
but, lhaaah' wish 10 eAhipIt 10 20"
some hishly oeao'liui anu interesting
VOTES Oh AT "nicil- ~,
"Ihe more artlul they are the less IKE
them. don't want TO look at them, IN
terposed Mrs Martha
The pictorial gentleman looked mildly
EN- LSSscG' iiI i,",. Z" eC1 ePst'h 80 ~
leafht'!' ana Couio' hot ieei tidC ho la" ~
done MS "hole outy unless ne repeated II
from beginning TO emo III eaGll no.'e' ne
shllted MS posl'ion ana tIle4 AGAIN. d.
es, haoanl, very 'rue; put theli tiieSc
Deautiiul anu hiShly interesting "9lho VI
az ~. -, lo,,snold