Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1873-11-13

| ting Hill.
Away I went to Larkspur Road. Mrs.
Maldmont's hOuseawas a small, comforta-
pie residence, with bright windows, veran-
dahs, gorgeous window boxes, and striped
sunblinds. Mrs. Maidmont was at home,
SAD very neat, pretty looking maid !;
''no sent In my card, with
message con most i'm
portant business" The maid came
back to say that her mistress did not re-
Gognlze the name, but would | walk in?
was shown into pretty drawingroom
on the first floor. An elderly lady rose
10 greet me with old fashioned courtesy,
at the same time with good deal of un-
easy curiosity visible in her face. This
was not the original of the photograph,
VINO was young and charming girl
Madame" said rapidly, !" / believe
that my friend, Charles Thrapstow, is
| well known to you; now, it is of the ut
most importance that should ascertain
where he is at this moment"
| "Stay!' said the old lady. You are
laborlng under a complete mistake;
know nothing whatever of the gentleman
whose name you mention; name never
heard before" 3's
Was she deceiving mes l did not think
so.
Perhaps Miss Maidmont may know
said eagerly.
Miss Maidmont is not likely to have
formed any acquaintance without her
mothers knowledge" said Mrs. Maid
mont with dignity. There seemed to be
| no alternative but for me to retreat with
apologies
l am very busy, you see," went on
the old lady, with a wave of the hand :;
no T To- ,I>o
me, saw to be streWed with preparations
Tor some festive event, a ball perhaps, or,
from wreath of orange blossoms that |
saw peeping out of milliner's box, more
likely wedding [ was about to take
my departure reluctantly, when young
girl, a charming young girl, bounded into
the room: she was the original of the
photograph
"Oh, mammal" she cried, here's
letter from poor Charlie to say he can't
possibly come here tonight! Isn't it
provoking? And want to consult him
about so many things"
"Well, my dear Isabel" said the old
| lady placidly, "you'n have enough of his
company after tomorrow" From which
judged that my surmise as to the wed
| ding was correct and that Charlie was
| the bridegroom-elect.
by the way she went on, "here's a
| gentleman, Isabel, who insists that we
know MIR. Charles - forget the name
now"
'Thrapstow," interjected
"a Mr.. Charles Thrapstow You know
of no such person, Bellas"
| II know of no Mr. Charles but Charles
Tempest" said Isabel
at is singular, too, that the initials of
our friends should be the same May |
ask if you have given your portrait, taken
| by Blubore of Kensington''-
| Upon my word,' said Mrs. Maidmont
rising, and sounding the bell, "this is
rather too much from a total stranger
| We don't know your friend, and we don't
know you. Susan, show this gentleman
out"
"But gentleman" cried, with blue
eyes, and yellow beard and moustache,
and turned-up nose"
| mo moren' cried Mrs Maidmont Gam
| to repeat once more, we know nothing
| about him?"
What could I do under these circum-
stances but take my leave? In Susan,
however, found an unexpected ally. She
| had heard my parting words of descrip-
| ton, and she turned to me as we were de-
scending the stairs, and said, miss
Isabels young man is exactly like that"
| Half crown and few Establishments
which, under the circumstances, think
even my worthy spouse would have con-
| doned, put me into possession ofthe facts
| Miss Maidmont was really going to be
married tomorrow morning at st. Spike
nard's Church to Mr. Charles Tempest,
a very good-looking young man, whom
they had not known long, but who seemed
to be very we'll off Ny description of
my friend tailed exactly with Susan's of
the bridegroom; but the coincidence
might be merely accidental.
Had Miss Maidmont photograph of
| her lover?" | asked
She had, in her own room, it seemed
Susan couldn't get at it now without
| suspicion; but she promised to secure it,
and bring it with her if would meet her
at nine O'Clock at the corner of the street
was punctual to my tryst; and at nine
Susan made her appearance with mo-
roccO-case containing an excellent like
ness of my friend, Charles Thrapstow,
massive pin with topaz in it, and all.
| Now what was to be done? Should [
| 90 to Mrs. Madmont and tell her how she
was deceived in her daughters lover :?
That would have been the way best adapt
ed to spare the feelings of the Maidmonts;
| DuI WOull Id DIlHS Dtth VIC i've tuOUSduu
pounds? I thought not.
Miss Maidmont," / solloquized, "will
| find some way to warn her lover Even
robbing bank may not embitter a girl
| against her sweetheart, and no doubt she's
over head and ears in love with Charlie.
| No; determined on a different plan.
rose early next morning, dressed my
| self with care, put on pair of pale prim-
rose gloves, donned my newest beaver, and
took cab to St. Spikenard's Noting Hill.
The bells were jangling merrily as |
alighted at the church door; a small
crowd had already gathered on the pave
ment, drawn together by that keen fore
sight of coming excitement characteristic
of the human species. "Friend of the
bridegroom" whispered to the verger,
and / was forthwith shown into the vestry.
| The clergyman was there already, and
shook hands with me in a vague kind of
way.
"Not the bridegroom he said in a
mild interrogative manner. | told him
that | was only one of his friends, and we
stood looking at each other in a comatose
kind of way, till little confusion at the
yestry door broke the spell. 'Here he
comes!" whispered some one; and next
moment there appeared. in the vestry look
ing pale and agitated, but very handsome,
Mr. Charles Thrapstow.
l had caught him by the arm and led
him into corner, before he recognized
who l was When he saw me, / thought
foy, tod hnfr