Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1874-01-29

Not few men of retired habits and in
| herited wealth. not few well-endowed
widows. had been decIded-in the deli
cate question of the clearinghouse which
should become the depository Of their
| UNEMPLOYED capital and the adviser and
agent in its investment-by a graceful at
tention from lady who combined the ele.
gance of perfect ton with tact that enabled
her to adapt herself to each varied form
of character among those whose favor she
desired to win. There was no doubt that
this marriage, if a speculation, had been
| a profitable speculation for the house OF
Braine & Bell; and now, just as an un-
usual run on the stock of the Ocafenoca
Railroad, of which Braine & Bell were
the principal holders, had been made by
the "bears'-Braine s. Bell were
"bulIs." ofcourse-and they might have
suffered in consequence, John Bell had
died. and the fortune he left-Annie's
share of it as well as Robert's-served as
a very convenient bolster for the sinking
heads of the firm.
"Annie, find that my fathers property
| has increased in value since he retired
from business His estate is valued at
two hundred thousand dollars. So you
see YOU are an heiress. What will you do
| with your money!"
"T6at is for you to say, Robert" said
Annie, quickly; then hesitated, and,
blushing and stammering, added: "Of
course, Robert, | want you to take-that
| is, I want to pay-that is, / mean
my expenses here, you know"
ooh, that is nothing" said Robert.
ooh, yes, Robert; indeed l could not be
easy"
! ooh, welI-be easy. I'll see to all that ;
but that will be b0gateLle-a thousand or
so, two at mOst-how much more will
you want? All you do not want had bet
| ter be invested in railroad bonds-pay
capitally."
"COuld I have five hundred dollars to
spend as l please?" asked Annie, timidly.
Give hundred dollars! Why, you will
want that for your dress alone as soon as
you lay aside this heavy, gloomy dress ;
| and by-the-by, dear, | wish you would
tighten your mour1ing-now don't begin
to cry, Annie-you know, if it would do
hina any good, | would wear it, and have
you wear it, forever; but it cannot, and it
| does me serious harm"
alarm, Roberto" sobbed Annie, trying
vainly to press back her tears. "HOw can
that be? If it is so, had better go
away"
Gust like woman's reasoning. Now
listen to me one moment, Annie, and you
will understand the case, and, | am sure,
will do what / want. 1t is not, Annie,
that l feel less our great loss than you do,
| but business men have not time to listen
to feeling; hence, if one pauses in the
race for that, down he goes, and a dozen
! trample over him in their eager rush for
| the prize we are all seeking. A pretty,
agreeable young lady in house is often
a great help in my business, and you
! know, dear, we are in the same boat now,
and sink or swim together"
"But, Robert, do not yet understand
what my mourning has to do with all
| this"
"Why, Annie, do you not see that it
makes the house gloomy, and people will
not come to a gloomy house? Sarah
petitS SOuperS last week, but how could she
entertain gay guests while you moved
like heavy, black cloud over the
scene?'
"Then, Robert, let me go away"
"And have everybody saying I was so
| hard-hearted l had driven my sister from
my housen'
"What shall I do, Robert? l know
not what you WISH" Annie spoke impa-
| tiently.
81 will tell you, Annie. | have asked
two or three gentlemen to dinner to-day ;
| let Sarah make some change in your
| dress it shall still be black, but it may
be little lighter, little more becoming,
and then come to dinner determined to
be my bright, beautiful sister again"
81 will do my best" Annie said, colby,
and Robert kissed her and called her his
pet and then hurried away, feeling
himself a little ashamed of his
OWE talk. Could he have looked
back and seen the girlish face
fall into the clasped hands, and heard the
deep s0hs that shook the slender form, he
would scarcely have been cOmfOrted.
But he did not look back, and the storm
lulled at last, and Annie rose and sought
Mrs. Robert Bell, decided to do all they
wished to night, and tomorrow to write
to friend in E to look out a home
for her there.
We have said that Mrs. Robert Bell
possessed tact, and she manifested 1t on
this occasion. Annie was asked to make
no painful changes, and yet, by the aid
of a skillful cOifeur and ma0diSte, a differ
ent air was given to her dress, which
seemed now to render more interesting
the sweet, childlike face glowing with
the excitement of dressing for the first
time consciously for effect.
Among the guests of the evening was
young SOutherner, rich, handsome, agree
able. The first quality was his passport
to the society Of Mr.. and Mrs. Robert
Bell. The others won for him the heart
of Annie. Over their loves l shall not
linger. 1t was the old story-whO does
not know it? Bryan Randolph, proud
of his pedigree, of his old home,
of the associations with his name, who
had sometimes doubted whether he should
find any one worthy of bearing the honor
ed name and continuing the line of the
Randolphs, saw this fair, simple Annie
Bell. and doubted only whether he were
worthy to win and wear so charming a
wrote that tomorrow's letter to seek a
Il home at E., but consented to transfer
her home TO Southern lands. Bryan was
impatient to wear what he had won, but
| his father must signify his consent before
Annie would become his wife; and, with
| the best heart in the world, his father had
| strong prejudices, and hated Yankees,
and so Bryan dared not trust his cause to
d letter, out must return in person.
"Only for few weeks, Annie, and then
you must be ready" he said.
81 will be ready" answered the blush
ing Annie; and then, by one OF those
strange associations of thought which ii
is difficult to trace, she suddenly eXclaim-
ed, in gleeful voice: Il am so glad
am rich! Did you know was an heiress
| ArpD 1-O,, crJal Of X