Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1875-09-09
Poor, frightened little Lettie went up

NlultoW anu putting UeT manu- OUt III eHt
dark touched the old tree and said good
by to 1t with tears in her eyes, came down
and passed out, without meeting either
her aunt or Arabella
She stood all alone in the damp, dark
street. The heavy tread Of policeman
turning the corner warned her she must
not stand there long, so she walked on
On and on she walked, little knowing or
scarcely caring whittier. AS she came up
to huge stone gateway with massive pill
lars she felt so dizzy she leaned back
against one of these, sick at heart and
well-nigh exhausted for she had been
walking and wandering for two hours.
The lights were beginning to die out in
the houses and still she stood there sobbing
and weeping bitterly. She heard steps
approaching, but dare not move out of the
shadow of the gateway.
Clarence Lee had just closed the door
OF his sisters residence with a merry
Goodnight, sis; III be round again in
the morning" and walked briskly down
the path toward the big stone gateway
He heard sob and moan and paused to
listen. By the dim starlight he saw the
figure of woman crouching there in the
shadow. care you i'll, madame" asked
he.
ooh, no, SIR" Clarence started, the
voice seemed so strangely familiar" but
don't know where to COZ
"Pray come into the house a moment"
said he, and half supporting her trembling
form, they entered the apartment Clarence
had just left.
Lettie's face wore no roses now. She
was pale as any Broadway beauty, and as
whirling around like top. Alice Deane
| Clarence's married sister, was q sympa
thetic little body, and in a few minutes
she had torn off Lettie's Shaker-b bonnet
and brought her a glass Of water. Lettie
already felt quite revived under her treat
ment, while the oldfush began to brighter
| up her cheeks. Clarence all this time
| looked on in mute establishment He
could hardly believe his eyes, and yet
yes, it was the same little girl he hac
talked with that afternoon.
"Why, Lettie-NIiss Morrisn' exclaimed
he, is it really you?"
YES" said Lettie. 81 think it must
| be, though I seem strange to myself
| Then followed an explanation and many
| inquiries, all Of which Lettie answered
| truthfully, in straig htforward manner
and when Clarence again babe his sister
goodnight he added: ''Take good care
Of little Lettie"
Arabella had no idea that Lettie would
go away and never come back when she
sent her forth. She thought she would
again come to her and beg her forgive
| ness, and plead to be allowed to remain
But il this she found she was mistaken
| and she was more chagrined at her own
folly and hastiness than she would have
owned.
The next morning after Lettie's depart
ure Clarence received the following note
DEAR Mr.. LEE am sorry I was not al
home when you called to see me yesterday
You must have been pleasantly entertained,
imagine, as my kitchen-g girl told me she sat
in the parlor and talked with you. I fee
very much distressed at the manner in which
you must have been treated. I hope you
| viii call again very soon. Your true friend
ARABELLA.
Clarence smiled. His first impulse was
| to let this pass unnOticed, but upon second
| thought he concluded he would reply; so
| ne wrote, accordingly, in this wise:
Miss ST.. JoHN-You need waste no regrets
upon your absence yesterday, as I was in
deed Ue1y pleasantly entertained by your
cousin and kitchen-g girl, Miss Morris. Per.
haps it will alleviate your distress somewhat
when tell you my call was not intended fol
| you, but for another person. Respectfully
CLARENCE NJ. LEE.
"Decidedly COOL" Arabella said; but
laid it all to :" that artful hussy," an6
| wondered if it was she he came to see
after all. She felt Inundated at first, bu
as Clarence never came to see her again
she reluctantly gave him up with sigI
| of loye-love for his fathers greenbacks-
and in few months was married to al
old miser Of sixty, who was both bald anC
| rheumatic, but he offered her a gilded cage
| to live in, and that was sufficient to satisfy
| her.
Lettie found a permanent home with
| Mrs. Deane, who gave her all the privi
leges of society, and a year worked won
ders for her, both in outward appearance
and mental culture. | said she found 8
| permanent home there. It was permanent
| for five years, but at the end of that time
she went to help make home Of hel
own. Let me introduce you into thai
charming home for moment. We vii,
make only short call, as she and hel
husband-yes, she's married, Of course
else where's the good of my story ?-are
talking upon very interesting subject
interesting to them, at least.
What shall we name her, Clarence?''
Have you any preference, Letter"
mo. I'll be suited with any name you
may choose, provided it isn't Bridget" she
added.
We'll, then, dear Lettie, in memory OF
the old Scotch song that first attracted
me to you, let her be called Annie Lau-
rie'"
= I