Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1878-09-19

time, his face growing more and more
and imbecile, and had begun
to read it over again, when Mae cried
out, in a broken voice, " Could any
villain be at the bottom of this, Shiel?
could auy one have tempered with
her loyalty ?"
Never" cried Shiel, Indignantly.
III answer for that with nay life. | know
how foolishly faithful she was-never
an eye or an ear for any body else. /
know that by experience. Many's the
time I've tried to console her myself
for your Indifference"
My what ?" roared poor Mac.
" Your Indifference and neglect, Sir"
cried Shiel. now aroused to the pitch of
of recklessness. She was q pearl of
purity and sweet simplicity, but she
was cast before swine, Sir"
"Shiel, you are always more or less
Of fool, groaned Mac, and now you
are clean daft" But he listened to
Shiel as he went on to give him q piece
Of his mind, and took heart as he gath
cred in the evidences of Jenny's wound
ed love. She'll be back before twen-
ty-four hours" said Mae, land We'll
all be the happier for this little bout"
But tWenty-fOur hours went by, and
forty-eight; q whole week passed away,
and no Jenny cane to lift the weight
from Macs heart. Shiel advised him
to secretly consult the police, at which
Mae first revolted, then succumbed;
but with no success. A fortnight went
by, and even Shiel forgave every fault
of Macs, so deep and sincere were his
sorrow and penitence. The musical
abstraction of Miss Jean served in
measure to mitigate her grief, and an
eminent professor had offered her the
Warmest sympathy and consolation a
man can offer; but poor Mac hated the
thought or sound of music now, and
would have no commiseration save that
of Shiel, which, indeed, partook OF so
unWearied q nature that Mac chung to
it as drowning man will to a straw.
At the end Of a month Shiel declared
that journalism was the only thing left
to them. He had held it, he said, as a
der71ier resort, not wanting to set the
tongues of the world that Jenny so
hated wagging In her behalf; but her
cruel obstinancy had left them no al
tentative.
Il see," said Mac-"the personal
column in the Herald Make it as ago
nizing as you can, Shiel God knows it
can't hold misery enough. Tell her to
come back and rule in every thing
manage the money and the business,
smash the piano, and forbid jeans
marriage to the professor; and tell her,
Shiel, the house IS cauld without her,
and my heart sair.'" And here
the tears rolled out of his eyes, and
lump in his throat stopped his speech.
" Nonsense, man" said Shiel. "Call
you that journalism Listen here. Sir,
to the cunning touch OF genius, the
lever that moves the world" And he
read forth to the Responding partner a
little paragraph from a prominent news
paper, stating the deep regret with
which they learned that the recent do
mestic troubles Of the eminent musical
critic Mr.. Mac Neil had not only pros
trated him upon a bed Of illness, where
he was now lying in critical condition,
but that his business affairs had become
lopelessly entangled, and there was a
probability of an early sale of his
household effects for the benefit of his
creditors. Among these articles were
some musical curiosities, information
of which could be obtained of Mr..
0hiel, Printing house Square, No. blank.
" And How [ must go to No. blank at
once" said Shiel; for, if Pm not mis-
taken, this will fetch her within the
hour"
Shiel had no sooner got seated at his
desk than there was timid knock at
the door that sent his heart humping
IN unison. UDOn the threshold he pres
entity saw familiar little figure and
heard a broken voice which the thick
ness of no veil could disguise. She
began to inquire about the musical GU
riosities, while Shiel looked at her ca
gerly. He said not word, but there
was something in his face so sad and
yearning that Jenny began to SOB.
us he so very sick, ShieI dear ?" she
cried. ooh, take me to him, wicked
woman that 1 am l have killed him
for whom | would lay down my life !"
She threw back her veil and put out
both her little hands, and Shiel, on the
spur of the moment, caught her in his
arms and held her to his heart, excus-
ing the warmth Of this embrace by the
plea that he thought she was fainting
They found Mac walking about the
room, somewhat worn and thin, to be
sure, and big, greedy, cavernous hol-
lows of grief in his face; but as he took
Jenny in his arms, these hOlloWs filled
up with JOY, and his whole being seemed
to dilate with strength and giadness.
"Surely you can't be so very, very i'll,
dearie?" whispered Jenny, looking
coaxingly into his eyes.
" Pm-I'm little better, said Mac,
slyly winking at poor Shiel, and kiss
ing her again and again.
"Then don't mind being a bcggar,
DEAR" pursued Jenny. "Let them sell
what they will, they can't sell you, and
We can all go and live in our old nest
again"
And give over this fine one to Jean
and her professor" said Mac.
But the creditors" cried Jenny.
"There is the only man to whom |
owe any thing in the world" said Mac.
pointing to Shiel.
Jenny looked about her rather rue
fully, and said to Shiel, Cant we 90
back to the old nest, Shiel? Can't we all
go back ?" Shiel was near the door, and
caught her hands in his.
There are no birds in last years
nests" said poor Shiel, and left them
alone together.
Lovely, ifTrue.
\ young lady living in San Francisco
exhibited to a reporter an unusual and
very interesting little pet. It was a