Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1878-05-30

lands, the heir to the Wheatlands estate,
had returned from Europe, where he had
been at the time of his uncle's death;
had come down to Sheppsrton the even
ing but one before; had quarreled with
and discharged lawyer Jupp, and had
given out he intended to reside at Wheat
lands Hall, on the home farm, thence
forth, and to look personally after his
affairs.
But we anticipate.
How Edith got home from the har-
vest field she never afterwards could
tell. All she remembered was that she
had rushed into the house and flung
herself on her knees by the side of the
bed, and had sobbed OUT
"Oh, mother, mother, dear, the cot
tage is not to be sold. | have his word
| for itp
1t had been nearly an hour after that
before she could rally her dazed faculties
sufficiently to give her mother cohe-
rent account of what mad TRANSFERRED.
She had scarcely finished when there
was knock at the door, and boy from
the storekeeper brought several parcels,
containing tea, sugar, coffee, biscuits,
ham. and various other edibles.
Master says as how he heard that
missus was ILL., said the boy, "snd SO
he sent these things, reckoning as how
you was too busy to come and order
them. You can pay for them when
times is better, and you can have as
much as you like after this" -
III Edith had suspicion that some
kind intercessor had caused this credit
I To lOo IN hn ha1 6
She pondered over the problem as she
prepared hasty meal for her mother,
and had Just cleared the table when
there was knock at the door, and on
opening it she saw a high-bred, middle
aged lady, dressed in plain but stylish
walking costume, who asked with kind
smile and voice the very echo of young
Mr.. Wheatlands'. when in It's softer
mood, if Mrs. Miller lived there, and on
being answered in the affirmative said:
g" know that she is i'll, and does not
see strangers, but tell her that Judith
Wheatlands is here. We used to know
each other when we were girls. more
than twenty years ago. How much.
my DEAR" she said to Edith, who held
the door open for her, "you look like
your mother, when she was your age"
Mrs. Miller, at the sight of her old
| friend, seemed to be almost well again.
The two talked of former and happier
| times, when the poor invalid had been
the belle of the village, and then of the
years of separation, and of the changes
which had taken place, until twilight
| fell, and Mrs. Wheatlands herself rising,
said she must 90 or she should be be-
| lated.
~ had not heard from you for ever
so long," she said, "and was too anxious
to wait even till tomorrow. We went
abroad when CASTOR was quite young,
that he might be educated in Germany,
and have resided there ever since. |
don't know but that we should have re-
manned there STILL if uncle had not died,
and CASTOR heard things about his law
yer here that made him think we had
better return. We arrived here quite
unexpectedly, and my first inquiry was
for you"
Our story is nearly told. Lawyer
Jupp, during the long illness of old
Squire Wheatlands, which lasted for
years, had usurped the entire manage
ment of the property, and had come to
! ACSdlu ilIiLoCH DO 1Co policlolC W III oiic.
So he had given way to his natural love
Of greed, extorting brides for forbearance
from all debtors who were behind, and
mercilessly running those who could not
bride him. When the old squire died,
he reasoned that the heir would remain
in Europe, and SO became more cruel
and eXacting. 1t was a rumor of his
conduct that had brought young Mr..
Wheatlands home in the way we have
seen.
1t was not many months before Edith
became bride. Young Mr.. Wheatlands
never forgot that look in the harvest
field. 1t was case of love at first sight
And not to him alone, for to Edith he
was always her "red-cross knight"
Everybody said that she made the
most popular mistress that had ever
lived at Wheatlands Hall. The reason
was that she carried with her in her new
position the same simplicity of charac-
ter, the same devotion to others. and the
same nobleness, which had distinguished
her in her years of poverty.