Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1878-01-31

a
Susy Wright.
He was out on lonely hunt for the
sly foxes and wild rabbits which had de.
spoiled his henery and gardens.
a timid thing, with a coat of snowy
fur and scared pink eyes, scampered
across his path.
He leveled his gun with random
aim, and fred.
He fancied he heard Il small, human
cry of pain as he sprang over the green
arbor-vit@ hedge for his quarry.
What he saw was like picture. from
tn fresh canvas Of our best living az
fists. 1t was a background of a low
hill, yelled in amethystine mist; at its
base a fringe of sweetbrier and wild rose
shrubs, from which the bloom of snow
and pink had fallen and faded months
ago, leaving only the scarlet seed-shells
that hung rank and thick in the shadow
of dim, dark frs.
Against this background, radiant and
distinct, stood tall and supple form,
robed in a gown as brown as the brown
autumn leaves that chung wreath-like
in her curls of dead-gold hair. Her
features could never have served for
the model of the modern sculptor
there was something too humanity, Wv
idly expressive in the irregular, unclas-
sic contour; the broad, high, downy-
white brow was too intellectual for a
Nenus-the dimples about the chin and
quivering red lips, if Psyche could have
seen, would have stirred her with envy
in her grave-the tears shimmering I'M
fallen in her velvet eyes behind the
thick, curling lashss of intensest black,
would have shamed Niobe And on
her bosom she held a painting, snow
white, pink-eyed rabbit The little crea-
ture was unhurt, but a few drops of
ruddy blood dripping from her torn and
smoking sleeve told the sportsman where
his careless ball had struck.
How could you fire at such a harm
less thing?" she asked, angrily.
Pardon me-" returned Algernon
Heath, with anxiety q certainly would
not have done SO had | thought [ might
have made gou a target"
60" said the girl, conscious for the
first of sting of pain, and, glancing at
her arm, through which the random
ball had ploughed a ragged, bloody
iUI1ON, GlliNl CIiCll 0lIC bltlIltd dIlu SDGU
away, quite as shy as the scared rabbit
she still held
Algerron Heath was by no means
cOntented until he had ascertained the
name and circumstances of the lovely
creature who had spoiled his cruel sport.
These things were ascertained speedily;
Susy Wright was only the poor depend
ant of q small farmer in the neighbor-
hood.
But these facts did not prevent him
from making an apologize call the next
morning, followed by many others.
And these calls were repeated until Susy
Wright knew that she loved the rich
man, and that the rich man loved her.
And yet Algernon Heath said nothing
to bind in a betrothal the secret of their
hearts; Susy only knew his affection
from the deep, unwavering tenderness
of his brown, large eyes, the clinging
touch of his warm, caressing fingers,
and the passionate, insidious tones that
uttered those vague, poetic sayings,
such as never can be repeated in senti-
ment, for trusting woman's defence.
He loved her, and his heart knew it,
but to marry her and give up the ease
and luxury that had become part of his
life was quite another question.
Of course Susy knew nothing of that
fatal will, nor the equally fatal condi-
tons that held him to his pleasant life
of Incidence and liberty.
His manner toward me is always
full of unspOken passion. He will ask
me to be his wife soon. And what will
[ say? He is so rich and manly, and [
am so poor" she thought one evening,
as she came down from her room through
the sombre hall attired in 81 cheap dress
of the flaX-straw yellow color of her
flowing hair, and family strewn with
buds like the fax-fower blue of her
eyes.
She drew her feecy white-wool shawl
about her graceful shoulders, as strong,
perfumed wind swept up from the open
door at the farther end of the hall.
Noiselessly, on her velvet-shod feet,
she advanced to close it, when she heard
the voice of Algernon Heath answering
something said by her cousin.
'You are quite right. Susy should
have known this long ago. love her
as [ thought [ could never love human
being. But if [ marry her. l shall for
felt my fortune. [ have no trade nor
profession. [ have lived life Of ease,
and could not support her. 1t is the
fault of false training, suppose. Since
| knew her, have turned my thoughts
toward the business by which my uncle
made his money, and of which | know
something, but as yet [ have failed in
nay most promising efforts. [ fear that
[ am too old, and my expensive habits
too firmly fixed, to succeed in any thing
except idleness," and he laughed a
hard, weary, cynical laugh. For my
self | might face poverty, but 1 could
not see the woman | loved want for the
cOmmonest necessaries of life. l must
not ask Susy to share misery with me-"
You have greatly wronged her, Mr..
Heath, replied her cousin, " for you
have certainly won her affections. "
Susy Wright, hearing this, drew her
white shawl about her shoulders and
stole away shivering.
He did not see her that night, nor for
weeks after. She avoided him with a
sick heart.
One day, as she was coming up the
highway. she saw nm pacing down and
up before the tall osage-orange hedge
that made the boundary of the Heath
estate. He was very pale, and the
hands crossed behind him were clasped
with skeleton fingers. This fight be-
tween love and riches had made him a
hapless, hopeless, desolate man.
On the other side of the hedge work
men were busily telling a giant willow,
the shadow of which had been ruinous-
ly detrimental to the orchard trees be-
hind it. The last stroke of the axe had