Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1879-08-21

y
your money. Not but they're pretty
enough, and I don't see how she makes
'em; I couldn't. But of all the stuck
up things [ ever saw, she's the worst.
Your little girl thinks your brother
looks like my brother" says I trying to
make myself agreeable; does he? Pm
sure don't know; didn't look at him
My brother is a very handsome man,
and an artist. We were a family of
artists, although my share of talent
took very lowlY FORM says she, hand
ing me the yase-she called it a
'varse.' Good-afternoon."
To all of which Dick replied not a
word, but turned away and sawed like
mad, which so offended Miss Elizabeth
Foster that she never referred to the
pretty widow again until the afternoon
on the Sd of July, when, with CLEAN
of mischief III her face. she burst out at
the supper table: 'Oh, Dick, I've a mes
sage for you. met Miss Eva as the
little servant girl calls her. They say
that girl serves Mrs. Deming for love:
wish [ could get people to serve me for
that Please tell the-the shavings
man. said Miss Eva. that I wanted to
come again, but mamma won't let me-"
And, oh, Dick, if they haven't put fire
works for sale in the other parlor win
dow Wax flowers and fireworks! amt
it funny?"
But judging from Dicks clouded
brow and closely set lips, Dick thought
it anything but funny; and Lib, wisely
dropping the subject, devoted herself TO
mothers soft gingerbread with undivid-
ed attention.
And the cloud still fingered on the
carpenters brow as he, pail in hand just
after supper, bent his steps toward the
old well that stood a few feet beyond
the brick cottage. He had developed
an extraordinary fondness for the water
of this well; it seemed as though moth
ing else could quench his thirst, albeit
until few weeks ago he had been per-
fectly satisfied with the cold as ice, clear
as crystal water drawn from the we'll in
his mothers garden.
AS he drew near the isolated cottage
he saw the fireworks in the window, and
his heart came up in his throat. $50
poor, so proud, SO lovely" he thought.
I'm buy them all tomorrow" And at
this moment the pretty woman stepped
out on the oId-fashioncd porch, and Dick
turned and fed.
Mrs. Fosters face began to relax, and
the stern look completely faded away
) when little Eva, looking up with pure,
beautiful, beseeching eyes, intreated,
"Don't be cross to poor mamma"
"Well, I suppose the fire want your
fault" she said; Though how them
fireworks exploded passes my compre-
hension. There must have been some
powerful carelessness somewhere; and
, it's my opinion that folks that doesn't
understand things should let 'em alone;
and his hands very bad indeed; and he
won't be able to work for a month, just
as he had the most industrious fit | ever
know'd him to have-though lazy boy
he never was-and was earning lots of
money. And his hand'll have to be
dressed night and morning, and take
about an hour each time"
ooh, then 1 can be Of use," cried the
pretty widow, bright smile breaking
over her face. CT am capital nurse.
Let me come every day and dress the
wounded hand. Your time, know, is
precious; and it is the least [ can do,
for it was in my service-I mean my
aunt's-that it was wounded"
"Well, that's clever, and I'm Obliged
to you; but me and Lib"
"Motherl" from the parlor.
"Well, Richard ?"
81 shall be only too glad to accept
Mrs. Deming's kind Offer" and Mrs.
Deming went in.
Three weeks had gone by, and the
hand was nearly we'll. 81 never saw
anything heal so quickly" soliloquized
Dick, one pleasant, fragrant morning, in
a tone that implied that he wished it
: wouldn't "She can't come here but a
day or two longer, bless herl-I don't
, really need her now, though [ pretend
[ do-and then I'll be nothing to her
but Dick the carpenter again"
Dick" chirped a bird. like voice,
mammals got letter from Uncle Rob-
ert. run in to tell you," and little Eva
danced into the room.
"Great heavensW thought Dick, turn
ing pale, "he's coming to take her
away" and a moment after Mrs. Dem
ing came in with the letter in her hand.
"Are you worse this morning?" she
asked anxiously, looking at the young
fellows pale face.
Yes, much worse" he answered,
dryly. eva tells me you have a letter
) from your brother"
81 have-at last. And he's in Paris,
and does not expect to return to this
country for many years. He has mar
ried beautiful French girl, and fear,
has almost forgotten me-"
, "Your brother married and forgotten
, your" burst in Lib, poking her head in
at the door. "Weil. that's nothing
) strange. Brothers will marry and for
get sisters to the end of time" And
calling to Eva to come and see the new
ly hatched chickens, away she went
again.
And personally [ resembled him,
that is, suppose as much as it is pos
sible for mechanic to resemble an ar
tist," said Dick with feeble attempt at
sarcasm; but there the resemblance
must end-for | never could have for
gotten YOU"
And then they are both silent for a
few moments, Dick breaking the silence
at last:
Il am very sorry for your disappoint-
ment. You had hoped to leave this
humdrum place. where there is no one
you could care for"
"No one [ could care for" she re-
peated slowly; 81 am not so sure of
that; but I am sure of one thing, Rich
ard, and that is that do not need your
sympathy. [ have learned to love this