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

white robe, her golden hair, sllvered by
the moonlight, came flying out of the
room just beyond, and, fiinging her
arms about him, cried: "Oh! dear
brother Robert, you have come back at
last. But-but" looking about her in a
bewildered manner-"what has hap
pened?'
''Tm not brother Robert" said Dick;
but he didn't loosen the clinging arms,
as it behooved him to do when he made
the declaration. "Pm-the- shavings
man, and your window has been on
fire. Fortunately | was passing
But he got no further, for the white
robed figure uttered a little shrek, and
fled precipitately as old Mrs. Paulding
entered the room from the other door,
her best bonnet perched on her head
and her night-cap dangling by its
strings around her neck, a silver teapot
in one hand and her favorite cat grasp
ed by the throat, in the other, on a
queer little run, totally unlike her usu-
al dignifed tread.
To her did Dick explain the cause OF
the wet carpet and the smoke-begrim-
med walls, and, amid her profuse thanks
for his timely help, was taking his leave,
when Mrs. Deming, lamp in hand,
again made her appearance this time
in suitable evening dress.
'Oh, aunt, what an escaped" she be-
gan, setting the lamp on the table; ''and
to think | never woke until the very
last. [ was so tired; and Eva slept all
through it. We might have been
burned in cur beds" And then, turn
ing to Dick, she said, her sweet voice
trembling in spite of the great effort to
maintain her compOsure, 81 beg your
pardon for the absurd mistake made;
but l was so bewildered, and only hall
awake, and I'd been dreaming of my
brother, whom you"-looking him full
in the resemble very much
And breaking eff suddenly, her voice
trembling still more. chow can we ever
thank you, Mr."
"Dick Foster, the carpenter" said
Dick, with as much dignity as though
he had said doctor" or "artist.''
"-Mr Foster" her lips quivering and
her fair cheeks flushing red, and she
held out to him her dainty hand.
Dick flushed as rosy red as she, but
made no movement toward her. His
right hand hanging listlessly at his side
his hat held in his left, he stood ia ST
lence as though uncertain what to do
"DO you refuse to shake hands with
me? she asked look of panied
surprise fitting across her lovely face
"Why, God bless us he can't,
screamed the old lady; "his poor hand
is dreadfully burned" And she hasten
ed away in search of old linen and
sweet oil.
And it was-hi5 working hand-ter-
ribly burned; but when Dick went home
that night he scarcely felt the pain for
the memories of two violet eyes shining
through tears, and a sweet voice saving,
ooh, I'm SO very, very sorry--so very,
very sorry p
The next morning Mrs. Foster had
just cleared away the breakfast things,
and gone into the sitting room where
Dick sat, installed in the only easy chair
the house possessed, his right hand en-
veloped in bandages, book in his left,
and the vase of wax flowers on the ia
BILE before him, when there came gen
tie knock at the street door. The good
mother, opening it, beheld a pretty
blue-eyed woman, holding blue-eved
little girl, standing upon the threshold.
con, it's you, Mrs. Deming," said the
old lady, bridling and fluttering her cap
ribbons. Good morning, ma ann"
"Your son." said the young widow
with q hesitation strangely foreign to
her, sis he better? Has he suffered
much through the night?'
His sufferings can be Of no conse.
quence you ma'am," returned the old
lady, sharply, in spite of warning
Mother !" from the room she had Just
left. He's only mechanic, ma'am. ,
He's a noble fellow !" exclaimed
Mrs. Deming, Selling the wrinkled, toll
roughened hand that was raised as
though to wave her away; "and oh
please don't be cross to me. I haven't
slept all night thinking of him."
$50 on,"-as she stops to take breath
There goes the bell again!" turning
toward the door.
"You shall not stir step until you
finish your story" says Dick, OBTAINING
her with firm but gentle force.
cob, Richard Foster, what tease
you aret and only yesterday you was
calling me gossip, and saying how
women's tongues did run on, and-eh!'
with shrill scream) "what a pinch
you tOrmenting thing! Well, her hus.
band was doctor, and went off to some
place or other when they'd been mar
ried year or so. and caught the yell
low fever, and died, and left her nothing
but his M, d. And she's as poor as
old lady Paulding, and just as proud
and, oh Dick, the funniest thing-she's
filled one of her aunt's windows with
wax flowers for sale, just as though any
one in this place would buy wax flow
ersl Come along"
Lib, / think Wax flowers are beauti.
fuT'- he had never thought of them in
his life before, and in fact knew moth
ing about them-"and l wish you'd set
the other folks a good example and
buy lot of them trom-Mrs. Deming
for our parlor mantel," and he thrust a
bill into her hand.
"DIck Foster. are you crazy? Wax
flowers, and mother wanting a new
cook stove this minutel-the old ones
falling into pieces and l haven't"
"a stitch to your back" says Dick.
smiling. "You never have. But buy
the flowers, Lib, dear, and mother shall
have q new stove and you new dress
before the weeks out. Iii work nights. "
''But, Dick"
But Dick had rushed away at fourth
and most furious ringing of the bell,
and she was fain to follow without an
other word.
Day after day Dick Foster set his
shop door wide open, and replenished
the pretty bonbon box that was hidden