Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1879-10-09

DuS CLllI uOIsGI again ana again
more sadly when, a little later, it be-
came evident that her husband was de-
Ginning III health. Never a strong man,
it attracted little attention at first that
he came in spent and exhausted from
his daily walks, but the walk gradually
shortened, and at last one eventful
morning there was no walk at all, and
Mr.. Bevel for the first time within the
memory of man remained in doors all
day. Mrs. BevePs anxieties, slumbcr-
ing till then, awoke to Iul lfe, ans!
communicated themselves to her chill
dren. The result was much well-meant
but wearisome restriction. Papa was
to eat this, not eat that; must not walk
or tire himself, or talk too long; above
all, must not follow his own inclina-
tons in anything. Very patiently did
Mr.. Bevel endure these cures, but he
did not improve under them; his oc-
cupation was gone with his failing
strength. The experienced fingers
which handled so many choice things
lay idle now, with nothing worth hand
ling withia reach. Life had lost its sa-
vor to him he made haste, as it were,
to be gone from it. And also before
his family realized that there was cause
for alarm, all was over.
The last morning of his life he was
lifted at his own request, into an ancient
ebony chair, a spoil of some Siennese
palace, which was one of his special
treasures. High, hard. STRAIGHTFORWARD,
it was not the most commodious resting
place for sick man but Mr.. Bevel
seemed to like it, as he lay. propped
with pillows, gently following with his
feeble fingers the rich and intricate
wandering os the ivory pattern with
which it was inlaid. His wife and
daughters were with him; they rarely
left him now.
"My little Rose" he said, after long
silence, 81 should like you to keep this
chair. You are the only one who cares
for such things. Keep it for your own,
my dear. The rest wouldn't value it. l
made my will while ago, he continued
after short silence. 81 have tried to
do fairly by you all, and to act justly.
Some Of you have thought hard Of me
at times, | am afraid, for buying so
many things, but you'll get over that
later. All the arrangements are made
for the sale of everything vertising
and all. You are not to have any trouble
in the MATTER" turning to his wife. Cali
is left in the hands of Lenard Ashe.
He knows the full value of everything
and will see all properly done. The
sale is to be advertised for two months
beforehand. Ashe will attend to that.
eyes, my dear, yes" replied Mrs.
Bevel soothingly. Don't worry your
poor head about those old things now,"
while even at that mourrful moment
Matilda could not refrain from q glance
at Maud, which meant: "Poor papa!
still harping on that absurd craze of his. "
Only little Rose, with pitiful tender
ness, stroked and kissed the wasted
hand. Misunderstood in death as in
life, old Mr.. Bevel passed from his mar
row corner Of this narrow world into the
wide liberty of the next.
The will was read in due time. Mat
tiers proved in a worse condition even
than the family had feared. There was
a small life insurance for the benefit OF
the widow-e5, 900 in consols, the house
that was all, save the collection,
whose proceeds-3o the will ran-were
to be divided among the six heirs. Mrs.
Bevel was stunned, the others indig-
nant.
cit was really like insanity" pro,
tested Maud. at we had only guessed
it, and stopped papa in time! Why,
Arthur estimates that pa could not
have spent less than 97 900 in buying
those trumpery things. Seven thousand
pounds! And think what that would
be to us nowl"
"Oh, dear! oh dear! How comfort
able we all could have been," moaned
her mother, while Matilda. between
angry sobs, protested that she never
should be able to forgive pa quite. II
seemed dreadful to say such thing
but she couldn't help it. 1t seemed as
if he hadn't cared bit for his own
family, only for those horrid, useless
ugly old buds, which nobody would ever
want so long as the wo1ll stood"
ooh, Matte! don't talk So" urged
her mother "Your pa never meant
any wrong. 1t was just disease with
him to buy things. And they'll fetch
something. | dare say. We shall get a
part back"
eyes, a couple of hundred pounds
perhaps. What's that out of e. 900?
declare, to think of it makes me feel as
if should like to bite somebody" re-
marked the amiable Matilda, with q
click of her sharp little teeth. The
others were more outwardly respectful
None Of them had any hope from the
sale.
The two months advertising were
duly fulfilled, and the collection re
moved to the auction rooms. Very
bare did the old house look after it was
gone; but that mattered little, for its oc
cupants were preparing to move as soor
as the sale was over They waited fol
that, but with so little hope or Interest
in the affair that it was not till late il
the afternoon of the third day that Bry
an troubled himself to " step down
and learn the result. He came back
so red and excited that his mother
turned pale with apprehension while the
girls crowded about him.
whats the matter /? Has it al
gone wrong?"
Z" / always knew it would"
Haven't they fetched anything p
this from Matilda.
" Anything! Ishould say SO. Mother
my father was right all through, and the
rest of us pack of fools. What do you
think the things sold for?"
1.-TWO hundred" Give hundred,
ga thousand? Just wait and hear
They were selling the last lot when ]
got there. BY Jove, it was the old sign
board we all jeered at. Well, that
hro,,nht eQOD