Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1880-07-22
4 DIFFICULT CASE.

Judge Warburton felt young, senti-
mental and romantic The night was
to blame for it, perhaps; the soft spring
air, with the faint odor of viOlets or a
breath of the first wild roses, whose
delicate bushes he could see among
the thickest of the green at the way
side. The cool, soft plash of stream
near by added to the charm, and now
and then glitter of water shOne be-
tween tall trees. But more than balmy
airs and languOrOus perfumes were the
delicious sensations that filled the
Judges heart and thrilled his senses.
There is nothing like a real absorbing
enhancing love to regenerate a man,
and the Judge was Enthusiastically IN
love.
Not that he was fossil by any means.
A handsome, well preserved man Of
forty, who had earned his laurels young,
had surely n good chance i'll the field
even with younger suitOrs, and yet he
had felt II strange timidity in showing
his fcelings-that sense of unwOrthi-
ness that comes with ali true love had
come to him. We idealize the objects
ourselves and worship. If we did not
worship SO abjectly, how often would
we discover sooner than our idols are
clay?
Somehow the Judges walks had late
" led in one direction. The stream was
running the same way, and, perhaps,
he was following that-it is SO easy to
90 with the tide, they say. But this
road led past an old peach-orchard that
was all covered now with drifts of rosy
snow, and was really charming sight
1t might be the Judge enjoyed watching
the soft flakes of this summer-snOw
drifting over the long grass. He used
to stop often, and seemed lost in thought
as he gazed ut it.
As he did so this night, Il low laugh
smote upon his ear. UncOnsciously he
crept behind Il great tree and stood still.
He knew that laugh, for of course the
peach-orchard belonged to Il house, and
the house belonged to a woman who
owned his jewel-that is, she was the
girls godmothCr. 1t was very latc-at
least, eleven o'clock-and the laughter
struck his heart with dull pain. What
was Gwen doing in the orchard so late !?
Miss Tabitha Dormer was as precise
and methodical as spinster of a Ger
tain age is wont to be. One hour ago
she had tied her night-cap under her
withered chin and said goodnight to
Gwen The prim old dame was over
rigid with the young girl, having GER
tain old-fashioned views of natural de-
pravity quite out of vogue now. Yes,
IL T. ~ L /
lily perfectly, for he had been Miss Ia
bitha's legal adviser for years He
knew that Gwen had kissed her god
mother goodnight and gone up to her
room in the most innocent way, and
here she was galivanting in the peach
orchard with-yes, absolutely with Il
young man
The delicious dreams and hopes that
had been nesting in the judges heart
seemed struck dead at single blow
when he heard the low voice of Ovens
companion. He felt suddenly old and
cold then great heat went over him.
He could not hear Il word, but he
could see slim, straight, girlish figure
in white, with a sort of pale-blue cloud
floating about her. Her head was
bare, and the moonlight showed the
bronze hair blown about by the soft
air, and the outline of her girlish face
with its soft outlines Then the two
parted and hurried step came crash
ing by.
The young man was not long in pass
ing, but the Judge saw his face distinct
ly-a good-lOOking face to be sure
even 4 rival must admit that-without
much beyond regular features, and
well-opened blue eyes, and blonde mus
tache, and short-cropped hair with a
dash of red gold in it. There was little
purpose or energy in the face, good
deal of jollity and selfpleasing and
youthful folly, perhaps, if not any
thing worse.
All, Rob Sterling" said the judge,
dreams would not be SO placid. Poor
Gwen! can it be she is going to throw
away her chances for happiness on this
shallow, good-loolling scapegrace.
The young man had no suspicion of
the jealous eyes that watched him, and
he whistled strain from an opera as
he disappeared under the trees.
As for the Judge, something had gone
out of the night, some subtle incense
or influence. The stream dashed on
as bravely as before, as soft an air
touched the blushing cheeks of the
wild roses, or sent showers of pale pink
peach blossoms over the green grass,
as faint enhancing edorS stole from
dim hooks, purple with violets, but to
the judge all had
Suffered a sea change
Into something new and strange"
He had walked home as one CARRYING
heavy burden, the burden of disap-
pointed hopes. His heart was heavy
as lead in his bosom.
miss Tabitha will never consent, p"
he thought, gloomily; ''the fellow has
nothing but expectations from that old
aunt who makes new will every
three months, and will probably
leave her money to found an asylum
for cats There were ten caterwauling
on the fence as l passed the other
night Poor Gwen, am sure | could
make her happy" And with these
thoughts worrying his brain like tiger