Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1880-07-01
WINIFRED'S FLOTSAM.

Ii was not because he was a woman
natter that Guy Averill, at seven-and-
twenty, was still bachelor and heart
whole Until this summer he had
never been rich enough to support a
wife; it was almost more than he could
Go to take care of himself, so he did not
fccljustified in paying attentions to any
lady seriously.
Although he was industrious and tai
cnted, clients were few and far between
were almost unknown to the deserv-
ing young lawyer until he did not so
sorcly need them. One week-such Is
the perversity of fate-after he got news
that an uncle had died and left him his
sole heir, and found that he was sure of
IN income Of nearly two thousand a
year, then the world suddenly realized
that Averil was very promising law
yer.
Having Il good income and prospects
Of plenty of remunerative work, Guy
Averill began to think seriously of mat
rimony, and rather eagerly accepted IN
invitation to accompany his chum, Cas-
sius Barclay, to the little town of New
Myrtle, where said chum's fancee
lived
For this tiancce, Helen Tremaine had
two sisters, and Mrs Averill agreed with
Cassius Barclay that there were not
three such girls in the world as the
three Tremaines. Mrs Ayerill had met
them one winter in Washington and
afterwards had spent six weeks at their
house; hence Guys invitation, though
he had never seen one of the family.
lie knew them all by description.
Helen was not pretty, but was domestic,
accomplished and very charming; the
next one, Winnifred, was a great rider,
swimmer, scatter, archer-in fact, Jaw
fully fast" though magnificently beau
tifuI; 50 Guy felta strong presentiment
that while he would like Helen, and
tolerate Winifred for her sake, he
would be very sure to fall captive to the
charms of nineteen-year-old Marcia,
the gentle, fair, lovable girl whose pic
ture he had SO admired.
When he first saw Marcia he was a
little disappointed; her picture fiattered
her; but he soon forgot that in con
temptation of her graceful figure, her
gentle voice and her quiet wommly
ways. He loved to see woman all
womanly, thought needle and not a
pen should he her tool believed that
the tircslde was wOman's sphere, and
50 on; all of which conditions Marcia
filed
Your sister rides beautifully" ex-
claimed Guy, few hours after his ar
rival at Mrs. Tremaine's.
She ought to, she spends hours on her
horse
DO You ride?'
Not much. | don't care for such
such violent exercise. In fact, | don't
have much time for it, / have a good
deal of sewing to do, and" Marcia
hcsitated and shook out her work rather
ostcntatiously
Il didn't know you had any little
folks III the house" said Guy, his atten-
ton thus drawn to the small apron in
her hand
oh, we haven't. This is for some OF
our poor Sunday-school children. When
am 1T 4 loss for employment | always
know where to turn; in a manufactur-
ing town like this there is so much suf-
lering."
DO your sister aid you?'
Helen can't her rousseau keeps her
busy now; and Winifred-well, I'd
laugh to see her doing such work"
AS what p asked Winifred, who had
Just entered.
Sewing or embroidering" answered
Marcia, not quite truthful, but GUY.
not knowing the difference between en-
hroidery and plain sewing, was none the
wiser.
What is absurdly known as fancy
work | utterly abominate 1t seems to
me 3 great waste of time to pass hours
and hours in making hideous tides and
mats, or high art curtains out of ticking
and such stuff"
Don't you ever sew? ?"
Not if | can avoid it: certainly not
for amusement"
Not for the poor?"
The poor p
YES, as Miss Marcia does"
Oh No, [ don't work for the poor
AS Marcia does was Winifreds con
temptuous reply.
And Guy was disguised. How was
ne 10 KNOW tnat the little apron III Mar
cia's hands would never have been
thought Of if Guy Averil! Whose moth
er had written Of his love for womanly
women) had not been there to see and
hear Of it ?
But though he was disguised with
this athletic young woman's sentiments,
he was by no means so with her. Her
dark-blue riding-habits showed her sup
pie form to perfection, her soft brown
hair was rufied by the wind, and her
cheeks with health and vigor, and she
was q great contrast to her pale home
keeping sister.
And as the days passed, Guy was
compelled to change his first opinions
Of the sisters. Winifred's health, spir-
its and temper seemed tie be perfect;
Marcia, on the other hand, sometimes
/ i