Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1880-08-05

IN revere the library door opened,
gentleman advanced few steps into
the room, but on perceiving nae would
have withdrawn. He bowed, saying,
L beg your pardon, / intrude'
mo- | exclaimed, it is [ who am
the intruder; pray remain; do not per-
NIT my presence to drive you away,
or [ shall not forgive myself for com
ing
''He thanked me, and going to a cab
met ofminerals, began comparing them
with the one he held in his hand. The
room was already dusk, so he lighted
lamp. He invited me to look at the
minerals, which [ did with interest, for
the collection was large and rare Per
haps you can help me classify this odd
bit of rock he said, suddenly, / shook
my head. Il am very poor geologist,
indeed" [ said His face clouded a
little as he remarked, II will have to
see more about it tomorrow. | must
have my supper now. [ suppose you
have had tea some hours ago.
mo: / had not been to tea.
"A servant, seeing a light in the
library, entered. Supper had long been
over Apology was made, but [ had
not been in my room when the servant
went to announce the meal. Kenneth
Deering, as the gentleman proved to be
cut short his excuses by saying, Never
mind, Miss Madison, we will have our
supper together: please take my arm
1--WE had a very social time over our
tea. Our acquaintance progressed rap
idly. We made SO many discoveries
of mutual likes and dislikes. We found
that we had so many tastes that were
congeniel; we told each other SO many
little incidents that were purely per-
sOnal, and the other listened with such
interest that when we arose from the
table we seemed to have known each
other for a long time, if indeed, we had
ever been strangers. At the parlor
door he took my hand. i must say
goodnight, now, Miss Madison. |
rarely spend my evenings i'll there
From that instant we were friends, for
evermore. He assembled the stair |
stood in a delicious dream. | was
scarcely conscious of my surroundings
| only felt sure that [ did not wish to
meet any one just then. [ moved
down the hall to what i supposed my
own room and opened the door. Milly
Bently started from her easy chair
laughing. Come in, come in she
said, and tell me where you have been
Your unceremonious way of entering
rooms shows me you have not left off
your habit of haunting houses.
Our worthy hostess was afraid you had
committed suicide as you did not an
swer the rap at your door [ Gained
her fears by saying you would be best
pleased by being left alone, that you
Were tired and had probably fallen
asleep. Was | right or have you been
exploring the premises I? | narrated
my visit to the library and my meeting
with Mr.. Deering. She seemed Il little
annoyed, | thought, and l soon with
drew
"You know that am generally con
sidered cold, practical and impassive
[ am, but [ had met, for the first time
in my life, man who had power to hold
my thoughts when he was out of sight.
A strange, sweet sense Ofbeing no long
er desolate possessed my whole being
| opened the window and looked out;
the stars were shining TRANQUILITY in the
blue heavens. Twas happy, the night
was beautiful, and God was good to me-
| could not pray; my heart could findno
words in to express its gratitude and
content. My sleep was filled with
dreams half pleasant, half painful,
dreams of travelling in foreign countries,
and dreams ofMilly and mynew friend.
| had scarcely come back to reality by
morning, [ think, for [ was Il long time
about dressing. ] wore white muslin
wrapper with flowers in my hair and at
my throat
''The whole family was assembled. [
was presented to those whom [ had not
met the evening before. After break
fast those who had work to do went
about it, while we who consulted our
own inclination fingered in the wide,
cool breakfast room. | took position
on a window seat, overlooking the lawn.
| had been there but moment when
Kenneth came up. IF you cannot
help me about the mineral, perhaps
you can about the flowers he said,
smiling, and indicating by a slight
motion of the hand that the flowers |
wore called forth the remark.
Ono, fear not, | replied. 4 do not
take kindly to technicalities. [ only
understand their beauty, which, is per-
haps, more than most botanists do"
II was seated, he standing; he bent
toward n as he said. Perhaps, and
yet, botanist though [ am, there is one
kind of beauty, [ do not fail to adj
mire."
I.T co,,lJ not ,,;s,,,, i oro+o,,J H. -,
piled compliment, and bluShed Il little
under his steady gaze.
'Milly came up the next instant, and
the conversation drifted away to indif-
ferent topics | could see that Ken
neth'S attentions to me were source of
displeasure to Milly. | had a sort of
pleasure in seeming to be unaware of
her annoyance.
''How uninterruptedly events will go
on, as if change would never come;
then all at once, one scarcely knows
how, everything is change, and is never
quite the same again!
II had been five months at behring's
place, and Kenneth was at my side as
attention or comment. spent much
Of my time in the library Mrs. Deer
ing was always busy about her work in
the kitchen. Milly spent her forenoons
in the parlor, and in the afternoon she
usually slept an hour or so, then drove
out to make calls and talk over the fash
ions with the aristocratic young ladies
of the neighborhood. On these occa-
.ions Kenneth would be sure to find
some excuse for coming in from the
field before evening. His manner had
long been that of lover