Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1881-06-23

II will send it to you-in the evening""
she said, piteously.
eff you'll only wrap a bit of brown
paper around it, I'll take it now" sug-
gested Miss Harper, who believed in
the adage Of the "bird in the hand be-
ing worth two in the bush"
And so the scarlet famingo was CARR
ed away in the triumphant arms of
Miss Ann Azalea Harper.
"After all, soliloquized she, II got
it for absolutely nothing. For pa said
the old mahogany bookcase he took of
them was worth a third more than all
the rent they owed; and any one but
fool like that little, whimpering Mrs.
Moore would have known it perfectly
well. And Pm sure it'll suit aunt Hep
sy to a L.
While poor Mrs. Moore, sobbing bit
terly before the empty place where
her beloved screen had stood, felt as if
al the sweet associations Of her youth
had been wrenched away.
"Mother-dear mother! why are
you crying?" questioned Mabel, hurry
ing into the room. rs your neuralgia
headache worse? Oh, motherl where
is the old screen? 1 have brought Miss
Millman to see you about it. She SAYS
she will give you thirty dollars for it,
if"
81 have sold it." said Mrs. Moore,
"for ten dollars, to our landlords
daughter. Or rather L have .let her
take it in payment of the balance Of
the rent we owed them"
'She has deceived you, motherm
cried Mabel, coloring NY with honest
Indignation 1--WE owed her not a sin
gle cent. Oh, dear mother, if had on
" been at home"
Miss Millman, a tall, stout, grizzle-
headed lady, stood still III the centre of
the room, looking sharply about her.
dot fret, Alice Moore" said she.
clears never yet did any good. You
may depend upon it, this womans'
cruel deceit will yet recoil upon her
own head. What is your landlords
name?"
Harper" said Mrs. Moore. Che
Meier Harper"
ooh, said Miss MilIman.
And the she went away.
Il think she grows more ecce,l trio
every day" said Mable looking after the
retreating figure of the stout lady.
Rich people have a right to be &C.
centric if they please" sighed Mrs.
Moore, still looking at the empty
place where the screen had once stood.
Dear Aunt Hepsy," said Ann
Azalca, radiantly, give come to wish
you many happy returns of your birth
day. And here's a little present-the
satin screen l promised YOU"
'Eh?" said Aunt Hepsy.
"My own work." said Ann Azalea.
"And | do SO hope you will like it."
I've worked day and night to get it
finished" said Ann Azalea, fervently.
Ann Azalea,' said the old lady, sud
denly becoming inspired with some de-
gree of animation, "where do you ex-
pect 30 go when you die?"
''Dear aunt" said Ann Azalea, 81
don't in the least understand you"
because you are telling a perfect
tissue of lies, each one more outrageous
than the other" said this painfully
frank old lady. "The screen isn't your
own work at all. The satin was painted
by an old schooLfriend of mine, fifty
odd years ago. You cheated her out
of it, the day before yesterday, by a
regular piece of swindling that would
have dlsgraced q mock auctioneer.
And now you may go and carry it back
to her-Mrs. Moore, No. 7 Lilac Court
with my compliments, And Ann
Azalea-"
''Yes, aunt" said the detected young
lady.
You needn't trouble to come back
here again. If [ adopt an heiress it must
be some one who is pure, and good.
and truthful--not such a one as you!
And Pm rather disposed to think that
it shall be Mabel Moore"
And so Miss Ann Azalea Harper's
grand scheme resulted in utter failure.
The screen was borne ANONYMOUSLY
back, and Mabel Moore is now her
aunt's adopted darling And Papa
Harper, instead of tenderly consoling
his daughter, says his daughter, says
gruffly:
Its all your own fault"