Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1882-04-06

II you must CO. you must go, sup
pose; and Of course shall have to give
you a check for what money you are
likely to need"
And Mr.. Symington sighed deeply
and went up stairs to get a piece of
court-plaster for his cut finger.
Mrs. SymingtOn went to Wild River,
in the northern boundaries of Maine,
where the pine forests were matched
with snow, and the icicles tinkled in
the woods of a moonlight night like so
many castanets gone mad. She made
the greater part of the voyage by sea,
and was consequently very seasick, for
tie water was rough and the gale tenn
pestOus.
81 will come back by land" she said
to herself, as she sat in the little hotel
at Portland. and viewed her green and
yellow complexion with a shudder.
" Money wouldn't induce me to risk
my life again in that horrid steamer,
where one is bufeted and seesawed
about on waves that are as high as a
house The palace-car fare will be
something Of an expense, and [ shall
lose my return ticket by steamer, but
I'm sure Mr.. SYmington won't grudge
it to me WHOM he hears how I've been
pitches Iii tumbled about on the
ocean in peril of my life"
And she put on her black brocaded
silk, her new plumed hat, and the seal
dOlman, and took the nOrthward- bound
train, resolved to present an imposing
appearance to Aunt Grizzly Gumpton
when she should reach Wild River
station.
It was very coda dull, bitter, lead
en- cold-With the ground frozen like a
rock, the streams bound in ice, the sky
gray and bitter. with an ineffable
gloom. Aunt Grizzel Grumpton lived
in little one-storied house on the top
Of an uncomprOmising hill, where a
solitary cedar tree was twisted around
like a corkscrew with the force of the
east wind, and the few lean sheep hud
died behind the rocks in shivering
groups, picturesque, hut far from COM
Portable. And even after they had
come In sight of the old building whose
one coat Of red paint had long ago
been worn away by the suns and rains
of wel[nigh a century, Mrs. Syming-
ton had serious doubts whether the
One-hOrse sleigh in which she was
jerked and jolted up the incline would
not be blown sheer away by the rush
of the tempest before they could reach
their destination.
However, it wasn't. And once in
Aunt Grizzy's cottage things were very
comfortable. There was no wide
throated chimney, filled with moss
fringed logs, such as the fancy of city
dwellers is apt to despicJ in the solitary
farmhouse. People IN Maine know
better than that But there was an inn
mense cook stove, which heated the
room to an atmosphere of eighty odd
degrees; the cracks in the window
sashes were pasted over with brown
paper, and sand bags were laid on the
top lodges, while double rag carpet
covered the floor, and wood box heap
ed to the very top stood in the angle Of
the chimney piece. Aunt Grizzy's
dress was of blue hOmespun flannel,
and she wore a worsted hood pulled
over her ears, and little plaid shawl
folded over her breast, and she was adj
dicted to the use of snuff, and said
"Hey ?" whenever any one addressed
her.
''My cheeny?" said Aunt Grizzly.
"Weli, I'm free to own that 1 think a
deal of that cheney. But don't know,
Niece Arabelia, how you came to near
of it."
at is an heirloom in our family, Aunt
Grizzel," said Mrs. Symington, exert
ing herself to speak loudly.
"Hey?' asked Aunt Grizzly, with her
hand placed sounding board fashion be-
hind her ear.
Every one must have heard of it, :"
said Mrs. Symington, at the risk of
breaking a DIood-vessel in her threat
Aunt Grizzy's wrinkled face fairly
beamed. "Well, l calculate it amt alb
solutely ugly" said She ''But still, ii
you've really set your heart on it,
Niece Arabella.-But it amt unpacked.
[ always put it away this time O. year
when there amt no tea parties given"
"Oh,never mind that" said Mrs. Sym
ingtOn, her heart leaping within her
at this easy conquest Of the fort cit
will be all the more convenient for me
to carry it. People always keep such
treasures put away in secret places"
Hey" said Aunt Grizzly, and Mrs.
Symington repeated her words,
ooh, there amt no secret about it %
said Aunt Grizzly, as she turned the hiss
ing sausages in the pan. "Only [ hain't
had time to overhaul it since you've
been here"
Naturally" interrupted Mrs. Sym
ington. But suppose it is all in good
condition ?"
"SartinIy, sartinly," said Aunt Grizzly.
''You can look at it if you like, Niece
Arabella"
ooh, that is notnecessary," said Mrs.
Symington. "But now as to the price,
Aunt Grizzy?"
II amt one to haggle with my re-
lations, said Aunt Grizzly, giving the
frying pan a shake over the blazing
sticks. "Set your own price, Arabella,
and if [ don't like it I'll make bold to
say So"
"Do you think, Aunt Grizzly" hesitat-
ed the city lady, chat twenty-five dol
lars would be q reasonable compensa-
ton for it ?"
well, yes" said Aunt Grizzly. "It
never cost me that, because
"No, OF course not, hurriedly inter
posed Mrs. Symington, and she pro-
duced the twenty-five dollars, all in gold
half eagles, with the exultant feeling OF
one who has picked precious diamond
out of the dust. "But | should wish you
to feel that l had dealt fairly with you
in matter like this"
"WpU hain't no reason to com.