Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1883-01-25
A BRAVE DEED.


ton among it's neighbors for lovely
lasses, the distinction was great one.
In figure the girl was somewhat tall
and slight, but in feature she attained
almost to perfection, both of outline
and of tint.
She had a lofty, well-proportioned
brow, around which rippled rich waves
of auburn hair.
She had eyes of dreamy blue, cheeks
lust 81 efficiently tinged with delicate
carmine to throw into relief the pearly
whiteness of her teeth.
The worst Of it was she knew that she
was beautiful, and the knowledge
spoiled her.
Ada was the only child of a wealthy
Scarborough manufacturer, and added
to her other charms that of being a
very considerable heiress.
Naturally she had of suitors not a
few.
But Ladies Cara We're de We're can
exist in much lower circles than that
of the poets faulty heroine, and Ada
Ca1ft had caught the vice of proud
coquetry.
she relished her power over suscept-
BILE hearts, and did her best to extend
it.
The breath of homage was life to
her.
She led her wooers gently on till the
tolls were all around them, and then Of
a sudden they found an impalpabie,
impossible barrier erected, ana Ada's
smiles were for new corners.
1t was an amusement, half the Zest
0rb -, ~ ulo0 tod
anxious thought on what it might
mean to her victims.
Men were strong and must protect
themselves.
The last 10 enter the charmed circle
had been youth from the north, who
IN appearance and manner was GER
tainly at q disadvantage with those
whom he quickly came to consider his
rivals.
Robert Herlestone was twenty, two;
but his thick.set, burly figure, and his
abundance of beard made him look
years older.
He was heavy IN feature, uncertain
movement and awkward in address.
As the nephew of Mr.. Marston, of
Marston & Marsh, cotton-mill owners,
his prospects were very good.
But the knowledge of this somehow
failed to give him the needed self-con-
fdeuce.
Rogers many blunders made MIN
to large extent the butt of his male
acquaintances, and it was probably
this that caused Ada Carft, out of
sheer opposition, to treat him with
marked favor.
Philip Dare, lawyer, had Gkened
Roger to the prOverbial ''bull in q
china Shop" and Philip dare should
be made to bite his lip with vexation
at her Difference to the despised one.
But once again she was kind only to
be cruel.
81 cannot tell whether she cares for
me or not, said Roger Herlestone to
his younger brother, Martin. Some
times | think one thing and some
times another. But this | am sure of,
she is all the world to me-"
''Then I'd ask her, old fellow"
"But-but-she has always so many
round her. Ada Carft is the queen Of
large circle, and ="
"Have been the best of sons, the
best of brothers, and have no doubt,
would make the best of husbands"
"And l." said Roger, resuming slow
ly, aud paying NJ heed to this enthu-
siastic praise, "am a rough and homely
man, who has almost as good a right
to dream of becoming Prime Minister
as of winni8g such a wife"
'Nonsense. Roger Dou't be so I'M
necessarily modest. You are just as
good as she, end the girl must know
it."
Then" and the elders tone chang
If Ada refuses me, it will be just
another dream dispelled, and shall
face the worst"
The opportunity soon came.
The two were thrown much together
at summer picnic party, and some
malign genius made Ada more than
ever gracious.
1t seemed to her that she had sue
ceeded III thawing tie ice of her ad-
mirer's awkwardness, and the studied
compliments he paid her awoke the
gleam of a sunny, satisfied smile.
She little suspected the commo-
ton that was working beneath the sur
face.
They had wandered out of sight
and hearing of the rest, on prete nee
of examining some curiously shaped
rocks.
"How still the air is, under the sum-
said Ada, stopping at a low fence that
crossed the hillside.
For moment her companion did
not answer, an6 she cast a casual glance
upwards at his face.
WHAT Ada saw there made her start
and slightly shiver.
YES" he said, with hoarse and
mighty effort, "this is just the turn OF
the seasons, and this hush is frequent
and very suggestive then. You and
have come TO turning point too, Mis-:
Carft, and / must break the stilleess
by very important question. Can
you not guess what that is-the story
have to tell Miss Carfit-Ada?"
mo, no. We had better return,
think. We shall be lost, Mr.. Herle
tone"
Ada was keeping her composur'
wonderfully, and she hoped by this
coldly spoken hint the confession she
feared might he averted.
She did not know the speaker.
ait an instant, Ada" Roger cried
abandoning the last shelter of reserve
81 have this to tell, that you are more
to me than anyone else in the wide
world can ever be. | love you, AID:
surely Won must have OWNED it