Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1883-07-05
THE BEACH FARM.


Wynhart, grimly. If Mrs. Wynhart had
lived in ancient times, she would most
assuredly have been ranked among the
Scribcs and Pharisecs
She was always criticizing and finding
fault. Nobody suited her And when
she spoke out the short, sharp, decisive
sentence above recorded, she set down
the teakettle with an emphasis which
jingled the very lid.
The neighbors had been there to drink
tea. Whenever anything Of social inn
portance happened in Sandville, the
neighbors always went somewhere to
drink tea. And Mrs. Wynhart had had
plum cake and frizzled beef, fresh
doughnuts and damson jelly, to cele-
brate the occasion.
Now that the company was @one
(Sandville people always put their knit
ting work in the BAG and went homo
early on account Of the beach road and
rising tide) Luella, the Oldest daughter,
was washing up the dishes, and Wini-
fred, the younger, was chopping raisins
for pudding.
''Oh, mothern pleaded Winifred, who
was a fair-haired, cherry-lipped girl, al
ways hanging down her head like
wild anemone, don talk in that way,
please
Mothers right enough" said Lu-
ella.
why shouldn't I talk that wav?''
said Mrs. Wynhart Its the gospel
truth amt it? Jack Jelliffe was wild
fellow, always, careering around the
country when he'd ought to be home,
reading his Notes on the Catechiz' y
.'But, mother" yentured Winifred
''you let him come here to see Luella,
when YOU supposed he was old Squire
Sandiman's heir"
Il couldn't put him out doors, could
I?' retorted Mrs. Wynhart, severely.
Beside, that's quite a different thing.
Squire Sandman ought to know his own
nephews better than any one else, and
he's left all his money to Simeon, while
Jack has only got the Beach Farm,
where there's nothing on earth but sea
weed and samphire, and long CLAIMS, to
be hady'
Its an unjust will!' said Winifred,
reddening to the very roots of her hair
''Hoity- toity!' said Mrs. Wvnhart.
wheeling suddenly around and regard
ing Winifred sarcastically through the
moOn-like spheres of her big silver spec
tacles. What business was it of
yours, I'd like to know? He will never
be Luella's husband now
There never was an engagement"
said Luella, cavalierIy ''Of course a
girl must amuse herself; but [ didn't
care for him. :"
Winifred looked up with her soft eyes
trimming over with tears. Was there
no such thing, she asked herself. rs
truth and loyalty in the world? Why
did they all turn against him in this
way, just when his uncle's will had so
cruelty disappointed him?
So Mrs. Wynhart and Luella went to
the ''Weekly Chorus of Song" where
Deacon Thorny led the tunes very much
through his nose, and Miss Betsy Box
field labored after, on leaky melodeon,
which wheezed audibly at every note,
and Winifred remained at home to darn
the stockings and put her twin brothers
to bed.
''Some one must stay to see thai
Benjamin and Abiiah don't set the house
on fire, said Mrs Wynhart
''And Winifred never cared for mu,
sic, " added Luella, NOR for society
either"
1t was the way BY which matters were
always decided in the Wynhart house
hold. Wlnitrcd was quite used to it,
and never dreamed of making an ap.
peal.
Luella was undoubtedly the beauty OF
the family; but there were those who
might have preferred the yellow locks
and limpid blue eyes of the younger sis
ter, in spite of her round little nose, and
the mouth was perhaps too wide for
classic comparison.
But while she sat there all alone. with
the twins snoring up stairs, and the fire
cracking on the hearth, there came a
tap at the door, and in walked no less
parsonage than Jack Jellife himself
"Oh, jack said Winifred. jumping
up with a slight scream.
Eyes, it's ], said Jack, somewhat
moodily. i just met your mother and
sister. They wouldn't speak to me-
''Wouldn't speak to you, JACKIE
Pretended not to know me until
spoke. It's all the same. Winifred, YOU
don't believe it, do you?'' he burst out
abruptly.
Believe what, Jack?'' she faltered.
THAT | am wild and worthless-hat
deserved the slight my uncle has put
upon me?''
mo, Jack" earnestly responded
Winifred, with tears in her ewes, Il
never believed it, Because we were
playmates together, and you were al
ways, oh, so good to me! And, beside.
Jack, hoped thought you might one
day be my brother"
Il liked Luella well enonUb. > said
the young man, slowly, ''but it wasn't
she l wished to make my wife. 1t was
you, Winifred. =