Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1883-09-20

/ On, yeS-lm TO give 1t to mlSSuS
We'll, I'll put it safe away for O. lisin'
| it.
And she slowed it carefully away
in the slimmest, and narrowest, and
most inaccessible drawer la the wal
nut desk, and forthwith forgot all
about it.
Half an hour later, her mistress re-
| turned.
''Any one been here, Susanna"
''No, with a cheerful grin-''not a
SOUL"
Now, Susanna, you know how alb
sent-minded you are. Try and remem-
ber"
'ELemme see!" ruminated Susanna,
looking quite thoughtful. ''No-
konor bright" with a moro cheer
full grin than before mot a solitary
SOUL"
''Well, said Mrs Tobey, taking off
her bOnnat, run over to the meat-mar-
ket, and get a pound and half of
stake and two heads of lettuce. Make
haste!"
Susanna's tapping suHbonnet had
barely vanished round the corner,
when there came a resolute ring at the
bell
Mrs. Tobey opened the door. A
tall gentleman, clad in light sum-
mer suit and straw hat, stood on the
threshold.
He was rather elderly gentleman,
but he had none of the mildness COM
mon to age. He impressed Mrs. Tobey
as being rather fierce, whether be-
cause of his aquiline nose, or gold
trimmed eyeglasses, or military mus
tach, she could not have told
'YOu have rooms to let MADAME"
he inquired, lifting his hat politely.
Eyes, SIR" said Mrs. Tobey, los
ing her awe Immediately when he
spoke.
MAY I be allowed to see them?"
Certainly, sir. This way"
They'll do. With board, of course.
Terms?-quite reasonable. In adj
vance?-precisly. References
card, madam.
"Henri Won Bergon," read Mrs.
presented ''Not the great artist?"
Mr. Won Bergen smiled.
can artist" he replied. ''The
adjective is due to madam's kind
ness"
ooh, dear me-" said madam, all of
a flutter' 'are you sure the rooms are
nice enough?"
There is good light. There is
seclusion. They are admirable. I
shall take possession the day after to-
morrow"
Good morning"
And exit Mr.. Won Bergen.
Mrs. Tobey went down stairs and
took off the paste-board sign.
''Thank goodness, that's settled p she
declared fervently,
Thursday came-the brightest, |
balmiest, sunshiniest of mornings |
The house had been secured, and scrub
bed, and polished to a marvellous de
gree of cleanliness. The windows
gIistened like silver, the bell-handle |
was a knob of gold, the paints were
positively speckless, the very flowers
in the trim Dutch garden beds looked
as though they had their rosy faces
newly washed.
About ten o'clock an express wagon
stopped at the gate.
"Mr. VonBergOn's things" explain |
ed the man and forthwith began de-
posting them Ga the garden-path-I
trunks, easels, easy-chairs, boxes of
books, models, paint-boxes, and
canvases- all of which Mrs Tobey
and Susanna were surveying rev.
erently, when a second express drew
up in the spot just vacated by the
first.
New dodgers trapsr' he announced
gruffly.
Lord alive, Susanna" gasped Mrs
Tobey, eff he isn't married."
''Whsre's the harm in that same
ma am?" grinned Susanna.
II am sure I understood him to be a
single man. Though not that he ever
said as MUCH" she added conscien-
tiously.
These things don't look as if they
blonged to a man, sure p said Susan
ma.
And they didn't. They were all on
the garden path now, jumbled in
with the first load, and the express
had driven away-a trunk, wicker
work basket, roll of music, bundle
of novels. a package of crewels and
grey silks for crazy work, and bon
net-box.
'Here comes the gentleman" said
Mrs. Tobey, as Mr.. Won Bergen
alghted from fly at the gate.
And here comes the ladyY' groaned
Susanna, with fearful awakening Of
her torpid memory. 'Oh, lands sakes,
how absent-minded [ bel"
And sure enough at this very mo-
ment Miss Wilde came walking up
the garden path, almost side by side
with Mr.. Won Bergen.
"Good-morningT she said, smiling.
Mrs. Tobey, I presume. I am yoar
new tenant
She was looking quite youthful and
pretty this morning in her gown of
soft pearl-colored lawn, with the sun
hat to match, all trimmed with pink
ribbons.
YOU'RE welcome, said Mrs. Tobey.
''Mr. Won Bergen did not say he was
married"