Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1884-06-26
A PAYING FILTRATION.

mo, Herbert, i can DO 1T. on
will have to get out of this difficulty by
yourself. 1t is useless my going to
your father any more; he said the last
time he would never again cripple HIM
self by paying your debts.
"Then what on earth am [ to do?'
inquired the Hon. Herbert Farnham,
'"Thc Jews will do no more for me.
I'm broke, and that's the truth.
They say there's baronet working
down at the docks glad of 3 shillingS
day when lie can get it. | suppose L
shall come to thatn'
Lady Chetwynd looked at her favor
tie son and smiled q little. Presently
she said, very gravely: There is your
Aunt Margaret"
.'What Of hcr?' inquired the Hon.
Herbert.
''WcIl, / know she is in England.
She wrote and told me so, in fact.
And it has occurred to me once or
twice to wonder whom she will leave
ali her money to-"
Has she no one?" inquired the Hon.
Herbert, quickly.
mo one at all, / believe; absolutely
no one She was an only child and
with no relatives when she married
your Uncle George. That is how she
came TO be sole heiress to such an
enormous fortune. Now that her sec
onG husband is dead | really wish she
could call herself Mrs. Rolleston again,
instead of going about as the Princess
Droguca.
Never mind" said the Hon. Her
bert; ''as the prince cleared out without
Il OF L.
forgive him his sins and speak respect
fully of his memory. Now tell me
where to find my Aunt Margaret, the
Princess Droguca."
Lady ChetWynd smiled and sighed at
once. You will find her at the Clair
vile ut Seagate."
1--we heard of that establishment, +"
said the Hon. Herbert, thoughtfully;
"a queer place for an elderly lady.
Give me line of Introduction to her
and I'll run down at once"
Lady ChetWynd, looking thoughtfully
as she did so, wrote brief note and
handed it to her son, who started off
Immediately. He was in such an ex-
ceedingly tight place" just now that
he would have gone q much longer
journey ut equally short notice if there
by he might discover an elderly aunt
with money.
Seagate was looking glorious, and
the gayety of the place and people, the
freshness of the air, and the brilliant
coloring of the sea and sky made the
Hon. Herbert feelYery young and de-
Hghtful."
He lunched well, lit his cigar, and
started in search of half an hours rec,
reation. He did not go far before he
found what he was in search of; he
met with lady SO surprising to look
at that the mere sight of her recreated
him She was a little creature, we'll
formed, with pretty feet and hands; the
feet clad in Wondrous high-heeled
boots that were very high, but did not
meet at all in front; the lacing dis
played crimson open-worked silk
stockings. The little figure, wasp
WASTED, was dressed in the most ex-
travagant of French checks. a mass
of blended and frizzled hair encircled
q small face which was admirably well
painted; only the usual mistake was
made-the thing was overdone, and
thus the possibility of deception de-
stroyed. She stood quite alone by the
rail at the edge of the sea-walk looking
at the passers-hy. She soon became
as much interested in Herbert as he
was in her. She slowly walked toward
the pier and went on to it. The lady
sat down and straightway dropped her
parasoL Of course Herbert was at
hand to pick it up. Then he sat down
by her, and for half an hour they looked
st the blue sea and talked. She
amused him very much. She never
smiled, but said the most spicy and
piquant things In small, high-pitGhed
voice, looking straight at him the
while. Herbert knew very well how
TO look admiration, and he found that
she understood the look perfectly, but
also that she appreciated little more
open hattery. This made it very plain
sailing, and Herbert found himself
much less bored than usual during q
Irritation. The little lady being so ex-
cessiyely pronounced, it was difficult to
feel bored until one had seen all her
extrayagances.
At last he rose.
81 must 60, he said; sit is hard,
but must.
Then, assuming a business-like man
ner, he walked off to the Clairville,
meditating all the way on the mode in
which he should address his aunt.
On his way q hired carriage passed
him; in it sat the little lady whom he
fully intended to meet upon the pier to-
night. She gave him glance from
under her wonderful parasol; such a
look-seductive. full of invitation.
81 believe she is as old as the hills, -
reflected Herbert; ''but she is marvel
-ously made up and very funny. What
a catastrophe if she should live at
Clairville"
He arrived at the hotel. On the
broad terrace upon which the front
door opened a number of people were
talking and laughing; the hour of after
noon tea had brought him to the house.
In the midst of a small crowd of gentle