Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1884-12-25
RELfGNTTNG AT LAST.

There, / We caught my 1901 IN anOle
IN that old carpet again, and broken
the china milk-iug," said Patience
Plumer. II do wish, grandpa, that
you would let me hire Dorcas Wood to
make that new carpet of rags. This
one isn't decent, nor safe to walk upon"
Ebenezer Plumer, who was scrutiniz-
ing through his spectacles the Gilman
cial Article in the paper, looked up
with a snarl of dissatisfaction, which
showed the entire range of his yellow,
stumpy teeth.
''Then why don't you mend it?'' said
he.
because, grandpa, it's past mend
ing" declared Patience. give darned
it and patched it, and patched it and
darned it, until there amt three square
feet of the original material left. And
we haven't dared to take it up and
shake it for the last three years, be-
cause if we did we knew it would fall
to pieces. We are not paupers, grand
pa, urged the girl in her vehemence,
''why should we not live like Chris
tians?''
You're very rich, aren't you?"
sneered Mn, Plumer. "Quite a mil
Iionnaire. [ wonder you condescend to
cook and wash dishes for an insignifi-
can't individual like me"
Il know I've nothing of my own,
grandpa" admitted Patience; but"
mo, and you never will have" "
growled the old man. you're care
less, wasteful, extraYagant creature,
and Charley Mercer is just such an
other. He was here this morning to
ask me to lend him five hundred dol
lars to buy out the goodwill of the store
at Deep Hollow. | told him I'd see
him farther first. I'd just as soon
throw my money into well as lend it
to him.
"Grandpar'
''Well, what noW?"
You refused him?"
Il Just did And I'll do it again.
Oh yes, / know that you are engaged to
him and that you expect to get married
on my money. But you've mistaken
your calculations there"
Grandpa" cried Patience in a
choked voice, edo you remember those
nights Charley Mercer watched with
you, when you had typhoid-fever? DO
YOU remember that the doctor said his
NblG aiu - l1iICC 0"fC1 ; OtL me-
doctors are always talking some
such stuff, said MIR. Plumer. ''And
besides, he was well paid for what he
did. DIdn t L send HIM hall DuShel
Of seed-potatoes the very next spring?"
Patience turned away with a sigh.
Grandpa, = said she, ''you are sell
fish and ungrateful. Oh, [ must say it
Il can't keep it in any longer! You
are narrowing down into perfect
miser,S
"A miser, am I?' screeched the old
man, fairly foa ling with rage. "And
seliSh3 and ungrateful? Well; IN that
case, | won't trouble such q very tine
young lady as you are to stay here and
wait on me. 90 and get married to
your Charley Mercer, rs quick as you
please, and live OIL q crust, in the gut
ter! ] won't have You here another
dayn'
at smoke too hastily GRANDMA said
Patience coIorino. ..B1t Ispo(e moth
ino more fban tie truth. Yes, / am
como to marrv Charley-and we shall
StruGole on rs hest we can. We can.
not i've = more poyertv-stricllca life
Than T Ioad in tbis horse where yor
have baos Of ooId and packets of treas
ury bonds hidden away. But l do moi
want to leave YOU unprovided for.
will stay here until YOU can oct some.
one else to come
n fell Won. > reiterated Mr.. PIumer
~ WON'T have YOU in the house! Clear
outl Pack M your things and 90! I've
Given Won hoard and Iodoin1 Ions
enouob! Go, I SAW.
So Patience hurriedIy packed up he7
few BELONGINGS tied on her faded bon
net and look refuoe with old Mis-
rIoolro,. WHO kant afbrnad-ond-reedl,
store aud 1nt ont the miner nart of he
bonsa 10 1odoars
No sooner had she left tbe house thar
Mr. pInn1er hastily t1nd@ed nnstairs
With an nnwboIesone ne1,sniratio1
breaking ont on his forehead
ssSo n2onIn know shout the baos q
eao1as and the leather walIet Of GOVERN
nent bondsf', nnttorod be .7PeonI,
!. -