Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1884-04-24

''No-o-o! But you look it, and that's
q great deal worse. [ know you think
am a silly girl to waste so much time
over a novel, but to my mind The Pie
Biters' is the finest work ever written.
1t goes straight TO the heart; it strikes
responsive chords.
Here the old gentleman turned very
red and furtively kicked at Frederick
under the table.
''Ahr cried that young man, grimac-
i,,ec with min edo rnn fbink 81? Per-
haps | am incompetent to fairly Judge it,
but frankly confess that | cannot find
in it the qualities you rave about To
my mind it seems TO be written with
but one purpose, and that is
TO elevate struggling humanity"
cried Lucy.
mo; to fill the purse of the author"
That's quite too bad, Mister Kane, :"
cried the offended girl, with q heavy
stress upon the Mister" you will
fully misiudge the author. | know he
is a noble-heartcd man; one without a
single selfish thought. The author of
The Pie-Biters' mercenary! No, in
deed! Every line he has written shows
his disinterested character ard his deep
sympathy with human nature. Could
anything be more artistic and gentle
manly that his treatment of the heroine
in the October number? You remem-
her that she had just invited Maj.
Rarnham to elope to Plttsburg with
her, and what does this grand author
make him reply? Listen:
= Pearl Patchen, I can never con-
SI1cI, - coc1tian ON IrC.II1 =, oy,t
The man who would be base enough to
ruthlessly tear 4 red-headed girl from
her home at the near approach of a
severe winter has no abiding sympathy
in his heart for her freezing family"
At this point Uncle Absalom snorted
derisively, but dexterously changed
it into harsh cough when he noticed
his wards indignant gaze turned upon
him. Frederick eyed his plate in
tentlv.
You see," she went on, she wished
by his coarseneSs to shatter her idol.
This may arouse your levity, here
she frowned at her guardian-''but to
me it reveals the profound insight of
exalted genius"
''To me, said Frederick, decidedly,
ChtGO )SCI lICClbL JiSotI9C oOuIONNl 1AAS
the widest bosh."
Lucy flushed vivid scarlet, and her
eyes shone with an Ominous light.
''Bosh, - she repeated, what irreVer-
ence. Still you know the author of
The Pie-Bitors' is worthy of universal
love. | worship him myself"
WHAT" gasped Absalom.
''Whatn' repeated his nephew.
YES" cried Lucy, quite unterrifed,
''and I'd marry him tomorrow if he'd
ask me. No life could be sweeter than
one consecrated to him and his noble
works"
probably he's got wife or two al
ready" said her guardian. '"That's
the way with these geniuses."
mo, " said Frederick, ''he's unmar-
ried. [ know him.
you know him?" almost screamed
Lucy "Why didn't you tell me be-
fore?'
Because it was matter of conf
dence. | have, however, told him of
your great admiration for him and his
story, and he has expressed desire to
meet you-proyided, of course, that
you will respect his secret"
sit shall be sacred, murmured Lucy.
How safe, them chuckled Mr..
Perkins. Did you ever hear of q wo-
man that couldn't keep = secrct?"
Then it's decided. Next Saturday
l will bring him here"
''Here!" cried Lucy, with ciasped
hands and ecstatic expression, ''here!
The spot will be famous forever.
Guardy, | must have new dress for
the OccasiOnm
She looked ut Frederick and fancied
that he seemed panied at her enthusi-
asm.
Thank you, Frederick" she softly
said. You have given me much
pleasure"
She rose from the table and turned
to leave the room. As she reached the
door, the old man called after her
You stin think you'd marry him?"
Lucy turned defantly. ''Yesr' she
answered, elf he should ask me-"
Then the door closed behind her.
The two men looked at each other.
across the table and smiled.
The appointed Saturday dawned
bright and clear, but Lucy's spirits
were not in harmony with it. She was
nervous and abSent-minded, and little
inclined to enjoy her usual daily occu-
pations. She feyerishly worked few
Kensington stitches on a table-cover
only to savagely rip them out again.
Then she brought out her colors and
tried to paint, but quit in disgust when
she discovered that she had adorned
the face of her Spanish lady with a
brilliant carmine nose. Her efforts at
the piano were equally unsuccessful.
Her guardian observed all these evil
dences of her agitation with intense
enjoyment, and gave way to unseemly
mirth on numerous occasions.
AS the hour appointed for the inter
view drew nigh, Lucy's nervousness
increased ten-fold. So anxious was she
to appear at her best, that her patient
maid was almost driven wild with her
vagaries. At last all her exactions
were satisfied. Never had she appear
ed more beautiful, and the ancient Alb
SALON., who was keenly sensitive to
female loneliness, embraced her with
pride.