Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1885-07-02


0ld's hands, saying, carelessly:
Take this, my boy, and go to work
if you are patient you will become
rich some dayr'
The young man was delighted; he
! possessed the golden key that would
soon unlock the doors of poverty, and
reveal to his youthful eyes the magni-
ficence of wealth and splend@r But
his first step?-that he could not
clearly see, and not until several
months after Mr.. Ellis died did the
youthful enthusiast decide to leave
the quiet town that had always been
his home and enter world wholly
unknown to him-the strange and I'M
tried business world.
Ten years later the aristocratic little
town had greatly increased in popula-
ton; many streets had been named,
and, altogether, there was a marked
improvement IN various directions. It
had its First street; to be informed
that one resided here was to under
stand at once his social position; there
could be nothing better. Other streets
fhere were as well located, and as
finely shaded, but they were, after
all, only commonplace. Situated On
I one Of the latter was a small cottage.
The roof was very sloping, suggest
ing an idea of mistaken economy. a
side wlRGOw, filled WITH brightly
blooming geraniums, seemed especial
~ an object of beauty in the bleak,
wintry days, and the house in its
simplicity was costly attractive. The
blinds of the little parlor were usually
closed, for Myra Ellis was too busy to
occupy it often, but the room was all
ways fresh and inviting, with its
cheerful, open fire in cool weather
here was a calm retreat when brain
and nerves were worn, and she long
ed for an hours quiet reading and
rest, for that refreshment of soul that
would enable her to endure the burden
Of the day.
For nearly ten years Myra had
been very popular milliner at the
North side; that Iis, the northern por-
ton Of the town, which included
First street. We find her finishing
the last bonnet promised that night,
and as the sitting room, or millinery
shop, was getting dark and oppressive,
!, she entered the small parlor, which
always seemed to her a long, long
distance from the shop-it is true she
simply crossed a narrow sill one step,
; and the world of care and toll was
|; left behind. She eagerly craved the
best in literature, aud the hours de-
voted to reading were indeed precious
but on this particular day she felt
greatly depressed; she had entered
!, the charmed world of thought, oHly
to find miserable doubt and fear wait
ing to receive and torment her in her
loneliness, instead of the usual
rest and peace. Would the years 60
come bring nothing more to her than
the past? What would be her fate
when faith and hope were gone,
leaving her nothing but an aching
yearning heart for a different life?
She felt herself growing timid and
shrinking, almost afraid to think of
coming years.
She sat before the fire, in large
easy chair that bad been her fathers,
and finally closed her eyes, wishing
for the forgetfulness of sleep. The
long, beautiful lashes rested, like
silken fringe, on a rather pale face,
which was simply attractive, one
would think at a hasty glance but the
purity of the expression was some
thing indescribably lovely. She had
closed her eyes, but sleep was imposs
lble, aud, remembering that it was
time for George to return from school,
hastily arose, and met him that in
slant IN the doorway.
Supper ready?" asked her brother.
wondering why Myra enjoyed sitting
in darkness.
"Why are you SO late?" inquired
Myra, as she lighted the lamps and
began to prepare their evening meal.
ooh, we boys had a little scrim-
mage, l hit Mark Hall in the face
with a SNOWFALL He called me a
baby for being afraid of my old maid
sisterp
Myra only heard the last three
words. Her face flushed and tears
filled her eyes. a chord in her sensi>
tive soul had been touched by a rude
hand, and she felt sudden pang of
regret hitherto unknown. She seemed
to hear ia the moaning wind that
night, as she tried TO sleep, sobbing
sound, in unison with the voice in her
own heart, grieving for It's lost youth
With the arrival OF spring that year
everybody was made curious by the
erection of very beautiful residence,
two miles, perhaps, FROM the center
of the town. There was the charm of
mystery about the whole that made
it decidedly interesting; the master
builder and workmen were from the
city, and were not disposed to ans wer
questions of the inquisitive satisfac-
torily; the house was rapidly finished,
and occasionally, as the grounds were
being improved, a large, dark bearded
gentleman, between 35 and 40, was
frequently seen about the premises,
giving orders, and moving quickly IN
all directions, apparently perceiying
at a glance the progress of the work,
not the slightest detail escaping his
careful. artistic eye. Everything
about the Enlistment was perfec-
ton itself. There were the long,
winding driveways through the
. ic~ln alas lan1~