Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1885-05-21

1 Il
over it. And when I looked up. just
as we entered the pavilion, what an
expression there was on Joseph's face
[ do believe he was swearing to him
self-in German"
Esther was silent, with a panied
fear at her heart. What could she
say2 How could she chide tAis beau
tiful young creature, who was SO dear,
so winsome, SO worthy of love? How
could she help and not hurt?
"Well, exclaimed Therese. au.
thoritatively, growing tired of the
silence.
"My DEAR" said Esther, timidly.
"don't you thiak with me that Mr..
Wistar's attention was little out of
place-that it was conspicuous"
j Miss Tessy vouchsafed no reply to
/ this.
"Don't you think, dear, you might
have reached the pavilion safely. as
the others did, simply by walking on
the bare grounds"
81 am tired and sleepy; I must 90
to bed," said Tessy, suddenly getting
up.
/ luOn SIIO cb ASGlSF lace,
''Smile!" she commanded. do
you think [ am going to say good
night to such eyes as those2 Smile at
oncew
The grieved look melted swiftly
into tears. With loving arms twined
around each others neck, the two
sisters enthusiastically. Bat their good
night kiss was the sweeter for those
tears.
In the quiet days that followed
perha ps because they were living
nearer together, more in sympathy
with each other-these two sisters,
Esther noticed that Tessy was more
than usually silent, that under her
joyous laugh shone the GUNNER of
crowding tears. But Tessy observed
that Esther grew more thin and wan,
that her strength seemed to be con
suned as If by some eating fire.
One evening Esther in her chair
drew Tessy to her. The young girl
came and knelt by her side in the old
familiar way, the pretty bronze brown
lovelocks rufHing over her lap, the
white arms softly upthrown.
Dear" said the eldest sister in a
low voice, "you never sing for me
now"
mo" answered Tessy, slowly; sit
must bel don't know-unless-I
don't think of it.
"You did not wait once to think
of it, Tessy; you sang because you
must"
eyes; that does make difference
to feel the music in one. When bird
is being cooked and eaten, I suppose
it does net feel like singing"
What in the world do you mean,
child?"
"Mean? Nothing-I never mean
anything; that's why I get into so
much trouble"
The girl spoke IN a knocking way,
but moment after she spoke more
seriously:
do you know, Esther, I was read
ing, this morning, the old story of the
knightly lover. who had a beautiful
bird that his lady coveted. He was
very poor, but he would not sell his
bird. But, one fine day, the princes
sent a message that she was coming to
dine with him, and, as he had nothing
in his larder fit for so dainty lady,
he babe his cook kill the bird and
serve it."
Here Tessy paused for moment.
for sound as of tears was in her
voice. She put her hands over her
eyes.
CIT is such tender story, Esther, I
can't tell Ii as it ought to be told; but
the young knight must have sat and
looked az her-can't you fancy it,
while she sat at his table and ate his
frugal dinner-and then-she said she
would love him-be his own true
princess he would give her his
bird"
We'll" said Esther, smiling, "the
princess did get the bird IN one way, if
not in another. And I wonder if the
young knight quite loved her when
he saw her eating it'll"
ooh, you hard hearted woman, :"
cried Tessy. But thought of that,
too"
Then rising, with a quick change of
manner, she said: II wonder if Jo-
seph would contribute his beloved
violin to make fire for me, If [ were
freezing2"
Esther began to understand.
The next day Miss Payne was not
so well. She was lying on the sofa in
the little parlor, when Tessy came IN
and knelt by her, and took her two
hands. The girl had strange, sad
feeling, as if she were lost in wood,
with no one to show her tie way out.
Il don't know what to do for you, :"
she sobbed. "You are getting worse,
! Esther, what is it, Shall [ send for
| some one? 0, why does not Joseph
| -
She stopped suddenly, but Esther
heard, and the next day message
found its way to that young man,
who answered in person.
He walked straight up to Esther's
chair when he came in.
II did not know you were i'll. he
said, and on, the sense of comfort, of
rest, that the invalid felt when she
heard his voice-when she looked into