Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1885-03-19

| d.
soon acquired reputation, and the
old lady could scarcely bake it fast
enough. People came half dozen
blocks to buy the yellow pumpkin
pies and delicious apple tarts children
brought their boarded pennies to in
vest in chocolate sweet-meats, vanilla
caramels, and cream cakes with puffy
shells and delicious centers of sweet
ness. The little money drawer grew
fat with coins, and Aunt Debby's dim
eyes grew bright and hopeful again.
And one day Mr.. Herbert Valance,
walking by with Medora May, stopped
and looked in.
isn't that your cousin Grace"
said he, behind the counter?"
| Medora turned crimson with vexa-
ton.
MY cousin Grace?" she said
''No, indeedl We are not-in trader
What possessed her to utter this
deliberate falsehood Medora could not
afterwards have told. Partly the
string o. false shame, partly disin-
clination for Mr.. Herbert Valance ~
know that her relatives were not, TO
use her expression, ''ladies and gen
tlemen."
Mr.. Valance looked up at the sign
over the door.
''The name is May" he remarked
indifferently.
Yes" said Medora, angry at her
self blushing SO deeply, ''but we are
no relation"
Mr.. Valance thought over the mat
ter; he afterwards met Miss May at a
party given by friend, where pretty
Grace Craxall was also present; he
had taken rather fancy to the bright
blue eyes and delicate blonde beauty
of the former. Valance hall, on the
hill just out of the city, was solitary
enough, now that his sisters had all
married and gone away, and perhaps
graceful wife than Medora May. But
he could not be mistaken, LIE thought,
in Grace Craxalls identity.
And so the next evening, about the
same time, he sauntered into the
shop.
Grace was behind the dainty clean
little counter, taking some newly
baked caramels off the pan. She
looked up with smile.
Good evening, Mr.. Valance" said
She
So, " he thought, "I wasn't mis-
taken after all. And the little blue.
eyed seraph is mortal enough to tell
lie in spite of her angelic appear,
ANGEL"
But he looks serenely at Grace.
Il didn't know you were in trade. :"
said be.
Didn't you? WE'LL" retorted
Grace, 81 am my Aunt Deborah's
shop girl at present. 7 alwas come
here in the evenings to help her, be-
cause" she added, with a sweet
shade of seriousness coming over her
face, Aunt was old and poor, and she
didn't quite know how to maintain
herself in independence; and, un-
fortunately, my wages at the factory
are not enough for us both. So [ ad
vised her to opon this business, and
she did, and she is doing we'll; and she
bakes the most delicious bread and
pies you ever ate, So" with saucy
twinkle under her eyelashes, eff you
know of any customers. will you
please recommend our frm?"
'"To he sure I shall" he answered,
IN the same spirit. ''And [ ana very
glad, Miss CraxalI, to see that you are
not ashamed of being a working
girl
'Of course [ am not" said Grace.
'Why should I be?n
''But your cousin Medora is"
Grace gave little shrug of her
shoulders.
Very likely" said she. ''Medora
and differ in many things"
Mr.. Valance bought a pound of
caramels and went away.
she is a beauty" he said to himself.
"And she is a sensible beauty into the
bargain. One of those rarG arises ia
our country, a thoroughly we'll bal
anced girl"
He must have been very well pleas
ed with his purchase, for he came
again the next evening, just in time
to walk home with Grace Craxali.
And they talked over Aunt Deborah
affairs, and concluded, as -four was
low just then, it would be favorable
opportunity for the old lady to Law in
HiSA WAhlCIS SbOCh GuIOuSu NIT. v di-
ance, who was acquainted with one of
the great New York grain merchants.
Only few weeks had elapsed, when
Medora May was electrified to learn
that her cousin Grace was engaged.
ITO some master baker or Journey
man confectioner, 7 suppose" she
said. contemptuously.
NO" said Grace, with eyes roguish-
" sparkling; ito Mr.. Herbert Val
ance."
'I-don't believe-it," said Medora,
growing red. then pale.
But it's really So" said Grace.
"And we are to be married in three
months. And Aunt Debby is to come
to the hall and live with me as soon
as she can dispose of her business to
advantage. And dear Medora, hope
you will often come and visit me
there"
Medora May did not answer. She
could not But in her secret heart she