Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1885-03-05
LOVE AT SECOND SIGHT.

els your head any better?'
mo, Mabel. 1t aches and aches,
until / almost wish | could die. Lay
your hand here. y
Mabel's cheek paled as her mother
took her hand and pressed it against
her burning temple.
Such fire would soon burn out life'S
Pickering taper.
She wet q cloth and bound it round
the fevered head. AS she did SO the
sick woman gave a sigh Of relief. She
opened her eyes and turned grateful
look upon the girl.
'Do you know, Mabel" she said
feebly, Il dreamed last night of the
dear old home where we lived before
your father died. You were wee tod
ding baby then. 1t seems to me, if L
could have some of the flowers that
grew in the garden in front Of the
house, the very smell of them would
cure me"
Tears rushed to Mabels eyes. They
lived in the great crowded city, and
they were poor. Mabel could not spare
from her scanty hoaEd even the tritling
sum for which she could buy a bunch
of flowers from the vendors who were
oGdGlO1Cd 1U o. AhGtIiJ o11AClChb p111NNo
along the street
How could she get some of the fra
grant treasures for her mother?
Suddenly came thought of an old
fashioned mansion a little way out of
the city. 1t was empowered in will
derness of bloom.
Surely it would be no harm for her
to go and ask for some flowers; they
could hut refuse them.
She bent over the invalid and kissed
her.
Mother" she said softly, '.if you
will be content to stay alone for a few
hours [ think I can crafty your long
ing, if not for the blossoms that grow
about your old home, for some just like
them. | will ask Mrs. Gray to come
in and give you your medicine regular
ly."
Mrs Gray was a kind-hearted wo-
man who occupied part of the house
in which they lived, and she readily
consented to minister to the invalid's
comfort in any way she could during
Mabel's absence
It was not without a tremor that
Mabel at last found herself in broad,
neatly-kept path which led to the
GWlnne mansion.
A huge ma$tiff sprang toward her as
she neared the house.
Down. Nero. Down.
The speaker was an old gentleman,
who evidently feared that the approach
of the dog would intimidate Mabel.
But Nero contented himself with
goOd-natured sniff, reserying his fiercer
side for a more suspicious party.
His master look pleased to see Mabel
pat his head fearlessly. The truth was,
now that she was in the presence of the
stately old master of the place, her
heart failed her, and she was glad of
an excuse to defer asking for the flow
erS.
We'll, MISS" he said courteously,
lean do anything to put you in the
way of finding the person YOU are seek
ing?"
1T is you, sir. l came to ask you
for some flowers for my sick mother"
''Pick all you want. The more the
better. You are welcome to all you
can carry
Just then Mabel heard clear,
ringing voice shout: ''Grandfather!"
and out of the cool, tiled hall, of which
an enchanting glimpse was visible
through the open door, came a youth
who looked to her like some prince
from fairy land.
She was not accustomed to the luxu-
rlous habits of the rich, and his dark
olue velvet dressing-gown, fastened by
its cord OF shimmering, woven gold,
ana the richly embroidered smoking
cap which rested on his curly head,
seemed to her altogether too gorgeous
toilet tor mortal like herself.
But the Illusion only lasted for a
moment A pair of brown eyes, just
the color of & ripe chestnut, glanced at
her curiously as their owner came down
the walk.
You are just the one Iwant, Chaun-
cey. Get my pruning-shears and a
basket off the table in the lower hall,
and bring them to me-
Chauncey soon returned with the de-
sired articles, and Mabel found herself
following Mr.. Gwinne into the garden
She was soon laden with fragrant
spOlls, and was sent homewarG reioic-
2ng with a kindly:
Come again when these are faded,
from Mr.. GWinne.
When Mabel reached home and her
mother saw the flowers, she put out
her hands with delighted eNclama-
ton.
Give them to me, child, quick! The
very sight of them gives me new
strength
And when Mabel put the fragrant
clusters into her hands, she held them
to her face in a mute caress.
After while she turned her eyes up
on Mabel. with look in them which
startled the girl by its intensity.
She was not like Mabel, who was
slight and pale, and who looked even
more childish than her years, with only
her heavy mass of ripping curls and
her dark, appealing eyes to redeem
her face from absolute plainness. She
had evidently once been woman of
queenly form and of magnificent beau
fv Even now her. GREAT feyer-bripht