Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1885-03-26

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captivating hearts by the scores, but
coming back to be the life and bright
ness of our home.
There must be one old maid in every
family" she said; and when | suggest
ed my eminent fitness for the position,
she smiled loftily and said: Mr..
| Brooks says you are the household
angel, so please let US hear no more
nonsense"
There is Aunt Jane, too" I said,
mildly.
Belle she said severely. Twill you
ZOE Amt TonA
1t really did seem as if Nell was in
earnest about single life, but, after
all, she was only twenty-four, and look
! ed seventeen.
But, one day, who should walk into
the parsonage parlor, as coolly as if he
had left it the day before, but Chris.
We were all there as he came in, but
before he had spoken to Aunt Jane [
saw that Nell had vanished.
Did Chris see her run out of the door
as he entered the front window?
think he did. There was subdued
twinkle in his eyes as he inquired for
my infirmities, not at all consistent
with his words of sympathy. Present
ly Nell came in, with quiet smile of
greeting, and a perfect composure of
manner, but Chris was match for
her.
1t was as good as play to watch
those two, so completely did they ig-
more that he was discarded lover who
had been sent away by her cruelty.
They conversed easily and gracefully
Christopher's African experiences, var
led by descriptions of the family we'd
dings, the new homes, the brothers-in-
law, the children, and thousand other
details, in which our caller expressed
the greatest interest.
After that he dropped in as of old,
making himself agreeable and useful to
every one in the house, especially ten
der, as he ever had been, to me. In
deed, l found myself wondering some
times if he was going to take Nell's
knocking advice, and, all the others be-
ing appropriated, offer himself to the
poor cripple.
He took me for long drives in his
mothers pony-carriage, and was al
ways ready to hear of Nell's conquests,
showing no jealousy, but great deal
of amusement, over her coquetries.
''She was born coquetter he said
once; ''and yet nobody can call Nell
vain. 1t has been matter of course
for her to be admired ever since she
could run alone"
''She is our beauty now, as of DID,"
l answered; and Chris assented cor
daily.
81 have seen no face so winsome
since | left home," he said; but he spoke
with the frank admiration of brother,
and gave no token of love sick swain.
Had he outlived his love, / wonder
ed, and come home to prove to Nell
that her days of tyranny were over? /
think Nell suspected that he had.
Always eVen-tempered, Nell became
fitful and capriciouS; bright and laugh
ing when Chris was with us, often ST.
lent, and sometimes gloomy when she
thought herself unnoticed She lost
her color, and I caught her more than
once rubbing her cheeks when going
downstairs to see Chris; and she was
snappish, and deeply repentant there
for dozen times day.
''What ails Nell?" Aunt Jane asked
me, anxious for her darling. ''She eats
nothing, Belle, and [ am sure does not
sleep well. [ wonder if it would do her
any good to spend a few weeks with
our Kate?'
Nell, on being consulted, caught
eagerly at the suggestion, and hurried
her wardrobe into trunk, as if an
mons. She made no farewells, but
fitted of, so abruptly that it made US
all stare with surprise.
''Elinor was always impulsive," pa
pa said.
And Aunt Jane only answered.
''But bless me, didn't mean to drive
the child out of the houser'
Chris said nothing, but / was GER
tainly convinced of the reality of his
whiskers, so ferociously were they pull
ed all the evening. But the next day
Mrs. Gilmore sent over wee note of
dire distress. Chris had been thrown
from his horse, and the doctors feared
some spinal injury. Aunt Jane went
over at once, and came back with an
exceedingly grave face.
HE is badly hurt-entirely uncon-
scious," she said.
If Nell's departure was sudden, her
return was not less so.
did you take off your hat at Kate p"
/ inquired, with mild sarcasm.
But regretted it when Nell's arm
stole around my neck, and face wet
with tears was pressed against my
own.
''Will he die?" she whispered ''Oh,
Belle, what shall do if he dies?'
Then, as if ashamed of letting even
my loving eyes read her secret, she
rushed away and locked herself in her
room. Such restless misery followed
that my heart ached for her. She made
Aunt Jane spend nearly all her time at
Mrs. Gilmore's, and undertook the
housekeeping herself, letting papa miss
nothing of his sisters care. But she
seemed to live in sort of breathless
expectation of the news from Chris.
Worse! worse! very low! Such were
the disheartening tidings day after day,