Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1885-05-07

! cbHlcIo Vi SNCclHcSS. Inc 1IGlIS HUI
ey drawer grew fat with coins, and
Aunt Debby's dim eyes grew bright
and hopeful again.
And one day Herbert Valance, walk
ing 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. mo,
indeed! We are not-in trade!"
! What possessed her to utter this de-
liberate falsehood, Medora could not
afterward have told. Partly the sting
of false shame, partly a disinclination
for Herbert Valance to know that her
relations were not, to use her express
sion, ''ladies and gentlemen.
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. Valence thought over the mat
| ter; he afterward met Miss May at a
party given by a 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
man might find less attractive and
graceful wife than Medora May. But
he could not be mistaken, he thought,
in Grace Craxall's identity.
And so the next evening, about the
same time, he sauntered into the
shop.
Grace was behind the daintily clean
little counter, taking some newly-baked
caramels off the pan. She looked up
with a smile.
Good evening, Mr., Valance" said
she.
So" he thought, 81 wasn't mis-
taken after ALL And the little blue
eyed seraph is mortal enough to tell a
lie in spite of her angelic appearancem
But he looked serenely at Grace.
Il didn't know you were in trade,
said he.
Didn't you? Well, " retorted Grace,
81 am my Aunt Deborah's shop-girl at
present. / always come here in the
evening to help her, because" she
added, with sweet shade of serious
ness coming over her face, ''aunt was
old and poor, and she didn't quite
| know how to maintain herself in indie
pendence, and, unfortunately, my
wages at the factory are not enough
for us both. So [ advised her to open
this business and she did, and she is
! doing well; and she bakes the most de-
licious bread and pies you ever ate,
So" with a saucy twinkle under her
eyelashes, eff you know of any custom
ers, will you please recommend our
firmp'
ITO be sure 1 SHALL" he answered,
in the same spirit '.And I am very
glad, Miss Craxall, to see that you are
not ashamed of being working girl. "
''Of course l am not" said Grace.
''Why should be?"
''But your cousin Medora is. -
Grace gave a little shrug of her
shoulders.
Every likely" said she. ''Medora
and [ differ in many things"
Mr.. Valance bought pound of car
amels and went away.
''She is beauty" he said to him
self; land she is a sensible beauty into
the bargain. One of those rarG oUises
in our country, thoroughly well-bal-
anced girl"
He must have been very well pleased
with his purchase, for he came again
the next evening, just in time to walk
home with Grace CraXau. And they
talked over Aunt Deborah's affairs,
and concluded as flour was low just
then, it would be favorable opportun-
ity for the old lady to lay in her win
ter stock, through Mr Valance, who
was acquainted with one of the great
New York grain merchants.
Only a 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, suppose" she said,
contemptuously.
NO." said Grace, with eyes roguish-
ly sparkling; ''to Mr.. Herbert Val
ance."
-belieTe-it," said Me-
dora, 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 adj
vantage. 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
recognized how infinitely more sue
cessful in life's lists had been Grace's
true, frank honesty, than her own sub
tie and devious course.
Like many another, however, the
lesson had come to her too late
Springfield Union.
Men OF Talent to Set the Fashion.
A man need be neither rich, hand
some nor shapely to dress elegantly, or
even set fashion. Though a good in
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