Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1885-10-08

place In her superb rooms, aNd some
of her packed~up fnery of her maiden
days were taken out, altered, and
worn. That the alterations cost more
than a whole costume of her quieter
attire had done was not considered
She had the dresses, and therefore it
was as cheap to trail their silken
trains over the velvet carpets as to
wear muslin Or alpaca.
But the old dresses wore out, and
even Laura was aghast as she replaced
them. She did not realize her ex~
travagance until the bills came In;
and Walters grave face was a deep
reproach.
Then the children mast dress to suit
their new surroundings; and another
item of expense was added. It was
soon very evident that the rent of the
small house was by no means enough
TO meet the dressmaker's and dry
goods bills, and Walters nest egg in
bank grew smaller with far more RAJ
pidity than it had increased before
Society had it's claims ignored while
Laura lived in that ''poky little house,
and could not entertain" Friends,
who bad supposed she would not ac-
cept" their invitations. sent in many to
Mr.. Cameron's and Laura found hers
self in whirl of gayety, while Wall
ter fretted ever his neglected children,
his added expenses, and, in spite of its
magnifcence, his really cherries
| home.
But his love for Laura made him
weak where she was concerned. He
could deny himself; could resolutely
wear his old clothes when he felt new
ones could not be afforded; could let
his own comfort give way to economy !;
but he could not bear to see tears in
Laura's eyes Or cloud upon her pretty
face. She could win him over against
his better judgment to any of her own
pet schemes, by coaxing and caresses !;
and so, instead of resolutely putting
down her extravagances, he tried, by
added industry, to make his purse
fuller.
His regular duties at his employers
over, he took evening work at home,
sitting alone in the library busy over
accounts until far into the night
| Speculations he had regarded with
horror looked tempting as he felt
crushed under his responsibilities,
and any honest means of attaining a
sudden increase of wealth was eager
ly sought.
The three years of Mr.. Cameron's
stay in Europe was nearly over, when
Laura's uncle and godfather, Law
renee Williston, a wealthy grain
merchant in Chicago, wrote to pros
pose visiting them, as he had bust
ness in New York, and had not been
there for many years. Walter was
most unwilling to present himself in
any false light, to arelative who had
always been kind to Laura, but was
overruled, as usual, by his wife, and
Lawrence Williston occupied large
luxurious spare room, In what he
supposed to be Walter Dyar's house.
A table supplied with the choicest
food, children exquisitely attired, a
hostess always most charningly ar
rayed, completed the delusion of
Walters great wealth, and the old
gentleman was never weary Of cons
graduating Laura upon her worldly
prosperity. .She had not wronged
him when she said he worshiped mons
ely, and her heart swelled exultingly
at every fond word to herself Or the
children, her hopes Of one day inner
iting his own money greatly increased
by his evident approval of everything
he saw in her supposed home.
His return to Chicago, leaving valu-
able gifts of jewelry to each member
of the family, was followed soon by a
trouble thai Laura met with keenest
misery. Walter broke down under
the strain of overwork, and while he
| lay too i'll to give her assistance Or ad-
vice, Mr.. Cameron wrote to desire the
house might be ready for his return
by the next steamer.
Already Laura had resolved to re>
turn to her own little home, driven
almost wild by the revelation of
Walters affairs in his delirious raw
ing. Affectionate. if self willed, she
had gone so gradually from one folly
to another that she had not realized
the burden she was putting upon her
husband, and his injudicious love had
concealed his anxiety.
But, frustrated by over work, his
wearied brain gave way to fever, and
he raved continually of his debts; his
| 1udO1llby LO mSGL LIS OK pNASC>s LIS
efforts to see bis way clear.
It was wretcbed work TO leave him
to a nurse, while Laura saw about
renting house and unpacking their
own furniture; but she was brave
energetic woman under the spur of
duty; and when Mr.. Cameron came
home, his house, was ready for him,
and Walter had been tenderly con-
veyed to the small and, to Laura's,
utterly comfortless home she had
taken.
It was winter she never forgot; a
winter Of such bitter grief that her
punishment seemed at times greater
than she could bear. There was the
great task of putting her house, small
as it was, into habitable order; not, as
before. with Walters strong arms and
cheerful voice to help her, but in in
tervals she could snatch from attend
ance upon him, as he slowly crept
back to convalesceuce.
| Ritter +eors nd uorGS Of ,,onit oooa