Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1885-02-05

the giddy, hurrying throng that jos
! ties In that deserted villagew
! The young woman folded her work
together slowly, laid it away In a
small calico-curtained cupboard, and
began making preparations for the
midday meal.
Norman watched her curiously.
"Do you always wear your hair
twisted high like that?" he asked.
eyes"
"And always blue dress2"
Yes
How youthfully sentimental,
Lefty. In memery of me, of course?"
'Of course"
"How do you spend your time
from years end to years end? It
can't take up all of your tinae to make
your fathers coffee acd patch his
coat"
Without a word Lefty paused in her
work She stepped away from the
cooking stove to the other side OF the
room Pulling aside another calico
curtain she opened rough cupboard,
very high and wide and deep. "Here
are my friends" she said. II have
little need of other companionship
while waiting"
"She stopped, biting her lip little
as she turned to her work.
But Norman did not notice her hesi-
tation.
'Books!" he cried, with long, low
whistle of surprise. He picked up an
| arnful of them and returned to his
easy chair. He looked them over,
turned and examined others and still
others, saying nothing, while Lefty
filled the lea kettle. pared potatoes,
and laid the table.
Her father came home from the
mill and the three ate in almost alb
solute silence. The old man had no
love for the handsome youth who had
stolen his girls heart away and then
| left her ''wi' no tongue in her head, !" as
he once complained of her silence to
Lefty.
After he had gone Norman came
and took hold of Lefty, standing by
| her deal table washing dishes. He
took her by the shoulders and shook
her as if she were a child. He lifted
his hand as if wishing to strike her.
She bore it silently, with compressed
| lips, and watched him understanding
| ly while he walked about the little
room as if suddenly gone mad.
After awhile he took up one Of the
scores Of books with which he had
Uttered the rude sofa by the window.
Tell me what this means!'
Written on the title page of this,
as of all others, were the words,
''F'rom my love-" then below the date
of the gift IN Letty's own handwrit-
ing.
For whom have you been keeping
up this pretty little farce of wifely
faithfulness these seven years9" he
cried. WHO is your love, you little
traitor2 Where did you get those
endless, costly books? Tell nae, or
will kill you"
mo, you will not kill me-" sh ans-
wered with no more of emotion IN her
voice or manner than she had shown
since her husband returned to her.
With the same Indifferent calm that
| she had greeted him when he came.
she went about the task of gathering
up the books and putting them back
into their places. Many of them
were rare and valuable-all books
upon art. All of the famous critics
were there; discussions upon art top
les; biographies of artists without
number, and great books full of all
| the best engravings of all famous
| pictures and statues, from the eldest
days of art down to copies of the latest
marble or canvas of the salon Or acad,
envy.
Norman sat down and watched her
with sneer living on his face and in
his eyes.
When she sat down and took up
her sewing again, he said:
80 this Is the woman I have been
believing ln-working for"
Working f.r2" Lefty was ss calm
as before. There was no sign of sur
prise Ia the even tone.
Norman woke up suddenly to knowI-
! edge Of the peace ia in her eyes which
| shown with clear, luminous light.
| The sunlight on her dark-red hair
seemed like a crown. The vivid blue
| of her gown made him realize the
exquisite tists of her skin. He saw
| the shapeliness of her hands and arms
as she worked-not as a picture, but,
for absolutely the first tin4e in his life,
as Tue comely graceS OF the women he
loved. 'Letty!" he cried Lefty,
my wifel"
A delicate color famed into her
cheeks. She did not lift her eyes. A
tear fell down on the sewing-work.
But she sat silent,
Il have worked for you, but did
not know it. I have sought every
thing every where, and came back here
restless TO seek the one woman [ be-
lieved loved me- / did not mean to
stay SO long away, but it is well that
/ did. l might have found you still
waiting for me, true, if | kad come
sooner. have found fame, and I
will 60 back and content mpself with
it, since 1t is all there is for me after
all"
"And leave the picturesque inten-
sity?" asked MS wife. will ysu go,
Norman? Don't forget to send me a
few dollars now and then. 1t will