Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1886-02-18

II will put on my hat. slip through
the meadow gate, and row up the
river to the cliff. No one will miss
me-"
She tied on her broad brimmed hat
with its cherry ribbons, and the next
instant was flying across the lawn,
and had disappeared down the wood.
land path ere she had been seen by
any one but Maude, who recognized
the streaming ribbons and futtering
blue draperies with dark irown.
It was twilight when the fete ended
ed. Percy Traitor made his adieus,
and strolled down to the river-edge
where his tiny black and scarlet shell,
the Queena, lay in the shadow of the
0verarching trees.
Drifting down the river he heard a
voice floating family over the waters,
and as it came nearer, gaining
strength and sweetness, he heard the
words:
| 'sRow row. row.
| Heart to heart we'll sail together,
| Hand in hand for aye and ever,
| Naught shall change us, naught shall sever.
| Row, row, row."
How wltching the air, how tender
and melodious the fresh young voice
The heir of Beechcroft leaned for
ward, and his eager eyes followed the
little boat that passed him with that
solitary figure that rocked to and fro
to the music of the song she sang.
1t was too dark for him to see her
face, but the sweet voice touched a
tender chord in his breast. and the
words haunted him.
sit is like a SIRENS sone," he
thought. ''Who is she I wonders
Why, she is approaching the banks
of the Ware estate; she has disappear
ed in the shadow of the trees. A visi-
tor? No, she would have been with
US to. day. But what a pure voice."
"Miss Mabel he said. meeting the
blonde on the morrow" ''who is the
sweet singer that rows alone on the
river, and moors her boat at the
meadow landing;"
Mabel Ware started and then look-
ed mystifed.
81 cannot guess" she answered.
''Maude is the only sweet singer at
the villa, and she seldom rows alone. !"
Percy was silent, but not satisfied,
Day after day he rowed out on the
river. but failed to meet again the
owner of the voice that had charmed
him.
Mabel, forseeing this, contrived to
keep Ellice from her favorite pastime
until the heir of Beechcroft had given
up the quest that seemed useless.
In the meantime Maud had relin-
guished all claims TO her sister, and
was accepting the attentions Of a gay
lieutenant who was visiting Beech
croft. It wassthrough him the troub
came. Not that Percy Trafton ever
would have been sufficiently enamor-
ed of the fair blonde to sue for her
hand and make her more mistress of
his grand home, but that which they
dreaded most would not nave occur
red had it not been for Guy Hazard.
A letter had reached the villa from
Auetralia.
81 am going to England" wrote
Oscar Ware. 81 want Ellice to join
me in London, and have written to a
friend ia New York who will accom-
pany her across the ocean. Let the
preparations be few and very speedily
made"
$50 we are going to have her out of
delighted. Now that Mabel's pros
poets are so bright, should be grieved
to have our pretty little cousin inter-
fere; and since her voice has exerted
such an influence, I am sure her face
"Would not prove unattractive to
the dashing lieutenant" interrupted
the blonde spitefully.
1t was the day set for Ellice's depar-
ture. Guy Hazard was sitting on the
porch reading aloud to the brunette.
who was looking her best IN a bright
hued morning gown, when a clear
voice breaking into a merry refrain
checked the words on his lips:
Row, row, row,
Heart to heart wen sail together"
"Your sister9" he said interroga-
lively.
Maude nodded indifferently, and
entreated him to finish the charming
poem he was reading.
The voice above had ceased, but
Guy Hazard did not forget.
II thought Miss Ware was the only
one who ever sang at the cottage" he
said to his friend, an hour later ''Yet
I heard voice this morning that
thrilled me with its sweetness. It sang
but couple Of lines from boat-song
but was charmed.
IA boat songs" repeated Percy. "Do
you remember the airs"
Eyes I hummed it all way home.
Something like this.
As the clear tenor tones rang out,
Percy started and his eyes frightened.
1.-THE sanep' he cried. "Guy, there
is some mystery here. There must be
some one-a young girl-at the villa
we have not yet seen. [ wonder if
there is poor relation kept out Of
sight,"
1sNonsense!' said Guy, but he de-
cided to discover the truth for him
self during his next visit to the cot
tage.
"Yes," said Maude. in answer to his
inquiry, ga cousin of ours was here
laWhile, but she was plain, timid lit
tie thing, and would not join in our