Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1886-02-18
In SPITE OF ALL.
BY GUINEYERE.

BY GUINEYERE.
"Ellice, I want some roses - gel
them for me. Remember, pale pin K
ones"
"And, Ellice, stop in my room on
your way back and bring my lace
kerchief."
A graceful figure ia neat morning
gown of blue cambria, with heavy
brown braids twisted round a shapely
head and pink tinted face lit by a pair
of brilliant hazel eyes rose from the
low chair Ey the window and depart
ed to execute the commands of her
cousins.
Mabel, the blonde, standing before
the mirror, turned with a dark look
on her fair face.
ST hope Percy Trafton will not ar
rive while Ellice is in the garden, %
she said.
show Jealous you are of the young
child" laughed her sister, tying the
rose hued ribbon at her slender, sup
pie waist.
''You are as anxious as I to keep
her in the back ground" answered
Mabel, sharply. "And, really, Maude
you have. reason to be. It would not
be pleasant to lose the heir of Beech
croft as we lost BERTHE Hardy, and
-
mabel, how dare your
There was crimson flush on the
olive cheeks of the brunette, and an
angry glitter in her flashing black
eyes.
Her sister shrugged her shoulders
with short, mocking laugh, but ere
another word could be said, the door
opened and Ellice came in, the scarf
twisted over her head, her hands full
of roses.
The bright summer breezes had
brought deeper tint to her cheeks
and blown about her hair, that fell in
short ringlets over her forehead in
picturesque disorder. AS she stood
before them in easy, graceful attitude
she made picture an artist would
have been delighted to copy, and as
Mabel took the flowers in her slim,
white hands, she cast q significant
glance at her sister. that was answer
ed by flashing lock of scorn, though
il was Maude who disposed of the lit
tie beauty for the time Percy Trafton
should remain at the villa.
"Ellsie," she said, 81 am going to
ride this afternoon, and as you have
nothing else to do this morning, I
wish youwould alter my riding-habit.
It is the least bit too long, and you
will find new buttons for it in my
satchel."
Then together the sisters descended
to the cottage parlor, where ten
minutes later they We're exerting all
their charms and destinations on the
handsome heir of Beechcroft.
Percy Trafton did not even know of
the presence OF Ellice Ware. She had
been at the villa two years, but many
as were the pleasures and social
events at the home of the Wares, she
had lived life of seclusion, and few
who came to the villa met the young
girl beside whose fresh, radiant beauty
the dark brilliancy of Maude and the
pale loneliness of her sister paled into
lnsignifcancs,
81 could not refuse to give her a
home, said Mrs. Ware, In answer to
the remonstrance of her daughters.
"It would not do TO incur the dis
pleasure of your uncle, though / wish
he had taken his daughter with hin
to the vilds of Australia. To be sure,
he allows me a generous recompence,
and we must treat her well, though it
will never do to bring her out into
society,"
until Maude and l are married."
added the blonde frankly.
''Just So" asserted her mother; and
then, rs the door opened to admit
Ellice, she turned with bland smile
and spoke in gentle tones.
''Ellice, dear, we were just speaking
of you. The girls desire to have you
appear in society, but think you are
q: too young. Still, if you wish"
: ooh, no; there is time enough for
that" interrupted Eliice. MY cousins
are very kind, but as you say. ana
young, and papa might not be pleas
ed to return and find his little girl a
fashionable young lady"
She had decided, but she did not
dream then of the dull hours she
would spend while her cousins partici-
: pated in gayety, of the deprivations
she would be called upon to make, the
tasks that would be imposed upon her.
She did not realize the independence
and right of her position, else she
would not have borne what she did,
but, accustomed always to looking up
and relying upon those round her
she deferred to the authority of he
aunt, and uttered no word OF COM
plant.
Percy Trafton spent pleasant hour
at the villa and departed With agree
able thoughts of his hostess and her
charming daughters.
They gave lawn party soon after