Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1886-11-18


ton was attracted by the figure of gen
tleman walking before him = he was the
stranger who had spoken to the porters at
Sutton Station.
He was several yards ahead of John
Harvey, not walking in the desultory, pur-
poseless manner of stranger, but like
one who, having an object to accomplish,
was already in view of the goal for its at
tainment.
"A fine fellow" was Johns soliloquy.
| 'FBut wonder who he is and where he is
going"
Almost in answer to the query, the
stranger pushed upon the gate of the
Home cottage, and, entering, closed it af-
ter him.
In few seconds more John Harvey
gained the gate and, pausing outside,
| looked once more on the dear familiar
scene.
The fine old chestnut spread out its
branches in the sunlight, and yielded the
same cool shelter under it's leaves which
it had yielded fortnight ago, but Clara's
coach was no longer there. Only the
small, rustic table and wide garden seat
were there, and on low chair beside tho
table, her face buried on her crossed arms
was Bel Urmson.
The stranger had walked silently and
unnoticed across the greensward, and,
standing within few yards of her, was
attentively regarding her.
The giEl raised her head and looked at
him, then, grasping the back of her chair
slowly rose to her feet.
With little cry of Joy she ran to him
and he folded her in mis- arms and kissed
her.
She did not shrink from his caresses;
on the contrary, she put her arms around
his neck and kissed him.
Gently and tenderly he led her to the
garden seat; and, seated there, their
voices become an indistinct murmur to
John Harvey, and he heard no more.
81 know him nOw," he muttered between
his teeth. Lieutenant Heywood-the
old lover"
With an imprecation still on his lips he
turned his back on the scene of his hap
piest hours.
Ten O'Clock was just striking ss John
Harvey returned to "The Griffin" and
half an hour latter he had left Sutton for
ever.
Two days after his departure Bel urn
son held in her hands letter bidding her
farewell and telling her that, though he
could dot but gratefully appreciate her
endeavor to love him, yet knowing as he
did know that she had not forgotten her
first love he had decided to adopt the on
ly course left open to him.
With pale face and trembling fingers
Bel read the letter, then she folded it up
and laid it in her desk.
At ten minutes to o'clock on the
. morning of the Both of Jun g, five years
, after Mrs. Testers death, the bell ov er
the porch of the village school at Chip
pendale rang out its SIMMONS. Ding dong
ding dong, pealed along High street from
end to end, over the playground rolled
the lusty tones and the children stopped
their plays as they recognized the fam
liar Iron tongue" and with one accord
fastened to the door.
: Boys e144 e,.-r----ai4~<a t~s, ~LI-O4, push
ing, laughing, shouting, striking out at
each other, as one or the other gained a
+ momentary advantage in the race to
. be first at school.
Good morning, children"
The voice was full and pleasant, and the
smile brOadened into a grin on the little
faces as the speaker left her desk and
q came toward them. She had word and
, a smile for each, for it was the opening
day of school after the midsummer holt
days, and rules were relaxed and a little
license permitted by even SO strict dis
ciplinarian as Bel Urmson.
Yes, she was Miss Urmson still-not
= quite the same Bel of five years ago, for
t sorrow and care had washed the roses
3 from her cheeks; but no one gazing on
[ the pale, beautiful face ever doubted the
, fact that her spinsterhood was maintain
l ed from her own choice.
} She was standing up, the children gath
cred around her preparatory to their dis
missal at noon, when the door opened and
Vicar of Chippendale entered, followed
1 by gentleman.
"Good morning, Miss Urmson," he
said, shaking hands with her and nodding
to the children. II am glad you have not
3 dismissed your scholars, as / wished my
? friend to see them. [ cannot myself stay
5 to give any information about them, but
5 if you will kindly tell him about them
t shall feel very much obliged. Mr.. Har-
vey, Miss Urmson."
Startling and unexpected as the meet
ing was, Bel did not lose her self-po-
session. The coolest, stiffest inclination
of her head acknowledged the introduce
ton, then she turned aside and remained
silent, with ringing In her ears that al
| most deafened her, and mist before her
} eyes which inded her to everything
save the face of John Harvey. But pres
emily she saw by the children's move
ments that the vicar was leaving; she
heard his retreatlng footsteps, and, after
a pause, she said:
/ Children, you may 60"
/ Quietly and decorously they trooped
4, out of the room, but not until after their
3 footsteps had died away did she turn to
5 John Harvey.
t "Why did you come here?" she asked.
l II certainly did not come here with any
idea that should see YOU" he replied
5 Il need hardly assure you that had
known of your presence here L should
5 have avoided coming to Chippendale al
together"
''Then you would still shun Ine?"
II would. 1t is the wisest, the only
course I can pursue.
She was silent, debating within herself
whether to bid him go and pursue the
same conrse again or to detain him and