Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1888-05-03

|
Three years are not much! A mere
spot on the ages. A bagatelle of weeks
and months frittered away in frivolity
and trifing.
Three years are an age! A heavy
leaden period stamped upon life into
| which is crowded so much of mental
pain and anguish that the rest of that
life ought to be sunshine and flowers
to compensate for their misery.
These three years following the de-
parture of Frank Duncan in disgrace
from his uncle's home had been to
Helen Morley ioyiess years Of silent
suffering, unshared by sympathetic
heart, Unspoken to a plying ear. She
had suffered in silence, and had tried
to walk her allotted path with OUT
ward composure. And old John Dun
can, though he had been more tender
and solicitous of her welfare than ever,
saw that he could do but little to light
en- her burden of sorrow.
But John Duncan had gone now.
There was no longer even his loving
care to shield Helen from her own
misery.
1t had been but few weeks since
the old man bad blessed Helen with
his dying breath and then passed
away. She was sole possessOr of his
wealth.
Frank Duncan had been summoned,
but was somewhere abroad, pursuing
his igniS fdtuuS in the shape of fortune
and Elsie Courtois.
He had lost sight of the French girl
with whom he had become infatuated
about the time his uncle dismissed him
angrily from his house. Following up
a clew he overlook her in Paris.
1t was chance meeting in one of
the gay streets of the French city. The
young man was wild with Joy as he
espied her coming towards him. He
rushed towards her with far more of
enthusiasm than discretion.
Elsie drew back in surprise at his
ELUSIVE greeting.
Have you forgotten all the past,
then, Elsie?" asked Frank bitterly, as
he saw by her cool demeanor that she
had changed.
.'Oh no; never forget" said Elsie.
''Did you not get my letter at the
time l left my uncle's?" said Frank re-
proachfully.
''Oh yes, received your letter, and
one from your uncle about the same
time, in which he informed me that
you were no longer his heir, but IA
beggar, said the young woman laugh
ing aloud.
"Good heavens. Elsie! can it be
that you are mercenary, then? [ did
not think"
mo; suppose you thought l could
marry a beggar, just as we'll as not,
and continue to work at millinery for
my living, and for yours, too, per-
haps?" said the girl lightly.
FElsie, hear me. 1t is not too late
Nv uncle, am sure, has not cut me
off in his will. VIII you not return
with me, and for the sake of the past
let me call you my own Elsie-my
wife?"
'.Hush? said the girl warningly, as
man approached. II could do moth
ing of the kind. Let me present you
to my husband. nj. Fennel."
And to his intense disgust and NOR
LITIGATION Frank found himself the
next instant in the embrace of viva
cious and voluble Frenchman.
The new view of the lovely siren in
her cOarseness and her mammOn-
| W vi Oil IOSCllC1 VIII I1GI Dl CSGIlUd-
ton of q heavy vulgar man past mid
dle-age as her husband, formed COM
binatOn of circumstances that
completely disenamoured Frank Dun
can and he fled precipitately as soon
as released from the mans clutches,
amid peals of laughter from the giddy
French girl, and cultural adieux from
her male companion.
Old Mr.. Somers sat in his dingy little
law-office, scratching his ear with his
pen and glancing occasionally at
letter he held in his hand.
The letter was from Frank Duncan,
ana informed the lawyer that he,
FE ok Duncan, would call upon him
in day or two on business relating to
his deceased uncle's will.
1.-The young scamp must not know
that Helen is the possessor of the old
mans estate. He will be counting her
for her money, and he don't deserve
such a girl, any way" said Somers
with Il growl. ''And, worse than all,
to think John Duncan has fixed it in
such shape that-but I'll deceive him
little"
The Gruff old lawyer had in sense
| taken Helen in his care since Mr.. John
Duncan's death, and watched her well
fare with 4 jealous eye; SO when Frank
presented himself, he said brusquely:
You are cut off without cent,
young man, and you deserve it."
Frank colored, but felt the justice of
the rebuke; but he ventured:
''And Helen Miss Morley?"
ooh. she is provided with moder-
ate annuity. The rest goes, l believe,
to some titution-ahemm said the
lawyer choking a little at the lie.
THANK God!' said Frank impul-
sively.
The old lawyer sprang TO his feet in
4 passion, and facing the astonished
young fellow, shouted:
You thank God, then, that she is a
beggar, too, do your
Il am glad that may 90 to her and
comfort her, and be to her what | once
was, without suspicion that l come
from mcrcenary motives" said Frank
eXultantly.
"Ahem! That's all right, young
man. But you must be aware that
your past conduct doesn't recommend
you very highly. L speak plainly, for
Helen Morley is my ward"
Frank WINGED under this lash, but
all the same he was resolved to bear
it in silence. for the scales had fallen
from his eyes now, and he remembered
tritling incidents in their lives -Helens
and his own-which led him to believe
that he had thrown away pearl. He
| would seek To recover If aUaip aod