Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1888-11-15
HISS BUSY FONTAINE.
Her Successful Efforts in the Role Of a
IfIaIrnr

| q
maker.
OF course that YVES not her real anne
No sponsors in baptism would have per-
| petrated such joke upon her baby help
lessness. She was christened Elizabeth
! Eell Fontaine; but being too small at the
time for the weight Of such an aristocrat-
IL name she became and remained for
twenty five years, Lizzie Fontaine. The
changing Of her first name, instead of
her last, seemed an unacountabie freak
of fortune, for Lizzie was reasonably
pretty and was clever, and with en- airy
brightness SO agreeable in women, and at
the farthest possible removed from that
tart cieverness which is not agreeable in
any body, least Of all in young ladies.
Ny own private theory about her unwill-
ingness TO marry is that she was too in
tensely romaAtic; and that, like many
another girl who makes light of senti-
ment with her lips while she worships
it in her heart, the image of some ex-
pected knight on white horae, some i'm
possible Sir Galahad, put her out of con
ceit with everyday young men,
Be that as it may, Lizzie gave Up quite
early the thought Of matrinony and be-
gan to Geyote herself with fierce ardor to
Bepevolence (aiways with a capital b as
a vocation. And somewhere back in the
dawn of that plan of life, she began to be
called-for her fussy little ways, her con-
slant scheming, her inevitable bazars,
her perpetual Sunday school picn1cs, her
troublesome Christmas tree-Miss Busy
| FOntaine. But it was far from being a
| term of reproach: the little world OF Gran
vile village made good-natured jokes at
Mss Busy Fontaine'a expense, and never
theless furthered her plans and knew it
could not get on without her.
| 'Why In the world can't you come to
| see people at decent hours, Miss Busy? I
haven't had any breakfast yet, and 1 have
come down without putting any finishing
touches to my toilet" But in spite of
this bitter reproach, pretty Amabel Gray
| kissed her visitor on both cheeks with an
unmistakable welcome.
II was in hurry, child-always am; if
waited till lazy folks were ready TO see
me I'd get nothing done. Bot / didn't
come to give you lecture on early ris-
ing. Amy; old Mrs. Frost is very SICK
If painting her fresh young cheeks was
oue of the things Miss AmabIe had neg
lected that morning it was no longer
necessary. Her visitors words brought a
sudden flame to her face, and one might
have fancied that the fire this glow came
from, flashed up in her brown eyes too.
"Did you get out of bed so early to tell
NE that?" she asked with scorn in her
soft voice; ''truly, that YVES a work of
upererogatian.'
"Amabel, the old lady is i'll, tell you,"
said the other severely.
And I tell you don't care if she has
the small pox."
"Oh, you wicked girl! Do you think
Lewis has no feeling for his grand
mOtherip
"I've no doubt he adores her,"
Miss Busy Fontaine was baf1ed. She
had come to get Amabel to write to her
lover that his old grandmother was des-
perately sick, and the girl met her with
such fierce sarcasm that it seemed use
LEES to ask her. Two years before this
time Lewis Frost had told his grand
mother of his great happiness in having
gained sweet Amy Gray's promise to be
his wife, and the cantankerous old lady
had declared in most unladylik fashion
| that If he married that red haired girl ne
should pot have a cent of her fortune.
| Not that Amabel was red headed-oh,
dear, no; but you might perhaps call her
hair tawny, that's the way poets put it.
| Now, Lewis ostensible profession was
engineering, bpt being declared heir of
his grandm others fortune, he really did
nothing but sit at the foot of her table,
drive her clipped horses, entertain her
guests, and, in short, wait on her pleasure.
Perhaps she thought he would give up his
lady love, as he had given up smoking
cigarettes, at her bidding. But she was
vastly mistaken. Lewis was, after all, a
manly fellow, tt ough Dame Fortune had
tried hard to take all the bones out of his
character. He baoe his grandmother a
respectable farewell, had tender part
ing with his sweetheart, and went far
West with party of engineers. He had
been back once In Two years, to kiss Amy
and beg her not 70 forget him. He might
| then have had, for the asking, his old
GRANDMOTHER forgiveness and her con-
sent TO his marriage, but Amy vowed she
would never marry man who asked any
| womans consent to his choice and Lewis
WAS we'll pleased with her spirit.
"No, know it's none of my business"
answered Mrs. Busy Fontaine when
| Amabel reproached her for meddling,
| "but you know I can never keep my flu
gers out of other peoples pies. 1 am
| dreadfully sorry for that lonely harsh old
| woman. Lewis absence hes broken her
| heart. She was wrong, of course, bit, oh,
my dear, don't We all do wrong! Yes, I
know you think she has made you and
Lewis suffer, but you may be sure she has
| suffered ten times rs much herself. It
seems to me that if had a brave, true
| lover like Lewis, would be so happy and
thankful, and so sorry for ever ybody
lees fortunate, that I could not harbor
an unkind thought-not even towards his
grandmother.
The dear old maids eyes were full of
| earnest tears and several bright drops
| from Amy's answered them. 81 believe
/ have been wicked and upgrateful," she
answered with pretty patience; 81 don't
wish it was small pox, but wouldn't mind
| If it was measles"
Miss Busy Fontaine laughed content
eddy. "Then you'll write to Lewis to come
home and see the pocr old lsdy?"
"Ah, no, l can't do that. Don't you see
it would seem as if just wanted him to
come back in time to get her money 2
Dom: ask me, can't indeed"
| Old Mrs. Frost fingered on and got bet
ter, as old people so often do when they
are expected to die; and one day, when
she was able TO sir up in bed, she sent for
Miss Fonraine and Amabel Gray to come
| to see her. The old maid went at once,
with good deal of nervous trembling !;
the young one came near not going at all,
| but proud desire to show her enemy
that she was not afraid of her, also went at
the appointed hour.
| "Elizabeth Fontalne," cried the sick