Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1888-02-23
WAS IT FATE?


ately.
She was a sparkling brunette, "a
rosebud set with little willful thorns, :"
whom every one adored in spite of
the thorns.
Don't" pleaded her mother; cousin
Simon Will forgive you almost any
thing, but he viii be seriously Offend
ed if you are rude TO Mr.. Carlyle"
And it's horrId to be regarded
merely as lay-fgure, to which Nj
lord Carlyle may throw his handker-
chief" pouted Madge.
''Madge, dear, you know you are
unreasonable. Cousin Simon only
said that his most earnest wish would
be gratified if the boy and girl he
loved so dearly could love each other, F."
urged her sister Clara gently.
But Madge only tossed her wavy
dark head incredulously, two great
tears dimmed her purple-black eyes,
and she continued to consider herself
highly-abused girl.
Madge was Il hayward but winning
little witch of ten when the Cousin
Simon in question, a distant relative
of her mothers, had taken o great
fancy to her.
He was a crusty bachelor of sixty,
but the chestnut has sound heart be-
Meath its prickly outside, and so had
Simon Winslow.
His liking for Madge increased as
the years went on, and he played the
part of a providence to her, paying
for her tuition at a frst-class boarding
school, and letting his gold gid her
life in q hundred different ways.
A couple of weeks before Madge's
outburst at the breakfast table, he had
written asking them, as a favor to
himself, to entertain young friend
for few days, who wanted to look
after some coal lands of his in the vi
ginity.
George is just recovering from an
attack of fever, is travelling partly for
his health" Mr.. WinslOw wrote, ''and
don't like to trust him to the tender
mercies of your town hotels.
This was all we'll enough. Mrs.
Redfield turned willing assent to the
request. But the mischief was made
when, in the next letter, Cousin Simon
wrote:
little Madge already. He has stolen a
photo of hers, which he declares rep
resents the sweetest and most spark
ling face he has ever seen. The dear
est wish Of my heart would be gratifed
if the boy and girl love so much
could make up their minds to love
each other"
Straightforward Simon Winslow had
no idea that the very way to make a
spoiled beauty dislike man is to in
innate wish that she should do 9th
erwise.
No one had a greater faculty than
impetuous Madge for making noun
tains out of mole hills, and size had
nursed her smouldering indignation
at what she choose to consider Cousin
Simon's summary disposal of herself,
until on the morning OF George Car
lyle's expected arrival it burst into
flames.
She broke out again as she and
Clara were watering the geraniums in
the bay window.
''It's shame that dear old Cousin
Simon has turned matchmaker! But
| sha'n't humor him by falling in love
with his paragon she snapped,
tWitched fine pink blossom off a ger
anium.
You're nervous, dear" soothed
Clara, laying firm white hand on the
little dimpled one.
just at this point rough sandy
head. belonging to a neighbours little
boy was thrust into the room, and a
voice, choked by a huge bite from a
great red apple, mumbled:
miss Fannie don't want to use her
pony tiis morning, and she says if
either of you would like to ride, you're
welcome to 1t.
Madge's cheeks flushed eagerly, and
she looked up wistfully at Clara.
Eyes, you had better go; twill do
you good. But be sure to get back
for dinner" said Clara, answering the
silent appeal of Madge's lovely eyes.
You're an angel, and I'm wicked
sulky girl" said Madge, hugging her
sister impetuously.
ga rather cloudy day, dear, just at
present." returned Clara; "but hope
the crisp October breezes will blow
the clouds away, and that you will be
y
you return from your ride.
Clara's wish was realized. Madge
was as radiant as the day itself when,
after a brisk canter, she decided it
was time to return.
But Firefy had evidently not yet
reached the same conclusion, for she
shook her shaggy little head impa-
tiently, whirled around, and cantered
briskly onward.
"Why, FREELY, we must 90 home"
coaxed Madge, again heading tie
pony in the direction of the village,
and tapping its glossy side sharply
with her riding whip.
But the demon of obstinacy seemed
to nave entered the little beast. She
spun around again, and rushed at a
group of scrub oaks by the road side,
with the evident intention of brushing
her rider off against the rough, low-set
branches.
Madge thwarted this design, and
then the final struggle began.
She first tried to coax the pony into
good humor with some clOyer-hay
that had fallen from a farmers wagon.
FREELY ate the tempting wisp with rel
ish, then calmly persisted in going
forward; and when Madge lad her
fairly turned again, she began to leap
and kick, as though she had lost her
much-tried patience upon discovering
that firm but quiet persistence was not
going to enable her to have her own
way, and Madge gave up the battle.
FREELY tossed her head joyfully, and
cantered on up the long, winding. yei-
low road.
I'll r;Ir-o.. ,aaa1 &c I..-o-l4 -. L.. -. e-