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

when l don't come back? she Won
dered, her dark eyes dancing as she
pictured their perplexity. They Will
probably decide that I have executed
my threat and run away. They little
know that Firefy is running away
with me-where / have no idea"
But FREELY evidently had a definite
goal in view Suddenly the golden
sea of wild sunfiowers broke against
the high stone wall of an orchard,
and little further on an open gate
swung half across the narrow lane.
Firefiy cantered gaily into the farm
yard, and coming TO 4 standstill, gave
shrill Whitney of satisfaction
Il beg you to excuse me. Ny pony
brought me here I assure Ihad moth
ing whatever to do with the matter, :
Madge laughingly apologised, as they
were confronted by a boy of about
sixteen, in blue-iean overalls. with
very light hair, which contrasted
oddly with his tawny skin and small
light eyes. which expressed all the
amazement of which they were capa-
bic.
The youth eyed the pony sharply,
Ih0h pCtASO 4HCo a SuLd" VI siLI-uoe-
ment.
Its our old pony that pap sold to
Mr.. Graham, down Riverside way, 4
while back. 1t gets homesick and
comes back here when it gets a chance.
If you let it stay an hour or two, it'll
go back to town like lamb"
''But what shall l do?" said Madge
in dismay.
-''Hey some dinner with US, prompt
ly returned the boy. ''We're goin' to
hev comp'ny dinner"
Madge thanked him, and said she
would stay-whereupon she was led to
the kitchen and introduced to ''marm, 5"
large woman with expansive GRIM
son cheeks.
I'm very glad to see you, dear, " said
''marm," beaming ELUSIVE welcome,
land you kin go right into the settin'-
room and visit with Mr.. George.
Madge resigned herself to circum-
stances, and allowed herself to be
whisked into the sitting-room.
A very handsome young man lay
nursing a sprained ankle on a ere
tonne-covered lounge, which was gay
with yellow shepherdesses, on their
way to blue pagodas, bearing baskets
of pink roses, and after a brief intro
duction, the hostess hurried away.
A tremor of surprise seemed to pass
over Mr.. Georges expressive features
as he caught Madge's name and
scanned her bright face; but he said
nothing which any ordinary acquaint-
ance might not have done.
They talked of books, travels, coun-
try life, and a dozen other things,
while the minutes rolled by on little
golden wheels.
Then came dinner, and then another
long conversation on the porch, where
Mr.. George was settled to enjoy the
mellow October sunshine.
At last, when FREELY was Judged to
have fully satisfied her warnings for a
sight of her old haunts, Madge started
for home, after cordial good-byes from
all and request from Mr.. George
that he might be permitted to renew
the acquaintance as soon as his
sprained ankle allowed him to 90 to
Riverside.
She reached home just at the edge
of the purple dusk, and found Clara
awaiting her with kisses and re-
proaches.
When she had returned the one and
disarmed the other by brief eXplana-
ton, she enquired mischievously:
''And what did Mr.. Carlyle think of
my absence?"
~ on wretch! 1 verify believe that
you are enjoying Mr.. Carlyle's fancied
modification! exclaimed Clara" giving
her gentle sisterly shaking. but
Carlyle wasn't here either. A boy
brought q note from him, in which he
said that he had taken an earlier train
so as to stop over night with his old
nurse, who is the wife of a farmer
about twelve miles from town, and
that he sprained his ankle by stone
turning under his foot in the dark, so
that he will not be able to come here
for few days. But what are you
laughing at?" she demanded, as Madge
turned scarlet, then laughed till she
showed signs of imminent choking.
As soon as she could speak, she de-
tailed her adventure at length.
"Of course Mr.. George was really
MI. SdllNlCs DIG Sdltl liz
didn't mention why he was staying at
the farm, but / supposed he was stay
ing there for some reason"
But you will be good, won't you?"
pleaded Clara.
son the whole, l think 1 will, es-
pecially as | like Mr.. Carlyle better
than any other man have ever met"
said Madge, after q pretty, simulated
deliberation of nearly two minutes,
during which period Clara was i'm
paled on the throne of anxiety.
And she kept her promise to the let
ter, when Mr.. Carlyle made his ap-
pearance in his own proper character.
Not a cloud of perversity obscured
the sweet bright ways that were as
natural to her as its hues TO bird of
paradise; and ere long the bud of
mere liking, so uspiciously de-
yeloped that day at the farm, had
opened into the royal-purple blossom
of love.
''Why didn't you tell me who you
really were at frst?" Madge demand
ed one day for the fiftieth time; George
Carlyle had teasingly refused to graft
fly her curiosity on the forty-nine times
previous.
Because Mr.. Winslow had told me
of his letter to your mother; and as
have a sister who is the dearest little
firt in the world, l fancied I was well
enough acquainted with the ways of
girls to know that it was the very
thing to prejudice you against me.
So when my old nurse, who has prob
ably nearly forgotten that L have any
other name, introduced me simply as
Mr.. George was glad of the OPP
nnrtunitv of raininr Enmr acnuaint-