Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1888-08-23

feel the money was my own"
Great heavensr' calculated Lsle "And
you preferred this to marrying a man Of
wealthr
You must know how delicious the sense
Of independence is. Do you think woman
cannot feel it too?''
And does love count for nothing.
Mona laughed.
eyes, l suppose with the real upper class
Of human beings, II counts for a good deal
It is part of the sum, however, I have not
yet worked out Tel me sometling of
your indian life. You see Ireciprocate the
interest you take in my history"
a do not think you reciprocate at all, "
returned Isle, with Wistful look, which
she met steadily, a slightly knocking smile
in her own.
Lisle's brow contracted; but he had a
good deal Of tact and self control, and he
Immediately started light amusing sketch
of his life, so far as society, travelling, and
hunting went, and time flew pleasantly.
She listened with evident interest to all
he said, often questioning him, and so they
drew near the end of their journey-of the
tete-G-tete which Isle had schemed to Sc
cure, and he had not moved her pleasant,
friendly ease by one instant Of hesitation
or confusion. His most unmistakable in
situations, his most killing chances, only
produced half-amused, half-kindly smiles.
Lisle was. furious, mortified, and more
in love than he ever was since his boyish
days. Should he have to tell her in SO
many words that he adored her, and sought
her for his wife, in order to extract any
recognition from her? If she were cold,
if she sarunk from him, or repelled him.
he could understand it, and he would know
how to act; but this frank, charming kind
ness, this readiness to be with him! 1t was
an invisible, impossible fence which ne
did not seem capable of breaking down.
eff l could but ascertain whether | have
a rival or no." he thought, 81 should know
what to do. suspect she is playing a
part. What is her object? To be Lady
Lisle? That would be object enough to
most women; but, though / have long
ceased to believe in angels, Mona is some
thing different, or she never would have
chosen poverty in preference to Warning.
Well, I'll try what cool friendship viii
do, with dash of flirting in other direc-
tions.''
There is the LODGE" he said, pointing
to long, low building, or collection Of
buildings, which lay in q hollow beneath
them, the wild moorland round it, and
some huge gray rocks behind. 1.-THE posi-
ton is not comparable to Craigdarroch,
and it must be cold and bleak enough in
winter. But suppose 10 one stays here
in winter
81 fancy my uncle will" said Mona,
''and l cannot say I like the prospect,
But" as the sound of a rapidly approach
ing carriage made her turn, and she inter-
rupted herself to exclaim-"Rere is Lady
Finistoun and her visitorsi'
$50 glad I have overtaken your' cried
Lady Finistoun, saluting with her whip.
81 wanted to be at home to receive you.
Let us pass Sir st. John"
Lisle 1rew to one side, and whipping up
her ponies, Lady Finistoun dashed on at a
rapid pace.
At the door were assembled Miss Nor
ton, BERTHE Everard, and Herr Won Oetzen,
one of the attaches to the German Embas-
sy. The rest of the party were still in the
forest, and Lord Finistoun had gone deer
stalking.
Lady Finistoun had alighted, and stood
on the steps to welcome Mona, which she
did very cordially, kissing her more than
once, and presenting her to Mrs. Mentieth
as her "dear cousin"
49," said Everart, advancing to shake
hands with her, won have been assigned
to Lisie's care, on rcUicnt t0Uio'rs, eh?'
"Oh, my mission is to lake care of my
SELF" returned Mona, slniIilg Il did not
know you had arrived"
Game last night. Had | known that
Uncle Sandy's lair was between this and
Kirktoun, should have paid you visit
en- route. Well, Mona, and have you re-
covered the Fitzillan episode? The poor
fellow has had "a desperate AFFAIR since.
We have had to buy off the lady! How is
my uncle? Are you the Acknowledged
heiress of Craigdarroch?"
ALAS, mol There is q cousin in the way.
You must assist me to poison him.
with pleasure. We viii arrange the
terms of the desperate deed after dinner"
Come, Mona, the dressing-beI will ring
in a few minutes. You shall have cup OF
tea in your ROOM"
The dinner was pleaSant-eVen noisy, as
most OF the men were young and inclined
to discuss their adventures eagerly. Mona
was taken in by an hOnest-lOoking naval
captain, who made himself very agreeable
and Lisle fell to the lot Of a frisky widow,
with whom he flirted gayly. Everard and
Miss Morton qu2rreIed audibly.
The young heir was paraded, and his
health drank; and after dinner Lady Fin
istoun and her siSter-in-law went up tC
look ct him in his cot. Then Mona was
reminded that she used to sing, and was
/ sent to the piano, where she was surround
ed by some of the gentlemen as soon as
they came in from dinner. The GttGchG
/ complimented her on her rendering a Volk
sled, and talked to her for few moments
in German.
'Then Lisle, who had not been near hel
since they had arrived, came close behind
her, and said, in a low tone
( May I ask you for Tosti's ood-bye
/ Summer 1t is the last song heard yoU
A.! sing"
WAS it?'' said Mona GLOW wen sh'
! remembered that last happy evening a
! the Chased 81 am afraid l can hardl,
! manage it without the music, but l vii
/ try"
She succeeded in singing it sweetly AM
! correctly, but she might have put more eS
! preston in it.
THANK you," said Lisle, shortly.
81 don't think you sing as well as yo1
did. You used to give that in a mucl
more melting style formerlyr' cried Ever
ard.
Sorry I have deteriorated," said Mona
! spontaneously, as she took up her glove
I and left the piano.
The German attGclle sat down unlimited
and after rafting off brilliant moroccan
glided into an inspiring waltz.
After tapping her foot for a minute o
two, Miss Morton boldly invited one of tn
younger men, boyish North~mbria
squire, to dance with her, and they wer
soon gyrating in the hall, the floor of whic
was polished oak, the open door permit
ting the music TO be distinctly heard