Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1888-09-13

mansion" added w airing, Laughing.
His laugh wls still frank and pleasant
81 hope your partner is an honest man, :"
quoth Mr.. Craig.
81 hope so too. Indeed, believe he IS.
He comes Of a respectable English family,
and has been accustomed to the life of
rancho since his early boyhood. He is a
first-rate Judge of cattle and horses; and If
he had not much money capital to put into
the venture, he contributes what is quite
as valuable-knowledge and practice"
seEh, I'm &c that sure. There's as much
danger as profit sometimes in the knowl-
edge of penniless men,"
"Oh, Watson is not penniless; and he is
really very good fellow"
''That is Fortunate said Mona, forcing
herself to join in the conversation. 81 sup
pose you have no other companion"
''None. a chance traveller asks for hos
pitality now and then, but he never stays
long"
sit must be a lonely life, though should
not dislike it," said Kenneth.
st certainly dc not. There's freedom and
plenty of work, and when night comes one
is too tired for anything but good nights
rest
"And daur say you are MAR peaceful
and content to be AVA frae yon pow-soW-
die o. conceited fules and grinning cheats
they ca the great world, - said Uncle Sandy,
viciously.
ooh, human nature is pretty much the
same in the wilderness or in the world of
social life,'' said Waring, good-humoredly.
at would be but poor philosophy to cry
out against the world have left because
= l,a foo Il ha
if l threw away my fortune. There are as
many good fellows-or as few good fellows
in one state of life as another"
Il believe that" said Kenneth. 81
should like well to see your place. Mr..
Waring"
"Why don't you come out for bit It
is sort of life you would like. L think"
''Eh, but he has his work cut cot for him
herer' cried Uncle Sandy. He'll find it
best to bide WI me. Moo, tell me how
mony head o. cattle haveye forbye horses?"
And the three men plunged into talk,
from which Mona collected that Warning
had invested almost all the capital left him
after much wild extravaganza and fool
ish speculation-in a ranch near the fam
Gus redwoods on the Pacific coast, and
that, as yet, he had realized very little,
though his hopes were high, and he had
evidently thrown himself energetically into
the undertaking.
She kept silence gladly. Waring' s
presence-his steady composure, his quiet
submission to the inevitable-touchedh her
deeply. She longed to cry out
"Have you forgiven me? Can I atone
for the pain Inflicted"
But most probably he had nearly forgot
ten that he once loved her, and hoped to
pass his life with her. She painted to be
alone, to disentangle her thoughts-to
master the disturbance of her mind.
AS they seemed SO absorbed in converse
ton, Mona thought she might slip away
unobserved; but her uncle noticed her
movement.
''Bide a bit, my lassier' he cried. eve
have sat here lang enough; We'll a. come
VII We to the drawing-room. You shall
sing US a sang, and then I'll gang AVA to
my bed. My niece sings fine, Mr.. War
ing" he added, as he took Mona's arm.
II know that Mr.. Craig" returned War
ing, opening the door for them to pass
through; 81 remember her songs Well"
Mona felt that she blushed crimson,
while she said, in low tone, to her uncle
Il have scarcely any voice to-night-do
not ask me to sing"
"Hoot, toot, my dearie! you'll please Us
weel"
Mona stood a moment irresolute after
Uncle Sandy had tumbled into the depths
of his chair. Warning came to her side. and
looking kindly, and perhaps little sadly,
into her eyes, said
Don't refuse, Miss Craigi You don't
know what treat the music of woman's
voice is to an exile like myself, especially
as in few days shall go back to the wilds
again"
'Then I will do my best" returned
Mona, simply and she went to the piano.
The song she choose was pretty, quaint
German ditty she had learned while abroad
for she did not wish to revive painful re-
collections by singing anything that might
be familiar to Warning. He moved away,
and sat in deepest thought while he listen
ed.
"Aweel, that's not ane o. my favorites.
l am not much of a musician-my oppor-
tunities have been scant-but l have an
uncommon guide ear" said Uncle Sandy.
"Give us a Scotch sang my dearier'
'>if am not presuming too far,' said
Waring, coming over to lean on the piano,
"Might ask for an oil favorite-'Robin
Adair?'p
GAY, that viii do" from Uncle Sandy.
81 need not have been so careful to spare
his feelings" thought Mona. 81 am MAX
attempted it." she said aloud; "but 1 will
try it if you Ike
1t was dreadfully annoying, but she
could not steady her voice. She could not
keep a certain tremulous pathos out of her
notes. Men were so conceited-they had
such high opinion of themselves, that
perhaps Leslie Warning would fancy, as
she was so upset at meeting him, that she
regretted having rejected him. All, no;
he was too frank and honest, too simple
and unselfish, to need the guarded treat
ment Lisle required. Lislel why, he was
not comparable to Leslie Waring. What
wonders time and trouble had done for the
latterl
''Thank you," said Warning, from his
chair in shadowy corner, where he had
retreated when she began the song he had
asked for. THAT was an immense treat"
"Ay, there's nae music like Scotch music,
nor is there any sangs for melody an
poetry, an spirit, an'-an' historical value,
like Scotch sangs," said Uncle Sandy.
4 believe the Irish claim Robin Adair'
as their own" said Mona.
Claim it! l daur say they do" said
Uncle Sandy, contemptuously. They'd
aye claim everything; but If that lit isna
Scotch, aweel, Il am no Scotch. Come, give
me your arm, Mona, I'll just gang to my
bed. Pm awful weary"
Then may be Mr.. Warning would like a
smoke with me in the kitchen. think we
will have it all to ourselves in a few min
uteS," said Kenneth
'Thank you, should. One grows a lit
10 TOO fond oF 1,-oaI vx-ba-1 ono iS fraa5