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

! together! Mona felt unaccountably I'M
/ happy, and, laying her fair head on the
| pillow, she wept long and quietly before
| sleep closed her wet eyes.
CHAPTER X1Tv.-MAN PROPOSES
! Morning brought renewed spirit and
/ fresh courage.
| Mona could not help smiling at the sin
! gular combination of circumstances which
| brought her once more face to face with
the man whose wife she had so nearly been.
It was foolish to feel so uncomfortable
about meeting him. AS he was perfectly
unembarrassed, she was resolved to imi-
tate his composure, and treat him with
friendly cordially. He deserved consider
alton at her hands, for he had behaved to
her with chivalrous forbearance.
Still, she did not leave her room quite so
early as she usually did. She was determ-
med to run no unnecessary risk of tete-a-
/ tete interview
Uncle Sandy and, Kenneth were already
in the dining-room when she entered, and
went through the ceremony OF infusing
/ the tea before her uncle began the long,
rambling, eXtemporary prayer with which
he always opened the day. They had hard
ly risen from their knees, when Warning
came in and wished the party good-morn-
| ing
81 hope you rested weel?'' said Uncle
Sandy
| 81 was extremely comfortable, but L
dreamed furiously," he replied 81 seemed
to have lived over my whole life since we
parted last night. I hope the strain of
| Scotch blood in my veins has not developed
a tendency to second sight, now that am
in my mothers native land for have had
quite awful warnings in my visions Some
disaster hangs over me. However, that
is nothing new, and suppose I shall live
| through many more before [ have done
with things"
''Shall 1 give you tea or coffee, AIr. War
ing?" asked Mona.
Coffee, please"
He turned toward her, and suddenly
meeting her eyes, the color rose in his
! brown cheek.
'Were your dreams in the morning?"
she made haste to ask, anxious to hide her
own confusion by speaking.
''Yesl 1t was daylightwhen Invoke from
the last and worst"
"Then be of good courage. The evil in
your dreams will prove good in disguise,
and you will get your wish"
''Thank you! I accept the omen from
your lips"
"Are ye no for parritch?" asked Uncle
Sandy. cts varra wholesome and strength
min"
''Thank you, no. This hare pie is excel
lent"
81 wish Mary Black were here" observed
Mona to Kenneth.
''She is little witch for reading dreams
and telling fortunes!'
Gay, she's a witch That is fiery true,
| Mona"
"Unclel" cried Mona, "may ask Mary
Black to come and stay here again? Ihave
not seen a female face for months"
eyes; you can ask her. She is varra
welcome. It's nice blithe lassie," ex-
planned Mr.. Craig to Waring, "and sings
as sweet a lit as you'd hear anywhere"
''Sorry have so little chance of seeing
, her, sir. My time grows short"
''Hoot, toot, monl You can stay till next
week.
! 81 am afraid I am too unfortunate to be
able to accept your kind hospitality. Ihave
| business in London, and l want to take the
| Cunard boat on the 11th."
81 dinna like to let you go. Well talk
ABBOTT it, you an me! Kenneth, is it going
| to be fine the day?'
81 think there will be showers"
''You may be tolerably sure of that, Ken
neth," said Mo q.
| az want to taxi Mr.. Warning round the
place, and let him have CLINT at Strath-
airlie.''
"Strathairlie?" repeated Warning. "Had
not Finistoun shooting hereabouts?"
''He has deer forest-a great stretch Of
unreclaimed land, whaur hundreds of hon
est sheep ought to be grazing, instead of
its being playground for hantle o. feck-
less nobles," quoth Uncle Sandy.
Warning, however, was too much occu-
pied with his own thoughts to heed him.
Didn't Finistoun marry one Of the
Eyerard's?" he asked-''a very pretty grip
"Weel, she is a bonnie wee wife," said
Uncle Sandy; land, though she is a bit
feckless, didna object to her coming to
see Mona But they are cauld, stiff, up
settin' family! 1t was weel for Mona she
found guide, kind uncle to TAX her in
when yon Everard folk pit her oot!'
Warning glanced sharply at Mona, who
/ colored with YeXation, and said, haughti-
| 1y-
''It is not necessary to trouble Mr.. War
ing with our family quarrels.'
whats wrang VII YEP" asked her uncle
in some surprise.
'You have capital sport about here, Isup-
pose?" said Waring, as if anxious to change
the subject.
''Yes-rod or gun, it's all the same. You
can fish or shoot the iYelong dayr' cried
Kenneth, enthusiastically Sir st. John
Lisle said he never saw birds more album
dant."
| "Lisle?" repeated Warning, quickly, adj
dressing Mona. II thought he was in In
dia!''
''He returned on the death of relation,
whom he succeeded" answered Mona,
| briefly.
| There was ashort pause. Then Kenneth
proposed that he should take Mr.. Waring
for round of the place, and along the
road toward the Lodge, before dinner; and
that after it uncle should show his guest
the garden, the farm yard, and the stables.
They were still discuss ing their plans
when Mona rose to visit Phemie, and hold
high counsel anent dinner. She felt it
relief to escape Warnings eyes, though he
rarely looked at her; and his voice, which
| had in it. to her fancy, tinge of melan-
choly, that filed her with self-reproach.
| So, having completed her task down stairs,
she went to her own room. Then, finding
! that the walking to and fro and sound Of
| voices had ceased, she concluded the pedes-
TRANS had started, and went to the draw
| ing-room, intending to dust some few
| pieces of old china she had persuaded her
uncle to buy while they were on their tray
| els, with her own fair hands.
! She had hardly commenced when ap-
preaching footsteps startled her, and War
] Two norr1a into loa o~o6 oil a