Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1888-06-28
CHAPTER Vulcan ACCIDENT.


| partners worked steadily through all.
| They had CLEANS of diversion too, for
| Nine. Debrisay had friends and acquaint-
| ances of her own profession who often gave
| her tickets for concerts, and orders for the
| theatre. These were amusenents of which
Mona had enjoyed but little during heI
| residence with her grandmother, whose
| fixed principle it was never to pay for any.
thing Of the sort. They were source of
great enjoyment, for Mona was peculiarly
| alive to beauty and harmony, and had
j something of the dramatic gift herself
A very hot July had driven away ali
Nine. Dabrisay's pupils. save two or three.
The ranks of Mona's were also thinned
! and both were planning a course of needle
work and reading during the approaching
time of rest.
Mona had been out one morning to do
some small housekeeping errands as Nine.
! Debrisay had headache, and on re-enter-
ing the house with latch-key, was sur
prsed to hear a sound of snarling AMI
/ scuffiing in their sitting-room, the door of
which was open. Going in quickly, she
beheld Nine. Deblisay, her cap slightly
awry, endeavoring to drag a lace shawl
from the fangs of Dandie, who, snarIing
and yelping, held on like grim death,
stretching the shawl to it's fullest length,
and dancing backward, while she struck
at him Intellectually with small hearth
! brush.
'DidbEe de bete!'' she exclaimed. "Keep
away from him, Mona. believe he is 60
| ing mad"
81 believe he is only frightened and an
| CRY. Let it 90, and probably he will, too"
! Thus diverting Mime. Debrisay's atten-
| ton, she relaxed her grasp. The dog gave
! a vigorous pull, and trotted trlumphantly
| with the lace in his mOuth-head and tail
! erect-intO the hall, where he proceeded to
| tear it vehemently.
| "Just look at that! The only decent
| thing | have to put on my shoulders when
! 90 out. Get away with you, you cur?'
| "a thrust of the brush-"CalI him off,
| Janer' another thrust-"Take that
| throwing the brush at him finally.
This routed the foe. He jumped back,
| and Mona quickly snatched up the shawl.
"Me beautiful ChantiIly shawl" al
| most wept Nine. Dabrisay. 81 got it at a
sale the last year you were with us in
| Paris. Thirty-five francs seventy, and it's
worth two hundredl 1t was as good as
| new. ] will not live in the house with
| such brute!'
Il am sure, ma'am," said the landlady,
| coming in, Il am that sorry-I don't know
| how TO express it. l don't know what's in
the dog. He is always trying to run up
| here, as If he knew it worried YOU"
Il have no doubt he does" returned
Nine. Debrisay, examining her lace.
"Look here! There's tear for you! Here's
anotherl It's just ruined"
81 think can mend it, DEAR" said Mona.
| syDlpathetically.
Now. Mrs. Puddiford," insisted Nine.
| Debrisay, impressively, to her landlady,
| 81 give you your choice-either that savage
| brute leaves the house, or will. Be sure
| you explain matters to Mr.. Rigden this
night. and let me know the result. Either
he sends away his dog-or goes away with
his dog-or Miss Craig and l go, this day
| l0GeEi' tragically.
| 81 will, ma'aml-I willI'' shifted the lit
| tie landlady. 81 foresee a heap of trouble
| Mr. Rigden-he is that obstinate and
! touchyr
The landlady retired, pressing the corner
of he~ buster to her eyes; while the yelps
of the dog were heard from below, where
he was being tied up.
TIE next day was stormy, with heavy
thunder-showers, and Nine. Debrisay
| would not hear of Mona taking journey tt
| town in search of materials to repair the
| damage done by the delinquent Dandie
! Moreover. a council of war had to be held
Mr. Rigden was observed that morning
| to draw his umbrella from the stand witt
a degree of violence which upset all the
| other umbrellas and sticks, and banged
the front door with a rccklessness which
was in itself cGSus beLIt. Soon after
Mrs Puddiford appeared with a ruefn
countenance.
"Welpm, have spoken 10 Mr.. Rigden
He is noways inclined to hear reason!'
"He wouldn't be man if he did, unless
it were on his own sideI' calculated mad
ame.
| "Hespoke most disrespectful, +" continued
the landlady, beginning to play with the
corner of her apron. He said he would
stand no more id nonsense Them was
his words, ma'am), anu was sorry he had
just begun month, as he would have to
| pay for it Che is monthly TENANT; that he
would look out for rooms and as soon as
ever he found another place, free from
| cantankerous old women, he'd leave, if he
forfeited fortnight's rent. fam sorry to
say he so far forgot himself, but them was
his very words, ma'am."
4
Of the slightest consequence whether Mr.
| Rigden considers me old and cantankerOUs
or not. l congratulate you on getting rid
of a troublesome. iII-bred inmatel'
The next day was bright and fresh after
the thunder, and Mona having given a
lesson in Gloucester Place early in the af-
ternoon, went on TO Regents Circus to
match the lace. intending TO make mad
ame's shawl as good as new.
Having done her shopping, she crossed
to the other side. and walked little way
toward Tottenham Court Road, hoping to
find room in an omnibus without having
To struggle at the regular stopping-place.
Presently Royal Oak omnibus came up,
and paused before she hailed it. Mona
fastened to enter as soon as an elderly
and somewhat decrepit-looking man had
descended, with the help of stick and a
baggy umbrella.
The omnibus moved on before the old
gentleman had one foot clear of the step
and he fell prone on the damp, profusely
watered ground. The driver of a hanson
could hardly draw up quickly enough to
prevent his horse FROM trampLng on the
PROSTATE figure, which seemed unable to
recover the perpendicular.
, Mona, by a natural impulse, bent down
to assist him, and bury policeman sOon
! set him on his feet.
mo bones broke" he said. cheerfully,
feeling his legs and arms. Here's your
, stick ana umbrella. You go into the con-
! fectioner's there, and take summat. You
r will be as right as trivet in five minutes"
! So saying, he proceeded on his stately
march, leaving the sufferer standing, with
! difficulty supporting his trembling self on
his stick, and looking round him with a