Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1888-11-15

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you mean by meddling with my affairs
Haven't got along pretty well without
yoLr help for nigh eighty years? I have
a mind to shake you till your frousy hair
stands on end"
"Don't abuse my hair, Cousin Sarah,r
said the meddler, glad to create diver
sion, "for as the old nursury rhyme says:
| God has made them so.'"
"And I suppose you'll tell me that He
made you a busybody about other peo-
pies matters. Well, all I've got to say is,
pretty spot Of work He made of you. If
L choose to die here by myself, what is
that to your"
'It's nothing &c me when I see YOU in
such a fair way to get well, Cousin Sarah
Miss Fontaine was not easily brow
| beaten-but it is great deal to me when
you are i'll; SO much that I promise you
| not to leave one stone unturned to bring
Lewis home to take care of you"
| "Ha, Lewis! Your guilty conscience
brings you to the confessional at once.
Well, Busy Fontaine, l hate your busy
ways, but l must suy you are q woman of
spirit. and I admire you for that. I've
sent for that red haired girl who has
made fool of Lewis, but I've no idea
she'll venture within the sound of nv
voice"
At this moment Mrs. Frost's soft-feot-
ed maid opened the door and announced
"Miss Amabel Gray, madam"
To Miss Eonteine's Infinite amuse-
ID ent, the old lady was quite abashed
and sufficiently thrown off her guard to
offer her visitor a seat in a tone almost
courteous. Perhaps it was because she
had just expressed her conviction that
the girl would not come but il is more
likely that it was the unex pecsed effect
of Amabelis stately young beauty upon
her. Amy was simply but richly dressed,
and carried herself with the grace and
dignity of a young princess. She bowed
in distant ackno wle0gment Of her hostess
reception, and said, in tone of cold in
difference, that she had come in accord
ance With the request received from Mrs.
Frost the day before.
eyes," cried the old lady. shaking off
her unusual backwardness, II sent for
you 60 read you letter; did you bring
one in your pocket"
81 did not, madam" answered the girl;
she did not abate one jot of the duchess
in her OWE right air, but Miss Fontaine's
keen eye saw tell-taie spot OF color rise
in each cheek. Evidently Amy held the
cue to the grandmother's mystery. The
old maid gave herself little pinch
through her glove. "Why couldn't you
let this mess alone, Busy Fontane?" she
questioned herself, severely; 'syou've
gone and put your foot in it, sure's you
are born.
"But you've got one that wasn't intend
ed for you" pursued the keen-eyed old
lady, peering under Amabel's soft
brimmed leghorn. Miss Gray's silence
was not the sort that gives consent; the
elevation Of her chin said plainly:
81 do rot answer lmpertinent ques
tions."
"Oh, very WE'LL" said Mrs. Frost, after
waiting for the answer that WIS not
forthcoming, s'if you can keep what
comes TO you, SO I suppose can l." and
she drew from little escritoire st her
side bulky looking envelope, addressed,
as her visitors could see as she held it up,
to Mrs. Sarah Sorrel Frost, in large,
clear hand.
'You must KNOW" she said, her dan
gerous looking eyes twinkling with grim
humor, ''that my CORES pondent is very
fond of me; perhaps you will think him
extravagantly fond of such an ugly old
woman. But hear this letter. He be-
stopped and glanced at Miss Gray and
the gill gave an irrepressible little start
forward, as if to seize the letter, but re-
strained herself and sat not only quiet
now, but rigid, like some young Indian
brave undergoing torture.
81 have just received" continued the
reader, "a letter from that dear, med die
some old maid, Miss Busy Fontaine.
There was another little silence, while
the invalid paused to enjoy Miss Fon-
taine's dire confusion. "She says my
grandmother is very ill and begs me to
come back to her. You may imagine
what perplexity this throws me into. To
come back now brands me in the eyes of
the world, mean my world of friends
and acquaintances in Granville, do mer-
ceuary wretch, who is not willing to be
reconciled to his only relation short of
100000" ("Humph, he rates it high"
ii aculated the reader.) 'And 1 am not
Indifferent to the opinion held of the
man whom the sweetest woman who
e'er drew breath has promi ed to mar
ry." Miss AmabeI's hands were
clenched in the lace folds of her gown,
but she gave no other sign.) "And
yet, l despise myself for stopping to
think OF self. or any thing except my
dear old granny, sick and alone. For
do love her dearly for all she has been
to me, and I am coming, dearest; will
reach Granville almost as soon as this
does. l trust I may be able to soothe her
last days. As far as the money, do not be-
lleve we will have any trouble about that;
grandmother said she would leave me out
of her will and she always keeps her word.
But if it should come to me, promise to
give It all to the Home for the Aged, while
you an L"
'The rest of the letter." said the old
grandmother, laying it on the coveriet,
Il have not read" but somehow the
fierceness was gone out of her cracked
voice, and a piteous tremulousness had
taken its place. Amabel rose to her feet
and stood irresolute; she felt sorry for
Lewis poor old grandmother; she was
eager to ask for the letter that, of course,
had been written to her and put into the
wrong envelope, but pride held her fsst.
"Miss Amabel Gray" said the lady, ct
last, and Miss Busy Fon.aine Was startled
into fancying there was touch of ten
derness in the voice, 'do you think yon
and Lewis are behaving prettlly in brow
beating an old woman In this way, when
you know little humbling of your pride
would have given her back happiness and
her boyf"
There was sudden impulsive move
ment, soft rustic of the silk gown, and
AmabeI's pretty RED head was down un-
der the old grandmother's hand on the
bedside.
81 want my letter." said the girl pres
emily, rrising bright tear stained face.
II want my boy, was the happy answer,
and suddenly the soft-footed maid open
ed the door again, this time to admit an
unannounced visitor-Lewis. He had
just reached Granville; had stopped first