Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1888-06-07

sion, dC winch Mrs. NeWDurgA INSISTED her
granddaughter should be present, and
from which the latter gathered that it was
of no use endeavoring TO save anything
out of the wreck-that whatever the I'M
| fortunate shareholders possessed must
| pass into tht ldtches of company's credi-
TORS: a call hal already been made. and
would be followed by others, until all was
| swallowed up 1t was therefore deemed
more prudent for EIrs. Newburgh to reside
in tn house she h:ld bought. than to move
to another for which she would have to
| pay rent. Her income had of course been
narrowe 70 Il miserable eighty or ninety
| pounds q year. and even on that she could
| not long count.
! You see. Mona. the condition to which
we are reduc-d' said Mrs Eewbur iii,
| when their fGjeH;iy couus-lors. with grave
| faces and kindly eEpres5- syiupa ny had
withdrawn. 4 purpo+-iy a,s,,vi yaH to IL
| present at this conferences, that yoa might
| understand the trII6 state OF the case |
| leave you TO draw vuur own conclusions.
| No, dear, do not reopen the discussion. I
| trust to your own common sense and right
| feeling. l am quite exhausted. Ring for
| Nehner to help me to InG room. can sec
no one else to-day-RO une-rel.einbar,
Mona"
| Thus cut of from rerlOnstrance. Mona
| felt she was left to her fate, and Mr.. War
| ing; gIannie was resolved to leave the de
cision-the esponsibility-ta her.
Mrs. Newburgh had not Iong returned
| to her own room, and had just taken some
refreshment, when MIR. Warnings card was
| brought. A strong feeling of humiliation
and disgust rose in Monas heart; the calm
Indifference of which she boosted the pre-
vious day failed her at the moment of trial.
''Do not keep the poor young man wait
ing" said Mrs Newburgh.
"It is frightful having to go deliberately
| to listen to an offer of marriager' cried
Mona, starting up and walking to the win
dow instead of the door.
Il thought you would not mind,''
81 thought so; but will 60, dear gran
ME-"
She came back quickly, kissed the old
woman's cheek, and disappeared.
Mr. Warning stood on the hearth-rug. He
was not so tall as Isle; his broad Shout
ders and rather short nee further dimin-
| ished his height. He was built more for
strength than grace, and though not fat,
was, it must be admitted, fieshy. His hair
was dark, almost black, abundant and
wavy, and his broad, good-humored face
was redeemed from absolute plainneSs by
pair of fine, soft, dark brown eyes He
was in general rudy and fresh-looking,
but the excitement, indeed it may be said
| the terror of the moment, had blanched
his cheeks, till he met Mona's eyes, when
he blushed furiOusly.
She hesitated after she had crossed the
| threshold, and closed the door, standing
| tall, stately, infinitely sad, in the simplest
| mOrning-dress or black silk and cashmere
she possessed, a lace scarf pinned round
| her throat with an old-fashioned brooch
her bright hair turned loosely back sur
mounting her fair pale face like an aureole.
81 am so much, so very much obliged to
! you for seeing mep' exclaimed Warning
| starting forward to take her hand, which
he shook nervOusly, and dropped immedi-
ately. Mona murmured something, he did
not hear what, and sat down beside the fire.
Warning resumed his position on the
! hearth-rug. An awful paused ensued
Mona gazed at the glowing Goals, and
| thought of Lisle's expressive voice and
perfect, easy self-possession. Waring cud-
! geled his brain for some suitable phrase to
| open the dreaded yet longed for converse
| ton. The result was restless change Of
| attitude, and the words, Awful nasty
weather" His voice was strong and harsh.
81 hope you took no cold on your journey
| to town.
"Not q cold; 1 had slight chill" re-
| turned Mona, who had some sense of hum
! or.
"You are amused, dare say" he cried,
| his power of speech unlocked by the magic
OF her smiling eyes; "you must be amused,
| HI
the weather, when my heart and mind are
| filled with hope and fear Tell me, Miss
| Joscelyn, did Mrs. Newburgh show you
my letter."
'She did"
"And will yCu-will you let me tell you
how awfully was taken with you the very
| first time | ever saw you at that Richmond
dinner Lady Mary Everard gave last year
before you were presented, you know?'
"Were you there?" asked Mona, dream
lily.
''Oh, don't suppose you saw me.
never can push. Young Everard and some
other fellows were round you all the time;
| but have thought of you ever since. Do
| you know, last Sc ,~a:'S balls were the first
/ ever went To. t:."u at they were all
| rot like the r;tvi.s- 50 be:f"" | used
to 90 only for the chance Of meeting you
and You would scarcely ever dance with
me. To he sure, l am stupid beggar about
| dancing"
Il think / always gave some Dances"
| said Mona rather ut Il loss what to reply.
'.Oh. YOU were always civilr' exclaimed
Warinr, taking a little cup from the man
tel-pieee and turning il round and round
as ii examining the pattern Not like
| III Iii nj
you RICH. and left You are gentle and
grave. | used to think should never have
the pluck to ask you to marry me, but-a
you see, when Mrs. Newburgh came to
| grief, was ashamed of not offering at least
to be of use to you"
"And are you content that l should ac-
eept you as a refuge from the ills of pow
ertys" asked Mona, looking gravely, calm.
| " at him.
| 81 am" said Waring, after q minutes
pause, putting down the cup, and speaking
more collectedly. Its not pleasant, OF
course, but have faith in you. If you
promise to be my wife, you will try to like
me, and Tll try to please you with all my
soul and with all my strength, as some
body says in the Bible, I think" added
Waring, to enforce his professions-his re:
| igious studies were slight, and somewhat
mixed. ''And it will go hard if l don't get
you to love me, unless-unless." his large
brown eyes grew imploring-''you care for
some other fellow! Cor Gods sake don't
say you love any other fellow! 1 never
fancied you did"
81 do not, indeed" Her tone carried
conviction to her nearer.
"Then-then, Miss Joscelyn, could you
make up your mind to marry me? l think