Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1888-05-24

BY MRS. ALEXANDER.
CHAPTER IA PROPnS Al.

| large neatly strapped cases were piled on
hand truck, stood at one end of the plat
form, in conversation of an amusing de-
scription, for they laughed loud and fire.
quently.
A gentleman, covered from head to foot
in large dark ulster, walked to and fro
| smoking cigar, and peering sharply into
the thick mist which hid the line up to d
few yards beyond the station.
The loose wrap he wore did not conceal
his air of distinction The eyes that
watched so eagerly for the train, were light
steely blue, his coloring was sunburned
brown, somewhat too dark for his hair and
mustache.
Five minutes behind time" he said,
glancing at the clock over the door of the
booking-office, and addressing one of the
two porters who were waiting about.
''It often is, sir! You see they have Of
ten to wait at Brenton for the Altonbor-
ough passengers. It's express after this. "
Look after my luggage. 1t is in the
waiting-room. My name is on it-Captain
Lisle-Pll be back by the six-twenty, and
will not forget you"
''Thank We, sir! I'll take care of it right
enough"
''Two-f1fteen- and here it comesr ex-
| claimed Captain Isle, throwing away his
| cigar as the engine rushed screaming out
of the dim distance, and approaching the
| edge of the platform he peered sharply in
to the carriages.
In a first-class compartment a young
lady sat alone. Lisle proceeded to open
the door.
''Beg pardon, sir" said the urbane
guard. ''This is ladies' carriage -there's
! plenty of room in the next.'
'All right! know the lady; she will
permit me to travel a few miles in her
company. VIII you not?" raising his deer
stalker's cap.
ooh, Captain Lisler' she exclaimed, with
a swift blush. eyes! of course"
Don't cram in any women or babies"
said Lisle aside quickly to the guard,
| pressing some coin of the realm into his
| hand.
"All right, STRIP significantly. Jump
in"
! A shrill WHISTLE and they were off.
81 hope you will forgive my intrusion.
But as had no chance of seeing you after
that telegram came, l thought I would try
to say goodbye en- route'
81 have nothing to forgive; you are very
good to take the trouble I fancied you
you started so early"
I started at that unearthly hour to Sc
cure some private conversation with you"
'Indeedp'
Again q blush, fainter this time, fitted
over the lady's cheek.
Yes. am going to say what may per-
| haps offend you-to interfere where [ GER
tainly have no right, but my sincere inter
est i'll y0u-my-my ardent regret that
! fortune should treat you SO unkindly, urges
me to risk making an ass Of myself"
You puzzle me! feel vaguely there is
| something / do not quite understand be-
| hind this sudden illness Of my poor grand
mother. Everyone seemed so sorry for me
and Lady Mary, who is kindness ITSELF
! said she feared she had lost a great deal of
money. Do tell me what you know You
always seem to me to know everything"
81 wish 1 did not know the present state
of affairs I wish you did not look as
| if those grand eyes of yours had been wide
awake all night"
Again she smiled, a somewhat tremulous
smile this time.
Indeed | could not sleep! I was haunt
ed by the recollection of my many quar-
rels with grannie-whO is really fon& of
me, and has been very, very good to me!
l must try and make up to her for the past"
Il can imagine that Mrs. Newburgh's
rule is of the iron rod order" said Captain
Lisle. Nor do l suppose that yon are too
meek a subject! I fear" he added, grave
ly, softly, THAT terrible reverse awaits
| her-and you. The speculation in wnic,i
| she has invested her whole capital hat
come to grief-and l fear she has lost every
| thing"
| "HOw do you knOW?"
''Sir Robert Everard told me all particu-
lars last night-when the other men had
left the smoking-room. Mrs. Newburgh's
solicitor is also his. The sudden shock has
been too much for her, and brought On a
| feverish attack"
| do you mean to say that we shall have
| no money at alp"
II fear you will not! Everard spoke
| openly to me, knowing the interest [ take
| in you, of which hope you too are aware"
eve have always been very good
friends" she said, shyly, with quivering
| lips.
Eyes! and for that friendships sake
am about to break my usual habit of not
| interfering with what does not absolutely
| concern me-to risk the snubbing you are
| quite capable of administering"
| He paused, and gazed for moment at
the delicate, downcast face opposite to
| him, his brows contracting in sudden
| frown.
"Why should 1 snub your" she asked,
without looking up.
"Wait till I have finished. Will you be-
| iieve me when I say that I was as sleepless
as yourself last night? My fancy-no.
am not an imaginative NANNY expert
ence, depicted all the hardship of your lot,
| for have known difficulties-money diff
| culties; poverty, too, is a hundred-f fold
worse for a woman, a proud, delicately
nurtured woman, like yourself; and for
| you there is no escape, such as a man can
| find in a good appointments hope for one
| myself in India before many weeks are
| over"
! But women can work, too" she said,
wonderingly. why do you try to brighten
me-"
Because want you to seize the only
way of escape that offers.''
| Escape? How?"
Hear me Quit | am going to rush in
| probably like fool-where angels might
| hesitate to tread; but know what life is,
| and must open your eyes. After Everard
| had told me all he knew, 1 went to my
room, and Warning, who had been doing
| over an evening paper"
WAS he confident of our troubles, too?"
| she interrupted, with slight curl of the
lip
He was-that need not affect you.
| Warning followed, and asked for a few
words with ME. You know what a shy,
awkward fellow he is. Well, l was amazed
| at his clearness and fluency-pray hear me