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


IF you would let me speak frankly to
you, 1 should be so glad. Idon't want to
say anything that would displease you"
He colored slightly, but his eyes laughed.
tiOhi am sure you would notr' cried
Mona. eyes! say anything you like"
She felt herself again.
'sThank you. Well, am very glad to
see you, and awfully glad you have found
a friend in old Craig. He isa character
excuse me for speaking so unceremonious-
/ ""
''Of counsel He really is very good to
me, and am fond of him, as 1 ought to
be! But it is not very lively at Craigdar-
roch in the winteri Now, Mr.. Warning ~
coming over and standing blythe fireplace,
her hands clasped and dropped easily be-
fore her, 81 am uery pleased to see you
| again, and shall be so glad to be friends
quite good friends-again."
She smiled and blushed charmingly as
she spoke.
$50 shall l." very shortly. ''Do you
know have thought and tormented my
self great deal about you Oh, no!-not
as used, mean; because did not know
what had become of you. I knew you did
not stay on with the Everards. lam afraid
they did not behave very weu.''
81 fear deserved their displeasure"
81 don't think you did. How is Madame
Debrisay?"
Very well indeed, and no longer Mad
anne Debrisay. She is married to General
Fielden. fancy you know him-an old
artillery officer"
mo! Is it possible? I remember old
Ffelden. 1t will be very nice for him to
have such a capital woman to jog on with
for the rest of the road. I always liked
her."
''Well, she returned the compliments"
~ am afraid she would not have thought
much Of me if our acquaintance had con-
tinued. was very weak and reckless"
He looked steadily at her as he said this.
81 have heard something of the kind +"
murmured Mona, unclasping her hands,
and putting back her hair with pretty,
troubled gesture, as she generally did
when in any little difficulty. "And-and
1--WE are to speak freely, you know was
infinitely distressed. I feared I might in
some measure"
mo, moi" he interrupted. CT see what
you mean. It is the thought of a kind
heart; but you are in no way responsible.
l ought to have been man enough to do
right for rights sake. No one is to
but myself. let that passion for gamins,
which confessed to you once" he sighed,
quickly, "quite overmaster me; in fact, it
was a bad bit of my life just before that
day met you in Kensington High Street,
walking with young Macalister. Then 1
had severe attack of fever I was all but
gone. If had been of any value to any
one, I should have died, no doubt. After
that / came to my right mind, and determ-
ined to do what could with the remains
of my fortune. In SO doing | lost more.
Then 1 fell IN with my present partner,
and threw jim my lot with his. The life is
healthy and rather suits me. I shall stick
to it, and, perhaps, make something of it.
Do you know, it quite cheers me up to feel
friends and all right with you, at any rate
for the few hours l shall remain; and even
| after, though probably, we may never
meet again, you'll give me kind thought,
and good wish sometimes"
II always thought kindly of you," said
Mona, gently, while she felt the tears in
her eyes. "You deserve so much from mel
Yes, it is very nice to be good friends; and
you must tell me all about your life in the
wilds''
81 beg your pardonP' cried Kenneth,
bursting into the room; ''but l could not
get away before. Come, we have lost too
much time already"
TO be Continued.l