Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1888-08-02
Tell me about Yourself.n

forth the annals OF a golden life flooded
with the sunshine of prosperity-with busy
pleasure and careless, though kindly hap
piness.
Soon they reached Hyde Park Gardens.
and Lady Finistoun sent a peremptorv
message to nurse She soon appeared with
the Hon. Hector Aubrey Douglas Mont
gomerie in her arms-a very active young
gentleman, who did his best to precipitate
himself head foremost on the fioOr-iump-
ing, Growing, clutching at his nurses cap,
and SOLDERING after the fashion of babies
from St. James to St. Giles. He held out
his plump, notified arms to his delighted
mother, who proudly took him, and then,
as the highest mark of affection and con-
fdence, gave him to Mona. She received
him with no small apprehension, though
pronouncing him, with genuine admiration
to be n splendid fellow. and 80 like Lord
FiniStoun."
do you see the likeness too? Yes,
think he is. But do you know, Mona, he
has the Newburgh gray eyes? They are
like yours, Mona Don't you think baby's
eyes are very like Miss Joscelyn's-I mean
Miss Craig's? (Your name always puzzles
me, Mona)."
Perhaps SO, my lady. They are very
fine eyes, any way"
A little more showing off, and nurse
judged that her lady had had as much of
baby's society as was good for them all.
She suggested that the young gentleman's
own apartment was cooler and freSher for
him than the drawing-room. After little
more kissing and cuddling he was taken
away, and Lady Finistoun and her kins-
woman sat down to tea.
81 am so glad you are pleased with the
boyl l could see by your eyes you were
ready to love him. There are lots of peo-
pie ready to exclaim, He is a fine childr
but few look at him as you did dear Monar'
cried the young mother. '"Take off your
hat, and we shall have a nice chat over our
tea I am not at home to anyone, Tom
kins"-to the butler. II want you to come
and stay with me at Strathairie. As soon
as our cruise is over we are going for o
week to the Chase, and viii be in the High
lands the second week of September. VIII
you come, Mona?"
~ do not think l can I shall want to be
in town by the first of October, and"
ooh, but you really must come! And
then, didn't BERTHE tell me that the million
aire uncle has place quite near? Then
you can make friends with him. We will
ask him to dinner. Those sort of people
are always so pleased when they are asked
to dinner"
Il shall not go anywhere. shall stay
very thankfully with my good friend Nine.
Debrisay, who never changes toward me-"
''Ah, yes, she is q dear old thing! But
fancy staying in London all the year You
will make yourself i'll, Mona"
Just think, Evelyn, of the hundreds of
people who never quit it, and live on.''
'Then they are quite different"
81 cannot see," began Mona, when Lady
Finistoun interrupting her, exclaimed
"Oh, Mona! do you remember Captain
Lisle?''
81 do"
''He has come into large property and
baronetcy."
"Oh, indeedl How did that happenW
Il think he always expected ii. Old Sir
Howard Lisle was a relation of his fathers
and as they were non-marrying set Of
men, our acquaintance, though not near
| cousin, was the next heir"
So, after all, he was not poor man. He
had wealth and position almost in his grasp
when he shrunk from sharing his life with
| her, thought Mona, while Lady Flnistoun
ratified on. "But suppose there are many
like him." was her conclusion.
81 rather think my mother would have
liked him for Geraldine, but l am not so
sure he would have made a good husband"
Lady Finistoun was saying when Mona
listened again. 'HThese fascinating, all
accomplished men seldom do. They tell
queer stories about them. The Countess
of Northallerton went out of her mind
! about him, so it is said, and only the earl
died so suddenly there would have been a
fearful row.
'He was very agreeable" said Mona,
quietly
Eyes. He has been very popular in In
| dia, but he is coming home now on urgent
private affairs suppose, and will proba-
| bly, leave the army. You are not going
yet, Mona?'
81 must Madame Debrisay will be look
ing for me-"
Lady Finistoun embraced her affection
ately, and Mona walked leisurely home
through Kensington Gardens in a very
thoughtful mood.
The encounter with Lady Finistoun af-
forded much matter for talk to Nine. Deb
risay. She did not press Mona to accept
her invitation.
81 am not sure it would do you any good,
dear. 1t is better to keep with those Of
your own trade. 1t went to my heart to
see you leave your beautiful home, and the
society you were used to; but it had to be
done, and there is no use in looking back.
Life has many sides, and there's none
without its own spark of light"
So the friends enjoyed the quiet holiday
time together. Prudence forbade their
leaving town. But Mona, fresh from her
wanderings, was glad to rest; and Nine.
Debrisay was quite content while she had
Mona.
Kenneth wrote occasionally. Uncle
Sandy was greatly annoyed at the mis-
management of all things appertaiEing to
the farm during his absence. He had dis
missed the man he had left in charge, and
was determined, with Kenneth's help, to
direct everything himself; but he was very
unweIl andfractious. He never mentioned
Mona's name, but Kenneth was of opinion
that he thought of her a good deal. Mean
time there was no chance of his getting
away, and he began to fear that it would
be many a month before he could see his
Highland Mary.
The days and weeks few by rapidly, and
Nine. Debrisay was beginning to think OF
work again, when one morning in the hrst
week of September, the post brought Mona
a letter addressed in exceedingly shaky,
spider-like calligraphy. 1t bore the post
mark of ''Kirktoun;'' and having looked
at it earnestly for a moment, she excla1m-
ed
'Why, here is a letter from Uncle SandyP'
"You don't say so! Read it to me, if you
will.''
"I'll try. What an awful hand"
my DEAR NIECE:-As you have had
time to think over YOUR unkind and IN