Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1888-08-30

marriage even with richly lowered girl
"a more enlightened, more mature wo-
man, would have seen and UNDERWOOD the
difficulty, nor loved him the less for being
ready to give her up to richer rival
Women are awfully selfish and unreason-
able! Now that Mona had seen more of
ife-the seamy side of it too-she ought to
appreciate the motives which actuated
him; perhaps CHE did, for she never avoided
him, or said sharp things, only she was so
Internally calm and frankI 1t was quite
possible she might have fallen in love with
someone else IN the interim. Who could
it be?-some brute of foreigner?
Lisle felt savagely jealous, az though bis
sacred rights had been infringed. He
would do. or sacrifice anything to call the
conscious color to her cheek-to win a con-
fession of love from her lips, even the sac
riics of himself to the letters of matri-
mony And if she loved him (Which. If be
once surrendered, and asked her to marry
him, she would. warmly, deGciousIy), she
would yield to him in everything. The
thing was really worth riskins. Life with
Mona would be very charming for a year
or so.
Having made up his mind more thorough
~ than he was perhaps aware, Isle found
shooting, and even Devastating, q less
satisfying amusement than it used to be,
and two or thrss days after his chance en-
counter with Mona, he started for Craig.
darroch, determined to begin the siege in
earnest
1t was a crisp, clear afternoon, and sell
dom had This bosom's lord sat so lightly
On its throne" or his success he never
doubted. The only question that he de-
Dated mentally, was how soon 1t would be
in good taste to declare himself. They
were not strangers. She must know that
he had been good deal smitten with her
nearly four years ago. It was only taking
up the dropped stitches in the web Of their
lives. He would be guided by circum-
stances
''Is Mr.. Craig at home, and the young
ladiesf" he demanded of the little maid
who came when he rang.
1.-THE masters in, but" she was begin
ming, when Mr. Craig himself appeared,
with his inevitable stick, at the library
door.
"Eh, come your waysl'' he cried 81
saw ye as We walked up the drive. I'm
glad to see you. Pm here alane; they're a.
oot."
"Indeedp' said Isle, following him into
the library. intending to give the old man
a few minutes to find out where Mona had
gone, and to follow her. What has be-
como of your incest"
MARY Black is no niece Of mine. She is
a ntcs-like grille, but I have no kin except
Mona and Kenneth. Well, they are AVA
to set Mona on her road" Gle called it
''rod.")
"On her roadl Where2" asked Lisle-
''To Glasga'. She'll get there this even
ing, In time to catch the London night ex-
press"
'Londonr' repeated Lisle, in angry sur
prise. "HaA she conc to Londone"
yes. She had q letter frae madame
may be you'll mind Madame Debrisay, the
Teddy wha took my niece in when you
grand folks turned her cot. Weel the let
ter wasna frae herself. 1t was the land.
lady-an honest-like woman-wha wrote,
at madams's order, to explain why she
could not write She was varra sick with
bronchitis, and the landlady she added
that she was frightened herself, for she
was that bad the doctor wanted her to
haze a nurse. With that. nothing would
keep Mona she must 60 to nurse her. /
was angered against her, for I didnA think
it right for her to go Off in jifry fraa me,
wha is as father to her, and maintains
her"
"But she went?" ejaculated Lisle.
cay, she did that. She put her arms
round my neck, and she says, VII her bon
ME cen full o. tears-'Don't seek to stop
me, uncle. She was good to ma before /
knew you; and don't you think she says.
If you were i'll, I'd come AVA frae every
one to nurse you? an I felt she spoke true
she would stick to me, so I just said-'Tu
no pay for your whim-Whams.' and she
says-'No, uncle! I have money enough
for the journey. Just let me go with your
good will, an I said-'Go, then, my lassie,'
and she's game"
''Good heavensr' cried Isle. alone;
to 60 through the worry and annoyance OF
changing-of-'
"What's to harm her? She is nae a
BARN." interrupted Uncle Sandy. ave
live in a ceevilized country"
Lisle was silent with vexation- Had he
but known, he might have escorted her to
Glasgow, if not to London; and what diff
ferenG journey it would have been from the
last they had taken together. He was GER
tainly out Of luck.
"Still, am surprised you did not send
young Macalister with her!' exclaimed
Lisle. when he had mastered his impulse
to swear audibly and theoretically at the
self-satisfied, misery old scarecrow that
had let his charming niece-the temporary
idol and future wife of Sir ST. John Isle
go off alone, to struggle with porters and
passengers like poor servant girl going
to new place.
"What for should Kenneth waste his
time when | wanted him here, forbve the
siller il would cost there and back? Young
people have nae consideratiCn-an yet
9o1t'Te no a lad any longer, Sir St. Johnp'
1.-The Greenness of my youth has certain
ly departed. But I am greatly annoyed
about this sudden journey. I have moth
ing on earth to dol II had had an idea
Miss Craig was going alone, should GER
tainly, with your permission, have escorted
her to Glasgow, and seen her off to Lon
don. Where does this Madame Debrisay
liver"
"In varra nice part Westbourne
Villas, nigh the Royal Oak station. You'll
ken it, Pm thinking"
~ cannot say do" returned Lisle, while
he thought, "Old blockhead Why did he
not give me the number?"
There are varra fine hooses about there,
and plenty omnibuses to a. PARTS"
Very convenient, Pm surel What Ii
this Madame Debrisay's number? Lady
Finistoun will want to know Miss Craig's
| address,"
''Ehl but she knows it weel She has
| been there herself"
obstinate old idiotr' thought Isle; che
will not tell. Oh, indeedp' he said aloud.
"Ycu must miss your niece very much"
81 will do so! Sma' doot OF. She is o
remarkable, wise-like, douce lassie-only o