Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1888-09-27

pIoopeCC OI a goOQ marriage Tor me!
She rose, and went into the next room
to find book, for an excuse not to talk
any more. AS she returned, she met War
ing, who had followed her.
''Good-night,n he said. 81 am rather
tired. Miss Black is booked for chess, and
you are going to read, SO had better go to
bed"
'If you would like me to read to you"
| began Mona, for there was something de-
/ spending in his tone.
fsNo, no! ! exact too much" he inter-
rupted. 81 viii leave you in peace"
''You know you exact nothing"
''That is true. You all give freely.
Nevertheless, will say goodnight"
1t seemed strange to Mona that Uncle
Sandy-who, though on the whole ex-
tremely Indifferent to things which did not
affect himself, was, when his attention was
aroused, q keen observer-did not notice
the complete understanding which existed
between Kenneth and Mary, nor the very
lover-ike attentions which, as he grew
more at ease in his new home, the Young
Highlander could not refrain from be-
slowing on the lady of his heart. But, as
many strong-willed persons do, Uncle
Sandy was very apt to axe plans with
out taking into account the individual lik-
ings or disikings of the persons affected
by them.
She rather dreaded the moment when
the ruler of Craigdarroch would awake to
the knowledge that the 'sbit lad and las
sie,'' as he considered them, had taken
their lives into their own hands, irrespec-
tive of his consent. If he was angry and
unreasonable on the subject, it might be
terribly bad for both young creatures.
though his evident liking for Mary was a
great point in their favor. Indeed, Mona
wished to turn her thoughts from the pain,
the dull aching which oppressed her, to
pros and cons of her friends fortunes.
1t was few days after the above record
ed conversation, Mona was in the library,
entering sundry items in an account-book,
which her uncle had great pride and pleas
ure in teaching her to keep in the most
orthodox fashion.
1t was lovely day stolen from May to
beautify the last hours of March. The
blue sky, the glittering loch, the baImy air
which stole like caress round cheek and
throat, seemed to promise that gloomy
winter was aWa'."
spring operations of field and byre, and
proposed to take Waring and Mary for a
drive through Strathairlie and Balmuir,
that the former might see some Of the fine
views in the neighborhood, as his time was
now growing short.
Mona volunteered to remain with her
uncle, and-with a degree Of unreasona-
bleness, for which she scorned herself
/ fol hot ho1 In Oh
! tempt to persuade her to come with them.
/ Mr.. Craig had been pottering about the
garden, and Mona thought she had heard
the tap-tapping of his stick in the hall just
before the excursionists had driven off.
The sound OF the wheels had hardly died
/ away, when Uncle Sandy came into the
room and threw himself into his arm
chair, upsetting the fire-irons with an I'M
usual amount Of clatter
! "Guid preserve usr' was his first excla-
nation. They're game clean daft! Wha'd
haze thought o'-such-such perversityr'
"What is the matter, uncle?" and Mona
came over to stand on the hearth-rug be-
side him.
Matter! it's the deils own matter.
Listen to me. When I CAM in frae the
| garden, | saw the chaise at the door. and |
went into the hall to ca them, and was
nigh slippin', but got on to the bit carpet,
and into the drawing-room; an what
should see but Kenneth standin' by the
window wi his arm round Mary Black,
and her head on his shoulder, as if she war
weel used to it! He was saying, My ain
love, it's hard to have PATIENCE but, be-
fore L could break DOT upon them, I heard
Mr.. Leslie's voice behind me, and, before 1
| had rightly recovered my senses, they were
AVA. Nool what do you think O. such a
| pair o. eediots-o' worthless, unprincipled
| eediots?"
! "Well, uncle" began Mona, after short
| pause, Il am not surprised. Anyone might
have seen they were growing fond of one
another; which was not to be wondered at,
! for
| 'And do you mean to tell me-" almost
screamed Uncle Sandy, that We saw it,
and suspected it a. the time, and never
/ warned me-"
81 do not see that it was my duty to do
So" said Mona, instinctively feeling that
a bold tone was best; especially as think
Kenneth and Mary would make each other
very happy, and you too. uncle. You know
what a sweet"
You'll just drive me aft my heidr' he
interrupted. Don't We see that Kenneth
needs wife WI tocher-a bit sillerl-a
careful. thoughtful woman wha'd be a
guide and a stay to him, not bit iassie
that he'll be Dauvid an Solomon and the
rest to-"
Il fancy there is much more probability
! that Kenneth would be all the wiser and
! stronger for the companionsnip of a Wo-
man that looks up to him."
"Whaur's the use of argufying? Mary
Black is no the wife I want for my nay
few; an if he crosses me, I'll just pit him
DOT. Why should gle my money to a
! feckless loon wha hasna the sense to con-
suit me in the maist important step o. his
road?"
But, uncle of all the steps a man can
take, the most important to himself is
matrimony. Now, where would you find
a sweeter girl than Mary? You miss her
yourself when she goes; can't you fancy
her and Kenneth making happy home
! for you, and caring for you? Suppose he
| married rich girl who had been educated
at some first-rate school, do you think she
would be content to live here as your house
keeper, and have no change from years
end to years end?"
land what for shouldn't she?'
al do not know why; but am quite sure
most girls would tire of Craigdarroch, sweet
and lovely as it is; even l do.'
"Youl-you tire of Draw home like
this?"
ooh, shall be pleased to come back; but
like to go away sometimes; and am old
| of my years"
"Aweel, deserve that o. Kenneth that
he shouldna haze spoken to lassie without
asking me first"
| ssJNl,,- SC mora than foil Gould