Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1888-08-23
others nut none offered.

! you can spare Or. St. JOQQ
( cried Miss Morton, suddenly standing be-
/ fore Mona, 81 have suffered enough at the
( hands and feet of an incompetent partner
and want few really good turns before
/ that delightful waltz stops"
/ my dear Miss Morton, it is nearly four
years since l bounded on the light fantas-
tic toe" said Lisle. coolly, 'and l am not,
Miss Craig will tell you, equal to conduct
you through the may dance. I am going
to have cigar in the garden" and he
strolled away.
81 really think Captain-I mean Sir St.
John Lisle-can be frtghtfully rudel He
was always one Of the most conceited and
/ beartless of men! You remember that af-
fair OF Lady Marchmont; he really threw
+ her over scandalously!'
! 81 think Lady AIarchmont was quite
! capable Of taking care of herself. Isle is
! just an ordinary man of the world-a little
! above the average in intelligence" said
! Mrs. Mentieth.
/ ''Weu, I would not have any young per-
son put much trust in him" she returned,
significantly. 'sYou ought to have brought
over that handsome cousin of yours, Miss
Craig. He might have taught US some
( reel steps. I want very much TO learn the
Highland Fling"
81 never saw Kenneth dance" said Mona.
"Kennethi What charming namel He
/ has the most superb figure in the Highland
costume you can imagine, Mrs. Mentieth.
! A young Roderick Dhu. Are you not IN
I love with him, my dear Miss Craig? Liv-
ing in the same house day after day. don't
see how it is to be avoided"
Mona laughed, and said Kenneth was
very handsome. Then Miss Morton de-
clared her intention Of going over to Craig
( darroch for the express purpose of improv-
/ ing her acquaintance with the "braW John
! Hielandman."
Later, and shortly before the party broke
UP for the night, Isle strolled up to where
Mona was standing with Lord Finistoun,
who moved away to ask his wife some
! question about tomorrow.
''There is such a splendid Taoon,' he
! said 81 think you would be delighted with
the ect Of the silyery light streaming
/ DER moor and mountain. A walk down to
1 the river would be charming"
81 wish l could go!' exclaimed Mona,
! frankly.
DO comer' he cried. ''You would not
/ be missed for half an hour"
mo, no! I SHALL as my uncle says,
( gang AVA to my bed and have a peep at
/ the beauty you describe from my window"
cit is a moon worthy Of the warmest
lovers!" exclaimed Isle, in tone Of re-
! greet.
els the moon worthy of warm 1overs?'
said Mona, glancing at him with an arch
smile; because it is, astronomers tell US,
a region Of extinct yolcanoes-of exhausted
fires"
] Isle looked at her sharply, and his
| brows contracted.
'What matter" he said, elf they were
heavenly while they lasted?"
"Ah! fire does not belong to heaven
rather to the other place. Good-night!''
''Monar' he exclaimed in a low tone.
Goodnight" she repeated. "Good-
night, Sir St. John Lisle.''
CHAPTER XXI.-DIvERS OPINIONS.
Although Mona yielded to Lady FMS
toun's earnest request, and remained over
the following day, she was really anxious
to return home. The passing contact with
the social strata from which she had been
divorced, showed her how deep was the
| gulf that yawned between her present and
her past. She could not return to Lady
| Finistoun's set. neither would they that
belonged to it pass from thence; she had
! thrown in her lot with Uncle Sandy, and
with Uncle Sandy she must abide.
During the day and evening which sue
ceeded that last recorded, Isle had no
chance of speaking to Mona except before
witnesses-and he grew very iIl-tempereI
as time went on.
At dinner Miss Morton cleverly captured
Lisle, whose face, under the infliction, was
a source OF amusement to Mona whenever
J cl Of
at dancing-the German dttdche sang
some duets with Mona, and Miss Morton,
who had shrill, clear voice-trained to
perform extraordinary gymnastics-treated
the company to some French comic songs
"a performance which so disguised Lisle,
that, with an expressive glance at Mona,
he disappeared and was seen no more.
The next morning was gray and soft,
and Lisle, with Lord Finistoun, started
early to stalk deer. Isle was in very
bad temper. He was enraged at the smil-
ing ease with which Mona kept him at
bay, and mortified at being held in check
by the fair woman who so comparatively
short a time before had changed color
when he spoke to her-WhGSe hand trem-
bled when he took 1t in his own More
over, he was furious with himself for hav-
ing lost the reins of his self-control, and
fallen so much deeper in love than he had
been,
Lady Einistoun expected more guests,
and was unable to accompany Mona on
her return home. Miss Morton offered to
drive her back to Craigdarroch in the pony
carriage, and some time after luncheon
they started. Various important nothings
had delayed their setting out, and it was
nearly tea-time when Miss Morton drew
up the ponies at Mr.. Craig's door.
The old gentleman had evidently been
asleep over 81 volume Of Metaphysics, -
which he frequently took up after dinner.
Here I am, uncle, back again on your
hands," said Mona, going into the library.
"Aweel, l am glad to see your facep'
said Uncle Sandy, cheerfully, Though you
did outstay your leave. En-, you are look
ing bonnyi You'll be finding it duh and
, namely here after yon grand hose, and a.
| the fine doings."
Liam very glad to come home, l assure
| you" :.
That's right; it's kindly
''diss Morton is in the drawing-room,
uncle-may l ask her to tea?"
cay, to be sure. Is Lady Finistoun nc
with you? She is bonnY birdr'
/ Mona explained, and ended by ringing
, and ordering tea to be prepared forthwith
''pm glad to see you, men," said Uncle
Sandy, shuffling into the drawing-roon
with the help of his stick, and holding Out
) his hand to Miss Morton, who rose up tall
thin, and somewhat notwithstanding, tc
greet him. You'll stay and TAX a bite
and cup o. tea.'' Here he tumbled into
chair There has been touch Of east
r in the wind yesterday and to-day. and my