Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1888-07-19

! fOOIn, muFnurlnS TO nerSelL as she ue-
scended the stairs-''Sbingy, cross grained,
cantankerous old miserl He thinks he can
! set the Thames on fire.
! While Uncle Sandy, reclining q con-
| queror in his easy-chair, musing on the al
tercation, "a hasty, stormy woman" was
his mental verdict, ''but no devoid o sense"
CHAPTER V.-CONTREXEVILLE
| Finally all things were arranged, or ar
| ranged themselves; and one fine morning
in June, Uncle Sandy Go whom it was no
| difficulty to get up Gin the middle of the
| night" as Nine. Debrisay said and Mona
were ready at an early hour-packed and
breakfasted-to start by the morning train
for Dover, en- route to Paris.
81 do not know how I'll live without
YOU" said Nine. Debrisay, embracing
Mona, with fast-f0wing tears. 81 was all
right before you came, but now [ know
what it is to have you by me! 1t will be
aWfully lonesome when you are gonev"
And how | shall miss you, dearest Deb!
You know I am half afraid of the task ]
have undertaken! It is a serious matter to
be bear leader to Uncle Sandy"
''That it is! But you will do well!
Above all, hold your own. If you give in,
| he'll be sure to trample on you. And you
will write to me every week?"
II WILL dear Deb; and you must answer.
Goodbye. God bless your
The journey across the Channel and to
the capital of fair France is now twice
told-nay, tkrice-told-tale, familiar to
every CARRY and his 'Arriet." Neverthe-
less, it was fraught with excitement and
delight to Uncle Sandy's inexperience.
The fair hop fields of Kent, the white cliffs
and blue glittering waters of the Channel
at Dover, the Admiralty Pier, the castle
| crowned heights, the lowering of some
| body's carriage on to the deck, all afforded
him matter for wonder and admiration
But the marvel of marvels was to land at
Calais, and not understand a word spoken
by the chattering crowd around him.
Then, indeed, he chung to his niece's arm,
and was abjectly civil to the polite inter
prefer who travelled with the train.
Mona, who had been SO lewhat nervous
about conveying her invalid uncle such a
distance, was surprised and relieved to find
how change of scene drew him out of him
self. and how many of his infirmities van
ished, because he had not time to think of
them.
She was glad, however, to get him safe
TO the hotel recommended by Nine. Deb
risay-a thoroughly French house, where
! they found a German waiter who spoke
| English, but who had some difficulty in
| understanding Uncle Sandy's.
The old man was quite exhausted, and
went to bed as soon as he had partaken of
some food.
You'll pit your purse under your pillow,
dearie," he said, TREMENDOUSLY, 'and lock
your door; and here, my lambie, here are
| ten sovereigns They are for your ain self,
and when you want more, you tell me.
dinna wish you to want for onything only
l would nae be talked out o. siller. Eth!
it's wonderful to hear till We talking to
these outlandish folk in their ain tongue.
I wish I had had mair learning in my
youth"
''Thank you, dear uncle, you are very
good! Now you must get to sleep. [ have
lighted night-ight and my room is next
yours II Won will knock at the door, will
come to you.'
They obtained an early start next morn
! ing, and the journey was tedious Uncle
| Sandy bemoaned the heat, the COST the
WEAKNESS of travel; and his niece was truly
glad when they reached shabby little sta
! ton i'll rather fiat but prettily wooded
country, and everyone got out.
| 'It ought to be awonderfu' cure to come
this weary long road for it!'' groaned I'm
| Gle Sandy, as he descended from their con-
veyance when it stopped before the Ell
trance of the etGblisSement
| Then came the business Of finding rooms
and arranging terms. This was simplified
! by letter of introduction obtained by
! Nine. Debrisay from mutual friend, to
| M. lie Directeur, who speedily came to
them, and, to Mr.. Craig's infinite Joy,
| proved to be an excellent English scholar.
Mona thought her uncle would have en-
braced him when he addressed them in
their native tongue.
The next day saw Uncle Sandy duly in
augurated into the system of water-drfnk-
! ing, douches, and massage.
! Occasionally Mona enjoyed a game Of
| tennis, as an English family. consisting of
! father, mother, two daughters, and q hob
bledehoy son, made very friendly advances,
| and frequently invited her to join them
when they played.
The father, a stout, red-faced sufferer
from govt, made friends with uncle Sandy
and many were their arguments, as Mr..
} Clapton was strong Conservative, and
his wife a dame of the Primrose League,
while Mr.. Craig was an advanced Liberal,
not to say & Radical Of the most virulent
description. This little excitement largely
helped the cure, and Uncle Sandy was re-
luctantly obliged to admit that he felt coI,-
siderably better.
'How well mademoiselle your niece
plays the tenisr' said NJ lie Directeur, TAX
| ing his seat on the bench where Uncle
Sandy and Mr.. Clapton had already placed
! themselves under the shade of some trees,
| and in view of the tennis courts. do not
! derange yourselves, gentleman. 1 pray
your he continued. Il like TO look at
Mees Craig, her attitudes are so graceful.
She seems like the spirit OF the game, yet
she is so quiet and poSee, and gentle at
other times. Truly she is a young girl to
be proud of, and make you my compli-
ments." He bowed low to her uncle, while
| Mr.. Clapton Endorsed the eulogium by a
short emphatic ''Deuced fine girl, pom my
soul.''
The heart of Alexander Craig swelled
within him. Perhaps of all the ingredients
In his character, pride contributed the
largest share, and that pride had been
sorely let and hindered all the years of his
youth. He would have been completely
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