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


meth to get a fortin' Wi his wife, that j
may gle you better tocher, my dearie.
! You'll wed gram gentleman some day,
| and you must be weel tochered.n
"Unclep' cried Mona, earnestly: .you
must not think Of that! My possible mar.
rage is long way off, and 1 will go away
and leave you if you let me come between
/ my cousin and happiness
IF you must go, you must" said Uncle
Sandy, sternly, though his voice was IN
| unsteady. 81 did without you before, and
I can again.
THAT is for you to consider. Now, IN
| Gle, make me promise"
| What is it," he asked, cautiously.
! while Mr.. Waring stays, make no dis
! turbance. He has been SO comfortable
| here, let him take away his good impress
sion unimpaired. If you speak to Kenneth
and show displeasure, Mary will go away,
and her people will forbid her to speak to
| Kenneth; our pleasant life will be broken
up; shall be too distressed to remain; !
| shall accept General and Mrs. Fielden's
often repeated invitation to go and stay
with them in Paris, and you will bully poor
| Kenneth till he does not know a mangle
Yurzel from kale."
'You are just trife too clever. missiel''
said Uncle Sandy, irritated, but not con-
| quered. II dinna understand why you are
! so strong on they fules' side. However,
i III maxi no disturbance while Mr. Leslie
is in my hoose. But promise-for promise
you must-gie me your word not to let
| them know I am acquaint VII their foolish
ness"
Mona was silent for moment or two,
IL i I.
to put the offending pair on their guard
Every WELL" she said; II promise. But
you must not be cross; you must be nice
and kind, as you have been"
''Tm muckle obleeged to you for the
compliment" dryIy.
''And, uncle, don't think Iwant to leave
you. I am grateful to you, and like you;
| am interested in you, for you are full of
| character; but if you are unjust to Ken
meth on my account, or if you doubt me,
and try to worry me into marrying anyone
do not like, I shall just go away, be-
cause
Because what?" asked Mr. Craig, some
| what struck by her tone.
Because l do not care q straw what be-
comes of me!''
/ She turned and left the room abruptly.
! Mr.. Craig looked after her, immensely
! puzzled.
whats come to the lassie?" he said.
''She's nae like herself. She is Just deep
! in luve wi Kenneth. l always thocht it,
and I am seldom wrang. Pll keep a calm
| seugh, an may be things may come right.
That Mary is a bonnie grille, douce an
handy-but IA, ma! there are few can
come UP to my ain niecer'
CHAPTER XxvI.-AN UNEXPECTED VISITOR.
This premature discovery was very en-
barrassing to Mona. Her conviction that
it would make matters worse if Mary or
Kenneth knew that Uncle Sandy's eyes
had been opened, gave her courage, how
ever, to keep it a secret from the parties
most interested. It would be great gain
if he grew accustomed to the idea of the
engagement before he was able to fly out
and pledge himself to opposition, for to an
obstinate, headstrong nature like his, re-
traction was almost impossible. He had
an immense contempt for men who threat
ened and did not execute.
But Mona felt infinitely depressed, and
singularly lonely. IF she could but see the
question OF Kenneth's engagement set at
rest she would certainly take leave of alb
sence and pay her dear Deb visit. Not
that she could ever tell even that dear
friend the secret Of her inner sorrow; but
the sound of her kind voice-the change
would bring relief
uncle Sandy was in a very queer temper
after this discussion. He was querulous
and complaining, yet occasionally obsequi-
Gus to his niece, on whom he had grown
very dependent, and of whose independ-
ence he stood in awe.
Waring felt that something had gone
wrong, and watched Mona's expressive
fact with profound sympathy.
/ Let me come with you," he said, one
afternoon, when she had complained of a
headache, and begged Mary to read to Mr..
Craig, while she went to try the fresh air
cure.
Every well,'' she returned ST will show
you my favorite haunt"
They proceeded through the grounds in
to the group of oak trees beyond. On the
edge of the little wood was bench from
which was view of the sea, between two
rocky hills. A narrow ravine opened
steeply down to the beach, widening as it
descended, and here, on its sheltered sides,
the first primroseS, the earliest yellow
honey-scented gorse blossoms were to be
found. Behind the seat were big gray
powders, scattered among the tall brack-
ems, and from the little space of level
ground where it stood, the hillside rose
steeply up.
ut is delicious place to read in,'' said
| Mona, as they sat down. ION very still
day you can hear the dash and ripple of
the waves down there like soft accom-
! paniment to your thoughts, or the thoughts
you are reading. Then, later on, the hum
of the bees as they gather the honey from
the whins, as Uncle Sandy calls them,
makes a complete harmony with the whis-
per of the wavelets. 1t is enough to make
a poet even Of my uncle"
81 dare say" said Warning, resting his ell
bow on his knee, and his head on his hand,
while his eyes dwelt on hers with the
grave, yearning expression they often
wore-'I dare say your uncle thinks he
might be tn best poet in the kingdom, if
he laid his mind to it, as he would say
| himself
Mona laughed.
Very likely. suppose his good opin-
ion of himself has been lever to hoist
himself withal."
mo doubt 1t strikes me he is very ex-
acting. You have seemed to me weary,
and-and depressed, of late. Does he
worry very much?"
HE is really very good. have nothing
to complain of. L have been depressed
lately because I am puzzled. am greatly
tempted to tell you why, and to ask your
advice"
"Do," said Warning changing his posi-
| ton, and looking out into the cat
least you may trust me to keep counsel,
and if can do anything, need 1 say, COM
mapd me?"