Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1888-12-13
FELICIA.

country garden which was as quaint and
oId-fashioned as the red-brick house to
which it belonged. Two Of the trio were
girls. and the third was tail broad-shoul-
dered young man clad in q brown velye-
teen shooting-suit. His two companions
were in evening -dress, and he was apollo
giving to them for his morning attire.
''The fact is, y he was saying, II had
lot OF letters to turn out and burn; and |
thought, if did it tonight, I should be
able to have good long day with you to-
morrow before l sail"
IT like that old suit Of yours, cousin
Jack" said the shorter of the two girls,
and, when you return from Australia
millionaire, sir, or we viii not receive
you-you are to look just as you do now.
GU are to wear those old velveteen
clothes; and you are not on any account
to grow beard while you are away, or
for one will not speak to or even lcok at
you"
''Do listen to her, FeIicia!' said cousin
Jack, laughing. Did you ever hear such
a young tyrant? Well, Deb, cannot
promise not to wear beard while I san
away, but VOW solemnIy not to return
with one. VIII that please your lady
ship"
Yes, Jack Remember the reception
you will meet with if you break your
word and, whether you wear one while
you are away or not, shall always think
of you with only a mustache"
IF ever you take the trouble to think
about me at all, said Jack, lowering his
voice little and bending his head to see
more clearly the expression of the laugh
ing piquant face which was upturned to
his.
Felicia, who had been smiling at their
nonsense, suddenly turned away, and
walked back with unsteady steps up the
broad pathway which led to the house
She passed slowly through the hall and
into the drawing-room, and went to the
window and looked out. Jack and his
companion were disappearing down one Of
the paths which led into the orchard, and
Felicia could just distinguish the outline
of Deb's figure in her white dress. The
girl sat down at the open window and
buried her face in her hands.
"All these months,n she was thinking,
81 never guessed How blind L have been,
how blindl He cares for Deb-my dear
little Deb-and II
She must have waited half an hour be-
fore she heard footsteps coming up the
garden path and the voices of Jack and
Deb
''Felicial where are your" cried Deb, in
her clear treble, as they entered the draw
ing-room. ''How dark it isr'
Hereby the window" answered Fe-
icia; and she was surprised to find that
her voice sounded quite calm.
eve have piece of news to tell you
Felicia" said Jack, with a laugh, putting
his arm round Deb. Cant you guess
what it ISL"
IL think cam returned Felicia, in
low voice. Jack is anxious to become my
brother as well as my cousin"
You dear old Felicia" cried Deb kiss
ing her sister vehemently. How did you
guess? | never knew myself till just now
when Jack told me"
'Lookers-on see most of the 5rame," de-
clared Felicia, trying to speak lightly. Il
congratulate you both with all my heart
and hope you viii be very happy"
You must let me give you brotherly
kiss to seal your good wishes" cried Jack
gaily
Felicia drew back pale but smiling
''You must keep them all for Deb now"
she answered, streking Deb's soft little
HAND.
I'VE are not going to tell anyone else,
you know, Felicia, until Jack has made
his fortune" remarked Deb confidential
ly. "Grandmamma would be sure to OBJ
ject on the score of rssy age, for''-turning
to Jack-"I am only sixteen and a half
Mr.. Jack Ffolliott-nine years younger
than you! Have y0H taken that fact into
considerations
Mr. Ffolliott murmured few words in
q low voice
Felicia rose and left the room hastily-a
fact hardly noticed by Deb and Jack. who
were too engrocsed with each other. Swift
ly Felicia fed to her bedroom, closed and
locked the door and. throwing her win
dow wide open. leaned out, painting for
breath, for her heart was beating SO VIC
lently that she felt she would be suffocat-
ed.
Thank Heaven" she murmured, that
Jack is going away so sooni | shall get
used to it in time, Oh, Jack! Jac6"'-and
with great sob. she turned and flung
herself upon the bed, burying her face in
the snow-white eoverlet.
Felicia and Deborah FfolIott were left
orphans when mere children, and they
had resided with their grandmother ever
since Three years after Jacks departure
for Australia Mrs Gerard, their grand
mother died, and the two children went
to live with rich widowed and childleSS
chaperon two such beauties as her young
nieces undoubtedly were, for she found
that her society was n2uch sought after
since their arrival; and Deb and Felicia,
having led rather a secluded life with
theic grandmother, We're very glad to see
a little more of q world in which their
beauty gained them a hearty welcome
whithersoeyer they went
Jack Ffolliott met with many APPS and
downs in Australia, and found that the
much-talked-of fortune was not So easily
acquired as he had expected. At tie end
of years however there came q letter from
him to Deb, saying that affairs We're TAX
ing turD for the better, and We're pro-
crossing SO favorably that he hoped IL a
few months to return to England, and that
he was looking forward 10 the time when
he would he able to claim little Deb for
his own. The writer went on to complain
that Deb was getting lazy, that her letters
Were few and far between; he supposed
that her time was so taken up with her
London triumphs tat she could not spare
an hour or two to write such long letters
as she used to do.
Deb had changed but little in appear
anee since the night when Jack had told
her of his love- Her figure was more
rounded and she was 6 little taller; other
wise there was no perceptible difference.
In Felicia, however, there was a marked
alteration. From slim pretty girl she
had developed into an eXquisitely beauti-
full woman, and was as unlike Deb as it is
possible for one sister TO be unlike anoth-