Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1888-08-09

IleSe, WIFI SunuTy baskets anu pOUS OF
flowers disposed about the drawing-room,
SO transformed it that Uncle Sandy scarce
ly recognized the once stiff and dreary
chamber.
you're clever 1assie," he cried. "You
have made the place look grand at nc great
outlay. Moo, I'm hoping you'll no ask
| mair siller for long time"
"We shall want some addis;ons to our
furniture and decorations, uncle, before
winter" returned Mona, who had learned
from experience that the less Uncle Sandy
was asked for, the less he was inclined to
give. ''But I viii tell you about them in
good time. Now that you are going to re-
side here, you must have your house nice
| l think you ought TO be obliged TO Miss
Black for the trouble she has taken"
| 'FWeel, and who says 1 am not? She
! and her people are Kenneth's friends, hey?"
'Thev are. They were so kind and hos
| pitabIe to me when I arrived, weary and
/ way-worn, in Glasgow, that should like
{ immensely to ask her to spend few days
/ here on her way horse, if you would per-
NIT me. She IS nice girl. am sure you
| would like her"
| "Oh! ay, you may ask her as much as
you like Can she sing Scotch song?'
write to Miss Black?"
/ cay, she'll tell a the folk in Glencorrie
what a grand place Kenneth is in
| ''Yes; of course she will
/ Mr.. Craig took his umbrella, and with a
muttered complaint that his ~puir back
was awful bad the day." hobbled off with
j the accompanying knock knock of his sup
} ports on the floor, to worry the gardener.
LII 1ET !, arI
of the success which had attained Mona's
sudden inspiration suggesting the invita-
ton to Mary Black, cannot be easily de
! scribed. His dark eyes were aglow with
! pleasure from the time he heard of it. His
! gratitude to his benefactress was unbound
ed. He was interchangeable in his efforts to
oblige everyone. At length the happy day
arrived when he was to go into Kirktoun
to meet the expected visitor, who was to
reach that station at half past one. Mona
had made all due preparation for the guest.
and sat down to read the Times to Uncle
Sandy in the drawing-room. They had
not long been thus employed when the
sound of wheels upon the gravel attracted
their attention.
cit Gamma be Kenneth, yet" said Uncle
Sandy, glancing at the clock.
yet" returned Mona.
There is a gentleman who wants to
speak wiz you," said the little help, coming
into the room in the neat cap Mona insisted
on her wearing.
: "Aweel, put him in the museum" re-
piled her master.
''Eh, but he's just behind mep' cried the
girl, stepping back, whereupon a gentle
cl,C HpaS N a
! guishedlooking man, with an imbrowned
! face, rather light eyes, and thick mustache.
''You will, [ hope, excuse" he was be-
/ ginning in the clear, naughty voice Mona
! remembered so well, when his eyes met
, hers, and he stopped, growing suddenly
silent with surprise.
Mona laid aside her paper, and rising,
advanced quietly, saying, as she did So
Glow do you do, Captain Lisle?"
''Miss JosceIynl This is quite an unex>
pected pleasurep' he exclaimed, taking the
hand she offered, and evidently more
moved than she was.
"Hoo's this? Do you know Sir st. John
Lisle?" cried Mr.. Craig.
az used to know Captain Lisle, " returned
Mona, smiling, and looked steadily at him.
81 had the pleasure of meeting Miss
Tns"nlvn London some years ago"
"There's no Miss Joscelyn here" inter
rupted Uncle Sandy, impatiently. "This
is my niece-my puir brothers daughter
Miss Craig"
"Oh, indeedl forgive the mistake"
He paused, and for a few short seconds
seemed less seIf-possessed than Mona could
have imagined possible.
81 suppose" he resumed, in his natural
tone and manner, ''you are spending the
autumn in this beautiful spot. Really,
Mr.. Craig you have a superb view-the
finest l have yet seen since came up here, u
and he advanced to the window, his eyes
glancing quickly from the view he praised
to Mona's face, which he scanned with a
!, curious, questioning glance.
otis weel enough" said Uncle Sandy
swelling with pride in his possessions, ''ant
Pm glad you are pleased with it; and moo
what's yer wull?"
"Oh-ah-I brought you letter from
Mr.. Macfarlane's agent. You will see
what he says about your rights of fishing
and how far they extend. It seems
MGregor has let his fishing to Lord FINS
toun, and am now on my way to Strath
airlie to see what we can do in the way O.
mutual accommodation. Have you seer
Lady Finistoun yet? You used to be great
! chums, remember" addressing Mona
81 did not know she had arrived
"They came last Saturday" said Lsle,
handing the letter he had spoken of to Mr.
Craig, who put on his glasses and proceed
ed to read it with great Elaboration.
''Does she know you are in this part OF
the world?" continued Isle, letting his
eyes rest on Mona, with the peculiar lin
/, gering gaze that used to disturb her-eveI
now it cost her an effort to meet them with
smiling, unembarrassed look, but she
succeeded, as she answered.
"No; / rarely hold any communication
with her; when we meet, she is as nice anc
sweet as ever"
Perennial charm and sweetness seen
to be the popularity of your racel" he re
turned with caressing smile.
, Mona slightly raised her eyebrows, and
Observed
"Bertie is not exactly fascinating"
"Bertle, no, of course
Pm thinking there is a contradiction
somewhere interrupted Mr.. Craig, look
ing up from the letter he had been read
| ing. 81 will just look for the letter I had
frae Balmuir himself. I have it some
, where" and taking his stick he walked
away into his library.
what an extraordinary, delightful sur
prise to find you herer' exclaimed Lisle
rising and coming over to the window
, where Mona sat, and leaning his shouldes
against the frame. 81 never was more
amazed than when my eyes fell upon you
Is this old-gentlemaD really your uncleP
Really and truly my fathers elder
) brother. You see, have reverted to my