Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1888-08-30

stay here, just bide still, for want little
sleep to max up for what that stormy wo-
man broke in upon, and if We Gamma, just
gang in the other room.'
The young people readily took the hint,
and In the drawing-room held high council.
The topic under discussion was Mary's
rsturn home. She thought she had been
away long enough But Mona strongly
urged her remaining.
"You arc rapidly becoming prime fav-
oFits with my uncle, and you must rivet
your chains before we venture to breach
tks question Of your marriage. Let me-
write to your mother begging an extension
of leave"
This advice prevailed, Mary adding to
her consent with soft sigh
81 am just too happy here"
The fine weather which had prevailed
for some weeks nav broke up, and Octo-
Der presented itself in gloomy guiss, with
Wild winds and driving rain, which per-
nitted but little outdoor exercise to the
! girls.
Uncle Sandy himself WAS little COM
planning and cranky; but, on the whole,
music and reading. the state Of the stocks,
and bookkeeping, with Kenneth's help,
kept them tolerably amused during this
period of imprisonment
Lisle made no sign. Mona was not sorry.
! His presence, without having a distinctly
disturbing effect, awoke painful memories,
and obliged her constantly to think before
she spoke. Atlength fairly bright morn
| ing broke upon the deluxed country, and
Mona undertook to drive into Kirktoun to
execute divers commissions.
81 o11ga r. 1af& Il
Mona departed with only "ths boy" in at
| tendance.
Having finished her business, she turned
the horses head homeward, and had
alightsd to walk up the steep road which
led from the loch to Craigdarroch, when
sportsman, with dog and gun, suddenly
emerged from a small wood which filed
sheltered hollow, and approached her.
| She recognized Isle, and paused to speak
to him
"It is more than fortnight since l saw
your' he exclaimed, in an aggrieved tone,
while his keen light eyes sparkled with the
! Joy of seeing her, and his hard mouth re-
Taxed into q pleasant smile.
81 suppose it is" returned Mona, smil-
! ing.
cit is a delightful day for walking. Will
y
home, and let me have the pleasure of es-
corting you by the short way to the house."
! Mona thought for a moment, and then
said-'T will"
Directing the boy to &C m, she walked
on beside Lislo, and theyt d off almost
Immediately by path to tn fit, that led
by sleeper and more direct line to the
house.
isle opened the conversation by saying
you are not bound here for the term of
your natural Life, are you" looking eager
~ into her eyes. ''That unspeakable bore,
Miss Morton, mentioned some absurd re-
port of your uncls intending to marry you
to his wild Highlander of nephew. It
canno< be trueI'
"Why?" asked Mona, demurely.
"Why9 A creature like thatp'
'Hs is very good-looking, and most ami
able in disposition"
But one knows how Sn amisble dispo-
sition may fare atyour hands" no returned
somewhat bitterly. Tell me, for Gods
sake, is it possible You can contemplate
such sscriice9 Do you really think of
linking yoursslf with a mere respectable
farmsYP'
pray remember. if you please, that
Kenneth Macalster Ia my near kinsman;
he cannot be socially beneath me-"
II dare say you think mo sn ill-bred
brute, but you know how profoundly In
tercctcd / have always boon in you, and
once in crisis in your fate, you permitted
me to advise you"
II do not think you waited for permits
sionl' said Mona, with an arch smile
II think never made such a mistake in
my nfsl | ana always burning to implore
your forgiveness for my idiotic suggestion"
What is there to forgiven" she returned
gently. ION the contrary, 1 ought to be
grateful to you for breaking through the
| principle of non-interVention, which, of
course, would have prevented man OF the
world doing anything so quixotic as to Of
fer way of ESCAPE to damsel in distress
May tell you what my own state OF
mind was at that unhappy juncture?h
mo, mol There is no use in looking
backi Let us thank Heaven for the pres
entn
Il do not" said Lisle, gloomily. "But
do not be enigmatic. You are not going
to marry this-this cousin of yours?"
mo, Sir st. Johnr returned Mona, as
Stunning an air of sadness ar cannot, see
| ing that he has rejected me-"
'What!" cried Lisls; rejected youf"
Eyes 1 hops you sympathizs with me
IN the shock 1 have received But Kenneth
prefers not TO marry me-"
''Then old Craig wanted to arrange a
marriaGes"
He did; but his purpose has been frus-
tratsdW returned Mona, with tragic en-
phasis.
Isle laughed.
| 81 understand, think" he said I'm
agine any man refusing uotu I did not
think you had so much quiet sarcasm"
81 am unaware of it." returned Mona.
"And you will not listen to my explana-
tion?"
81 do not see what you have to explain;
and, were any explanation necessary, there
is no time: we are close to the house, and
| 1 suppose you viii coma In and see Uncle
Sandys"
Most certainly But, Miss Craig,
must insist mean, must implore you
to hear the explanation wish to make"
II really want nonel-perhaps I under
stand more than you think"
II fear you may understand in a wrong
way"
well, here we are at the house, and
here comes Uncle Sandy and Mary. II.
in paroxysm of hospitality. my uncle
asks you to supper, do rot stay. I know
the menu, and you would not like it"
Then hastsning to meet them, she ex-
claimed
81 have brought you each letter, but
there is none for me from Madame Deb
risay. l fear something must be the mat
ter with her"