Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1888-09-20
Most THROUGH. CleO?l

dressed IS sitting With her back to her
sister, and all the face and half of her
head is hidden by the hood of a retouch-
ing frame. She is leaning eagerly for
ward. Her eyes are riveted on the
negative before her, and her deft,
dainty fingers are making swift, magic
strokes on the work under her hand
t'In ten minutes MORE" the sweet
musical voice repeats; "and when I've
done | shall place before your as
tonished gaze something too utterly
lovely, my Lady Jane"
Then Janet Heath lifts her head
YEARLY from the cushions ofherinvalid
couch, and sighs impatiently. Cleo's
quick ear catches that sigh instantly.
care you in pain, Janie?"
''No not particularly. Only think,
dare not read aloud to you any more.
I begin to think that comical genius,
Sir Royle Roche, was exceedingly cor
rect when he said that 'the greatest of
all calamities was generally followed
by one much greater 1t seems so,
actually. Oh, dear, dear! Why don't
some Of our rich relatives hunt us up
and insist on making us a present of
a few hundreds? They could easily
afford to do it, and only think what a
godsend it would be to us!''
''Well, for your sake, jamie, [ sin
cerely wish they would. Then you
could have that operation performed
or your eyes ut once, and [ should be
able to get you all the nice, nourish-
inc food that the doctor recommended
and that fine wine that he said you
ought to-Now, see thisi' and she
handed Miss Janet the negative.
yes Miss Janet says, after regard
ing the negative critically, ''yOu GER
tainly have done splendid work upon
it, and it is really an exceedingly nice
face; but | have seen you retouching
many and many 4 one that was far
handsomer.n
E'Well, | will admit all that the
girl answers, receiving the negative
back and gazing down at the face.
''Still, this one has interested me great
" ever since l began working upon it.
But, good gracious, this won't do! Only
look at all the time I've been wasting!
l must scramble into my things and
take this work to the gallery at once"
she breaks forth suddenly
Then she flies to the closet, takes out
a very odd, quaint poke bonnet, ties it
on, and, catching up the package of
well-done work, hurries to the door.
''Well, jamie here | am atlast!' Cleo
exclaimed an hour later, flashing into
the cool, dark room in q breathless
sort of way, with her cheeks much
deeper in color than when she left,
and 4 pair of wild, oddly excited eyes.
Then, putting away her ''things," she
sits down in a stiif-backed chair and
fans her hot cheeks furiously.
''Well, jamie, DO YOU know the most
romantic incident has occurred this
afternoon? Really, | do actually be-
gin to think there must have been some
one around practicing black art what
ever that may be- There, now, don't
commence to lose your patience, and
I'll begin and tell you the whole odd
occurrence right from the start I
went to the gallery first, of course.
and gave in my work and got my
money, all of it-three big, round
dollars, if you please. Then l went to
the market to get something nice for
you. From there [ went over to Mr..
NortOn's drug store, and | told him
| wanted flask of his very best wine,
and | wanted it just as cheap as he
could let me have it, and do YOU know
bow don't say word. l know you
are fixing to scold me for my shame
full extravaganza but you needn't for
haven't got any, she explains, with
mysterious little smile. Let me
see; where was l? Oh, yes; and do you
know, that dear, kind man gave me
splendid flask, with his compliments
to the invalid, and he hoped it would
do her good Yes; [ know by that
look that you are going to ask me
where it is, and if you'll just give me
time, I'll make full confession. Don't
run away with the idea that l drank
1t, though, because l didn't. As soon
as I'd thanked him, rushed out,
and 10 and behold you it had clouded
up awful, and was beginning to rain
right smart rs the countrvman said.
When | saw that, really didn't know
what to do. OF course, | wouldn't
have an umbrella. That wouldn't be
my luck, YOU know, and | had so
many packages that l couldn't hold
up my clothes, and | was in dreadful
dilemma. | finally decided, though
that the best thing would be to make
n scamper for home as fast as my feet
would carry me. So | took a fresh
grip on all my bundles, and was just
striding along with nv most Eliza
bethan-like strides, when that most
exasperating shoe of mine became I'M
tied-of course, l would have on those
thin, low things. / was going wildly
along, breaking my heart thinking how
muddy my skirts and the tassels were
getting-you know these are my
grand state-occasion Shoes" she re-
marks, looking despairingly at them
s.when somebody came dashing franti-
cally along, with an UMBRELLA far over
his head, and knocked slap up against
me, and down went that precious flask
and was shivered into sixteen million
pieces!' she cries jumping up and strik-
ing tragic attitude.
.'Why, what was the matter with
the man? Where were his eyes?"
Janet asks, Grossly, sitting up very
straight.
''Oh, he had them with him, my
dear, and now, who do you suppose it
was? Well, it was the original of that
negative that I've been raying over all
day." and having announced this piece
of news with telling force, Cleo folds
her arms and looks across at Janet.
is that so? Well, we'll, After that
deluge! BY the way you were in one
at the time. L am amazed. 1t was
fate, my dear-it was written. Well,
amigo on-what did he do, and what
did you say?" Janet questions in a
most fiuttering state of interest.
.'SayP If you'll believe me. 1 never
said anything. l couldn't, and I shall