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

Portable Armenian by the open WINDOW
overlooking the park, opposite to which
Mrs. Brooke's house was situated; her
hands were folded istlessly in her lap,
while her thoughts were miles away from
London and its busy inhabitants.
Deb was lying on the sofa, pretending to
read; but, as her book was upside-down,
she was evidently not very deeply inter-
ested in it. Presently she broke the sill
ence, which must have lasted for several
minutes.
''Felicia, are you not glad that we re-
fused Lady Lawns garden-party this af-
ternoon? declare 1t is quite delightful
to get few hours to Ourself!'
at is indeed, assented Felicia, languid,
IL, with half-closed eyes.
Not that have any right to be loung
ing here, for owe at least half dozer
letters continued the young sister.
Deb, have you answered Jacks last
letter yet:"
"No.n
''And you wrote only few lines last
time"
Il could not help i'll had no time"
There was a rather uncomfortable sill
euce for few minutes. and then Felicia
resumed the conversation by saying
'Do you know thai Captain Wyatt has
been here every day this week, and that
! he is coming with Us to the Opera to-
night'"
"Well?'' inquired Deb, holding her book
SO that it concealed her face from Felicia's
view.
HE does not come to see me ct aunt
Catherine
81 suppose you mean that THAI I am
flirting with Captain Wyatt?" said Deb,
in strangely unnatural tone. 81 might
make the same remark to you c. prOpOS OF
another person. Colonel Wolverton has
also been here nearly every.da this week
or we have met him out-and he is coming
with us to the opera tonight. He certain
| ly does not come to see me. If you fiirt
with Colonel Wolverton, why should not
| flirt with Captain Wyatt?"
| 'Deb, never thought that you would
accuse me of flirting. [ never flirted with
anyone in my life" Felicia paused for q
minute, and then went on, in a low voice.
Last season Colonel Wolverton proposed
to me, and l refused him point blank.
| told hiEl''-with an effort-''that had no
| intention of marrying him or anyone else.
He would not take No for an answer; he
| said as long as / was free he should hope,
and it was of no use for me to tell him, as
did over and over again, that his 3tten-
| lions were wasted. l should never have
| mentioned this, only did not want you
to think had behaved so badly. But, af-
ter all, Deb, even if ] had flirted, you for
! get that l am free.''
ooh, it is well known that Captain wyatt
is one of the greatest f1irts III Londonr'
said Deb, with a mirthless laug2 %He is
not likely to come to HARM
Captain Wyatt, I know" Felfcia ac-
quiesced, lis acknowledged to be ire
mendous f1irt; but the greatest firts are
not invulnerable. Captain Wyatt has
never treated you as he treats other Wo-
men. He loves you and, when q man Of
his nature loves"
II really cannot see what you should
know about the state of Captain Wyatt's
heart" broke in Deb in rather an unsteady
voice.
'EDeb, my dear, please do not think that
/ watch you OR try to pry into your affairs,
for indeed | do nothing Of the kind; but
one cannot help seeing what is going on,
sometimes; and last night, when aunt
Catherine and l were waiting for you to
finish that waltz, you passed US, dancing
rather slowly because of the crush. You
said something to hin-I do not know
what; but it seemed to me that he looked
at YOU in way that | have never seen
him look at shy other WOman-as a man
never does look at a woman unless he
really cares for her Deb dearI hate
saying this to you, but no one else will say
It'll do not think you are behaving honor
ably TO Jack or to Captain Wyatt. If you
only knew the misery you may be bring
ing upon both yourself and them
Felicia stopped abruptly, for Deb's book
had fallen to the ground with d crash, and
Deb herself, with her face hidden ia the
sofa cushions, was sobbing as if her heart
would break. The elder sister rushed to
the soft, surprised and distressed beyond
| measure.
My dear Deb, what is the matter?'' she
exclaimed. 't0h, don't cry like that!
never meant to make you so miserable.
! Cheer up, my pet! l dare say it is all my
stupid imagination.
Mo. it is nat,7' sobbed Deb; "a I'd [ am
| the most miserable girl in the worlG-for
! love Dick Wyatt with all my heart and
seul-I dc! / worship the 6 ,ound heMzall1s
| ont oh. Sc was cruel to let me engage ms V
| self to jack when was 50 young4 I WAS
| a mere chiId-what did knew abeutlove?
! jack ought neNer to have let me lind my
self to him"
Felicia stood still, bewiider2d, unable IS
utter a word"
'SI tried to tell I}$ck last night OF my en-
! gagement,m continued Deb; land, when il
/ came to the point, the words seemed tc
| stick in my thrGat-I could not after
| them. He almost told me that he cared
for me; and Ii let him go away thinking
that I was free to marry him.
''NIy Door little Deo! If only your en-
gagement had been properly announced
all this misery might have been saved
You see even Apnt Catherine knows moth
ing about it.
"If / had thought it would ever have
come to this, | would have told Dick long
ago; but it has gone on from day to day,
and it was only few days ago that found
we cared for each other oh, Felicia, what
shall I do?''
you must tell hin2 tonight, Deb-or 1
Must. 1t must not go on any longer" an,
swered Felicia, sorrowfully.
HE will never forgive metz Poor Det
! burst into sobs again. and Felicia's eyes
filed with sympathetic tears.
just at that moment there was the sound
of carriage-wheels stopping at the door
and the girls heard double knock.
''That must be Aunt Catherine. Felicia,
said Deb, getting up hastily. Tell her
am lying down in my room with head
ache On, Felicia, how shall get though
| this evening? Colonel Wolyerton and
| Dick are both coming TO dinner. you
know" and Deb ran Up stairs.
"Row is your headache, my dear?" asked
Mrs. Brooke, as her younger niece entered
min -l,n-o 10y hal nll,naG I