Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1889-09-12

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looking forward to the hour when. for the
sake of ''auld lang syne," he hoped to re
ceive rapturous welcome to the home OF
poor uncle Ted's widow, whom he remem
| bered as very beautiful young woman
with bright golden hair and a pleasant
voice and manners
The young Colonist arrived at the
Laurels one wet evening when the girls
were all assembled together, reading
/ working, and painting, in their pretty sit
! ting-room. The first startled glance re-
| vealed to the family that their worst sur
misses were fully realized. Cousin Pat
! was certainly rather an alarming appari-
ton as he stood on the threshold, blocking
| up the whole framework of the door-a
| young man of almost colossal proportions.
clothed in garments that were woefully
! Colonial, with great red hands and large
| terribly-shod feet. His bright bold face
was sunburnt to a most vivid brick color,
| and further inf1amed by mass of tawny
/ hair, covering his lips, cheeks, chin, and
/ even streaming down the back of his coat.
/ Mrs. Cantwell was the first to recov er
| from the shock of his appearance, and she
/ advanced hastily to meet him.
| ''My dear Pat! can this be really you?
/ What an immense fellow you have grownl
/ | should never have known your
| ''Nor you," returned Pat, with more
| frankness than consideration, as he warm
| ly embraced his relative. ''By Jovel my
dear aunt, you have changed too! I re-
member you such IA"
''Well, well, here are my girls, Pat-per-
( haT Lfr
pleasantly to you. Maud, Ethel, Gather
inc, Griselda-your cousin Pa"
But cousin Pat required no further pre-
sentation, for, before the startled maidens
could retreat or utter the faintest remons-
trance, he had borne down on them and
had swept each delicate cheek in turn
with the full 1uxuriance of his tawny
mustache Then, Selling the iimsiest
Queen Anne chair in the room, and throw
inc his mighty LEGS astride it. he sat his
! arms resting on the quivering back, facing
the astonished group, smiling on them
smile of perfect contentment and entire
appreciation, while he entertained them in
a loud clear voice with an account of his
voyage.
When at last, in obedience to some oc-
cult sign from headquarters, the girls
each in turn escaped from his presence
and assembled in the dining room they
surveyed each other grimly for few mo-
ments, and then broke forth
81 say, isn't he awful?"
ga regular Bushman!"
"a perfect orang-outangl'
"What will people think of himi"
"Such a coat!'
"Such boots!" SIS
"Such voicer
"And such impudence" added Kitty.
"Yes-wasn't it impertinent of him?"
II was never so taken aback in my lifeP'
ga good thing for him Sydney wasn't
present!' said the engaged Miss CantwelL
"And yet" continued Kitty, musingly,
'if you pick him to pieces, he is not an alb
solutely bad-looking man. There's enough
of him certainly"
"Oh, he's exactly what country house
maid would call a splendid figure of a
manp'
Il dare say out in the bush he is consid-
cred very fine specimen of the native raw
material"
"A very trying specimen to his relatives,
at any ratel I wonder how long he means
to entertain US with his overpowering So
ciety?"
Meanwhile the subject of this unfatter-
ing criticism was favoring the lady of the
house with his opinion of her family.
Il must congratulate you, aunt Alice.
You certainly have managed to perpetuate
the family reputation for good looks.
Why, the combined blaze of loneliness
that confronted me as l crossed the TIRES
hold took away my breath! Faith, Pat,
me boy says | to myself, you've pitched
your tent in pleasant quarters this time,
and no mistaken
eyes, they are nice-looking girls enough;
they quite take after my side of the fami-
ly," returned aunt Alice, complacently
'All except that little dark one; she
isn't nearly as good-looking as the rest''
NO. she is very like her poor father.
But she is good girl Pat. a very good
girl, with plenty of common sense"
Il dare say. All the same,' muttered
Pat, half to himself, "she doesn't look
nearly as good as the others"
And now, my dear boy" said Mrs
Cantwell, in a sweet maternal tone, think
ing it high time to come to business and
ascertain to what section of humanity her
nephew belonged, you must tell me all
about yourself. your affairs and prospects
favorable report to give me-that you in
tend to turn over leaf in the unfortunate
Cantwell record and introduce a little
money into the family"
well, aunt Alice" replied Pat, in
rather complacent tone, ''as times go, 1
can't complain. Of course life in the Col
onies, especially up in the bush, is a hard,
struggling one; but, if you have energy
and determination, you find that things
pay in the long run as a rule-at least,
that's my experience"
$50 I've heard, laying her hand affec-
tionately upon one of Pats broad shout
ders And you, my dear, l am sure,
have plenty of both"
Eyes l suppose Pm wide-awake enough.
Now here am [, after five years farming
upin the bush, able to put by my hundred
and fifty pounds, leave the stock in my
partners hands, saloon it across the Pa
cific, and have six months fling here
with the best. / don't call that half bad
for fellow not yet turned thirty-do
your"
Seeing that his auditor remained silent
at this appalling revelation of his finances,
and taking her mute assent as expressing
entire satisfaction, he continued in a rum
mating tone
mo: | thought you wouldn't. [ know
I'm considered precious lucky chap out
there. All, there's nothing like hard work
nothing like it! But it's so precious
lonely! If | had only a wife and family
to keep me company, I wouldn't mind
shaving there for the next forty years
However, nothing venture, nothing have.
L