Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1889-12-19


Gates and things against my Walters
honor and his love. Hide my Idult from
him. not for my sake but for his: per-
haps when we are both old peopleI may
tell him."
This was Grace Clifford's petition,
and need ne say she prevailed?
Walter Clifford recovered under his
wife's care. and the house was SO large
that Colonel Clifford easily persuaded
their home. Hope had also two rooms
in it, and came there when he chose; he
was always welcome: but he was alone
again, so TO speak, and not quite forty
years of age. and he was ambitious. He
began to rise in the world, whilst u
younger characters. contented with
their happiness and position. remained
stationary. Master of a great mine,
able now to carry out his inventions.
member of several scientific aSsocla-
tionS, a writer for the scientific press,
ETC.. he soon became a public and emil
nent mamie WaS consulted on great pub
lie works. and if he lives Will be one Of
the great lights of science in this island.
He is great on electricity, especially on
the application of natural forces TO the
lighting of towns. He denounceS all
the cities that allow powerful streams
to run past them and not work d single
electric light. But he goes further than
that. He ridiculeS the idea that it is
beyond the resources of science to util-
iZe thousands of millions of tons of
water that are raised twenty-one feet
twice in every tW~enty-fOur hours by the
tides. 1t is the skill to apply the force
that is needed: not the force itself,
which exceeds that of all the steam-en-
gineS In the nation. And he SAYS that
the great scientific foible of the day is
the neglect of natural forces, which are
cheap and ineXhauStible. and the mania
for S~team-engineS and gas, which are
expensive, and for coal, which is not to
last forever. He imploreS capital and
science to work in this question. His
various schemes for using the tides in
the creation of motive power will doubt
less come before the world in a more
appropriate channel than a work of fic-
ton. If he succeeds it will be a glOri-
Gus, as it must be a difficult, achieve
ment.
His society is valued on social
! grounds; his well stored mind, his DOW
ers of conversation, and his fine appear
ance, make him extremely welcome at
all the tables in the country; he also ac-
companies his daughter with the violin,
and, as they play beauties together, not
difficulties, they raVish the soul and in
terrupt the torture whose instrument
the ~pianoforte generally is.
BARLEY is a man with beautiful Silv-
cry hair and beard; he c~ultivates nurses,
and tends fruit-treeS and flowers with a
love little short Of %paternal. This Senti-
ment, and the contemplation of nature,
have changed the whole expression of
his face; it is wonderfully benevolent
and sweet, but with a touch of weak
ness about the lips. Some of the rough
fellows about the place call him a
"SOfty," but that is much too strong a
word; M doubt he is confused in his
ideas, but he reads all the great Ameri-
can publications about fruit and flow
erS, and executes their instructions
with tact and skill. Where he breaks
down-and who would believe this?-is
in the trade department. Let him sue
coed in growing apple-treeS, and pear
trees weighed down to the ground with
choice fruit. let him produce enormous
cherries by grating, and gigantic necta-
rines upon his sunny wall, and acres of
Strawberries too large for the mouth.
After that they may all rot where they
grow; he troubles his head no more.
This is more than his old friend Hope
can stand; he interfereS, and sends the
fruit to market, and fills great casks
with superlative cider and perry, and
keeps the account square, with a little
help from Mrs. EaStOn, who has return
ed to her old master, and is a firm but
kind mother to him.
Grace Clifford for some time could
not be got to visit him. Perhaps she is
one of those ladies who cannot get over
personal violence; he had handled her
roughly, to keep her from going to her
fathers help. After all, there may have
been other reasons; it is not so easy to
penetrate all the receSSeS of the female
heart. One thing is certain; she would
not go near him for months; but when
she did go with her father-and he had
to use all his influence to take her there
the rapture and the tears of joy with
Which the poor old fellow received her
dlSarmed her in a moment.
She let him take her through hot
houses and show her his children-"the
only children [ have now" said he-and
after that she never refused to visit This
erring man. His roof had sheltered her
many years, and he had found out too
late that he loved her, so far as his ma
ture could love at that time.
Percy Fitzroy had an elder sister. He
appealed to her against Julia Clifford.
She croSS-questiOned him, and told him
he was very foolish to despair. She
would hardly have slapped him if she
was quite resolved to part forever.
Let mt have a hand in reconcillng
you" said she.
"You shall have b-b-both hands i'll
it, if you like" said he; "for L am at my
w-w-wit's end"
So these two conspired. Miss Eitz-
roy was invited to Percy's house, and
played the mistress. She asked other
young ladies, especially that fair girl
with auburn hair, whom Julia called a
"fat thing" That meant, under the
circumstances, a plump and rounded
model, with small hands and feet; a per-
feet figure in a riding habit, and at
night a satin bust and s%culptured arms.
The very first ride Walter took with
Grace and Julia they met the bright
cavalcade of Percy and his sister, and
this red-iiGireG Venus.
Percy took off his hat with profound
respect to Julia and Grace, but did not
presume to speak.
what a lovely girl" said Grace.
"Do you think sol" said Julia.
eyes, dear; and so do YOU"
%What makes you fancy that?"
Because you looked daggers at her."
Because she is setting here cap atthat
little fool"
"She viii not have him without your
consent" dear.
And this set Julia thinking.
The next day Walter called ON Percy
and played the traitor.
"Give a ball" said he.
Miss Fitzroy and her brother gave a
ball. Percy, duly instructed by his sis
ter, wrote to Julia as meek as Moses,
and said he was in a great difficulty. If
he invited her, it would. of course, seen
J presumptuous. considering the poor
| onininn In had of him.if he nasSed her