Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1889-09-26

w men L naQ SuInclentlY recovered
from the shock of this rude awakening
to make any move | stopped down and
picked up the letter that was nearest
TO me, and which happened to be lying
seal uppermost. and without even
glancing at the address tore open the
envelope and proceeded to read its con-
tents They were startling, must adj
nit"
WAS the letter from a lady or q
| gentleman. Mr.. AshtonPn asked one of
| the Americans.
From the former, and it stated that
being weary of life and unable to SUBJ
NIT any longer to paternal tyranny,
she intended TO avail herself of her
darling's oft-repeated request that she
should fly with him, and that she.
therefore, requested him to meet her
at the terminus here (where here,
might be, know not, for there was
neither date nor address affiXed) on
Tuesday next at 4:15. | had scarcely
had time to finish the letter, or to won
der who could have written it TO me,
when my servant entered with a tele-
| gram demanding an Immediate answer.
| Whilst | was framing my reply Cuth-
| bert busted himself with making ND
the fire, and in so doing came into &C
/ tive collision with Nell. whom he never
could managerial who at once began
to bark in way that drove me nearly
wild. As soon as my telegram was
dispatched | looked round for the COW
er of the mysterious epistle, which L
had decided by this time ought never
fn fol lon info hnn do. hy.k
was nowhere to be seen. / asked Cuth-
bert if he had noticed it-a long white
envelope.
81 suppose. SIR he answered, in an
aggrieved tone, for he and / were of
ten at issue where Nell was concerned,
that that was what the dog had got
hold of just now. l did try to take it
from her, but know you don't like to
hear her bark. She dropped it at last,
and l threw it into the fire, but it
was just mere pulp then. You
couldn't have read what was written
on it,
$50 the envelope was destroyed, and
with it had gone every chance of my
ever being able to restore its contents
to the destined recipient Cuthbert
then proceeded to inform me that he
had only brought me in two letters
blue ones-with the newspaper, and
there they both were on the table, still
unopened. So this third epistle, which
was, unquestionably, never intended
for me, had evidently arrived between
the leaves of the Field, and had slipped
out when the latter burst its cover in
falling from my lap. During the fol-
lowing Tuesday afternoon, which was
an awful one, often thought of the
unhappy young victim to parental ty-
ranny and hoped that she came to no
serious harm"
''But her name, Mr.. Ashton" ex-
claimed the American; "we're all dying
to hear her name. Was there no sig
natureP"
There was, but-good heavens!
you'll be burntm The last remark
was addressed to Mrs. Fowler, who, in
stretching across the table to reach
some bonbons, had nearly set fire to
her lace sleeve.
With great presence of mind Horace
seized her arm with one hand, whilst
with the other he drew back the candle,
but only just in time to avert cataS-
trophe; and then, as his eyes met those
of his hostess, it occurred to him, in
a flash of revelation, that this diver
sion had not been wholly unpremedi-
tated.
"Her name," he continued, after a
moments pause, twas -. But,
no! 1t is not fair to give up the name;
it was such an uncommon one, too"
Oh, the look OF relief that came into
those light-green eyes. If Horace had
doubted for one moment the truth of
his suspicious he was quite sure that
they were correct.
ut could not have been more I'M
common name than my wife's," said
Capt. Fowler. proudly, as if his wife's
uncommon Christian name reflected
luster upon the whole household. 81
should think, dear, that you were the
only Blenda in all England.
VERY possibly" said Horace. dry y.
The following day Mr.. Ashton. who
received patients at home throughout
the morning, was honored by visit
from Mrs Fowler. She had hurt her
wrist in that little encounter with the
candle, and had deem d it wiser to
consult a surgeon. After giving the
case his careful consideration, Horace
FASTENED to assure his fair patient
that there was nothing amiss; she had
only been frightened, not hurt.
sThat was very interesting story
you were telling us last night, Mr..
Ashton" said Mrs. Fowler, in a low
nervous tone, as she was leaving the
room. Have you kept that wonder
full letter?'
81 have. | thought | had destroyed
it, but | came across it the other day
in turning out the contents of an old
dispatch box. But | mean to burn it. ;"
when"
.Oh, before long. | cannot do it
now, for the letter is at the top of the
house, and | have at least half dozen
patients waiting to see me. But as
you are so much interested in the story,
Mrs. Fowler, I'll tell you what I'll do:
I'll burn the letter in your presence
I'll bring it up to Davies street"
Eyes, yes! But whenP' very impa-
tiently.
"Must l fix date? Shall we say,
then, when | come up to pay my visit
of congratulation? Your step-daugh-
ter's engagement to my old friend
Humphrey Challoner is an open Sc
cret."
Mrs. Fowler turned crimson with
anger, and for moment made no re-
ply; T. en- as Horace was opening the
door she paused for a second time.
''Mr. Ashton, don't judge me too
harshly. / was young at the time
only lo-and | was very miserable.
You don't know, perhaps, the evil of
an oVer-repressive system of educa-
tion. But, believe me, | thank God