Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1889-06-06

fllCudIO.
81 should not mind" I said, ''if I could
remember where go to, or what do; but
all is a blank"
We spoke of other matters, and went
down to breakfast. After the meal my
wife and I strolled into the garden, and
spent an idle hour there. My daughter
and Mdlle. Rosalie were in the grounds,
| and Samuel Fleetwood made his appear
ance to give me report OF some task l
had set him to do When he came to-
wards me [ was conversing with Mdlle.
Rosalie, my wife and Eunice being at g.
little distance, and / left my daughters
| governess to join him. Certainly my mood
was peculiar one on this morning, for
the short conversation I had with Mdlle.
Rosalie left an uncomfortable impression
upon me. And yet nothing was spoken by
her or me to account for it; we had con-
versed upon ordinary matters, but there
was in her manner aconfiding tenderness
Il cannot think of any other words in
which to describe (which was new and
strange to me.
| After hearing Fleetwood's report I re-
! ferred to something I had observed as he
approached me and Mdlle. Rosalie. She
| had nodded to him, with pleasant smile
on her lips, and he had returned neither
the nod nor the smile. I inquired the rea-
son.
ST do not like her, sir" he added, after a
pause.
For any particular reason" I asked.
"No, SIR" he replied, after another short
pause. ''My feelings towards her may
spring from prejudice"
Speak more plainly, Fleetwood"
urged.
"Well, SIR" he said, Gin the first place,
she is not g, Frenchwoman."
ST discovered that some time SINCE"
observed.
There was a look of surprise in his eyes
as he said, But her name is French"
"Quite true, Fleetwood. Her father
may have been French"
! ''May have been, STRIP he remarked, re-
| peating my words with emphasis. ''Then
he is not living"
''Mdlle Rosalie is doubly orphaned" l
said "Come, come, Fleetwood, we may
be doing the young lady an injustice in
canvassing her so freely behind her back"
"You are right, sir, as you always are.
I am very sorry 1 spoke"
But" I persisted, "having gone so far
we may be adding to the injustice by not
carrying this conversation to it's legitimate
end. We cannot be too careful of reputa-
lions. Say what is in your mind"
every well, sir. Mdlle. Rosalie has nc
parents, but she has relations"
81 think not Fleetwood"
s'No sisters or brothers, sir"
$50 l understand. She is alone in the
world, with not a soul to depend upon
except ourselves"
'Then the man she meets, SIR" said
Fleetwood. sis not relation"
81 was not aware" I said, "that Mdlle.
Rosalie was in the habit of meeting any
man; but, after all, it is no affair of ours. u
mo, sir"
$50 on, Fleetwood; you had best finish.
Are these meetings frequent?'
Every frequent, should say, sir. I have
passed them, by accident, at least half a
dozen times"
] "How long has this been going ons"
at is four months since l first saw
them"
reflected. Mdlle Rosalie had been in
our service only five months, and it was
| generally understood, through her OWL
statements, that she was stranger In
the neighborhood, and had no friends or
acquaintance. Here, then, was another
duplicity to trouble and perplex me.
where do these meetings take place,
| FLEETWOOD"
'In Ivybush Lane, sir"
Ivybush Lane was, perhaps, the most
secluded part of the locality round about
but if Mdlle. Rosalie and her friend were
lovers was it not natural that they should
meet in a spot where they were least like
| ly To he intruded 11nOn9
"And at what hour, in your observa
ton " asked, "do they meet?"
Always at night, sir, when there is nc
moon"
You are quite sure" said somewhat
startled, that you are not misguided by
prejudice?'
81 speak of facts, sir, not impressions"
"YOu have impressions-but of course
you have; it is ridiculous to ask such 6
question. What mean is, that your i'm
pressions are not favorable to Mdlle Rosa
ie?"
"They are not, sir. If she has a sweet
heart, what reason can there be for SO
much secrecy? When I have approached
them-and beg you to believe that have
always come across them by accident
they have stopped talking and have
shrunk away from observation, the man
especially. Once am certain they were
quarrelling."
"a lovers quarrel, Fleetwood"
perhaps, sir; but it didn't sound like it
They seemed to be threatening each other.
That is all 1 have to tell. SIR"
Have you met the man at other times,
when he was alone?"
81 can't say, sir. never saw his face:
he seemed to take great pains to hide it
from me-"
'You are positive it was Mdlle. Rosalie,
and not another ladyf"
81 am positive. SIR"
"One more question, Fleetwood. Ivy
bush Lane is lonely spot which one
would not traverse for pleasure on dark
some nights. What took you there?"
''It is near the graveyard, sir, where my
wife is buried"
His voice trembled with emotion.
pressed his hand
Let us keep this to ourselves" [ said,
presently. sit will be the wisest course.
When my daughter is married Mdlle.
Rosalie will leave our service"
At this moment, as Fleetwood was about
to leave me, Eunice danced up to US. 1t
| was pleasure to look upon her bright
face, beaming as it was with happiness.
Loves summer was hers; her life was filled
with heavenly joy. In her hand she held
| two posies.
''Nfdlle. Rosalie arranged Them" she
said. ''She has the most exquisite taste.
One for you, papa; and one for you, Mr..
Fleetwood"
Neither she nor my wife ever addressed
him as an ordinary servant. He accepted
the posy reluctantly. A gift from the