Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1889-03-21
aUYS CHORISTER.

light streams through painted window and
falls on two figures at an organ.
But here the resemblance ceased, for both
inmates of the apartment were girls. One
she who was seated with her hand on the
keys-had a pale intellectual face whose
regularity of feature was its least charm.
while the other, who stood behind, was at
ordinary times barely pretty, but on occasions
such as this, when the fire of enthusiasm Lit
up her changing gray eyes and the sunlight
turned her hair to masses of FURNISHED gold.
was remarkably so.
She had just finished singing, and the
vaulted roof of the room still rang with the
echo of her voice. Her eyes were full of
tears as she laid her hand on her friends
shoulder.
1T is gloriousP' she exclaimed enthusiast
hcally. Guy is great musician, and this''
she touched the manuscript music open on
the organ-''will live when we are DUST
Guys sister turned towards her with
grateful look.
Il think it WILL she said simply. 1T is
very beautiful. How wish he could hear
you sing itP
Fides Grimswold shrugged her shoulders
with slight impatient gesture.
1T seems to be of no use wishing, Theo
He avoids Deepdene as if it were smitten by
the pestilence, and shuns me as though l, in
stead of being his dear little friend of a year
or two ago and his cousin, were his deadlieSt
enemy"
"Ihe year or two must be stretched out to
twelve, Fidesl More than a decade has pass
cd since Guy used to romp with you and call
you his little wife and you were only seven.
You can't have forgotten how you cried
when for the last time he crossed the TIRES
hold of Deepdene, and your-and his-grand-
father swOre he should never cross it again"
''uOw cruel it was of grandpapa, Theo! 1t
was the only unjust deed ever knew him to
do. What made him so hard and unforgiv-
ing?'
Her companions cheeks flushed; then she
Rocked up proudly.
I'VE never talk of it, Fides; but you must
not think it is because we are ashamed. Our
mother-Guy's and mine-was the old mans
fav0rite child. He had this room built, and
gave her this organ the day she was eighteen,
because she loved music so much. And then
then she ran away with her music-maSter,
and her father never saw her again. They
say that it was the most terrible grief of his
life, and that he was a changed man from
that time; but | cannot blame her, for she
gave us the truest dearest father ever chill
dren were blessed with. | am proud of him,
of his profession, his courage, and his genius.
He would have been great, am sure, if he
had not died SO young-thOUgh, thank Heav-
en-, he lived long enough to leave us with a
memory we shall never loseP'
"And your mother?"
''rhey loved too well to be long separated,
and the latter part of her life seemed to go
with his. 1t was only as she lay dying, leav-
ing us two helpless children alone and friend
less, that she asked her fathers forgiveness
for herself and protection for us. Even then
he would not see her, but he gave his promise
to help her little ones. So we came to Deep
dene, and on our arrival you, tiny child
with pale face and fair hair, came forward
In a black dress-you too had lost those near
est and dearest to yOu-tO receive us. l shall
never forget how grandfather led you out
and said to you, in his stately way, Take
your Cousins hand, my child. 1t is right that
the mistress of my house should welcome my
heir "
and you, Theo?"
Miss Italian laughed gOod-humoredly.
''Oh, | was ignored then, as afterwards !
But | did not mind so long as you and Guy
were provided for. Between you l knew |
FideS Grimswold medtated for a little;
then she said questiOningly-
heir?'
Her companion looked embarrassed.
'You know he changed his mind" she an
swered, with some hesitation. when, at
seventeen, Guy insisted on following his
fathers profession, and l naturally decided
to throw in my fortunes with him, it was not
at all remarkable that our grandfather, being
the man he was, should do as he did and
cast us off altogether"
but Guy need not retaliate on me-" the
younger girl said petulantly. "Why should
he have refused to visit Deepdene-why have
scorched me with his contempt and have
flung back my charity as he was cruel
enough to call it, on that miserable occasion
when | came to see you both two years agOY'
Guy is proud, dear, and the wound was
too fresh for even your gentle hand to touch
II. He dearly loved the old man, and you
you had taken his place"
"But not willingly l would hand over
the estates to him tomorrow if he would take
them. That's the worry and responsibility
That's the idea-that no one can love me for
myself, or will marry me but for my money;
and | deteSt the money that has eStranged
me fr0nl-frOm the friends who loved me as
q childP'
Miss Hallam laughed softly.
st has not estranged me-" she said; ''but
then am not too proud to accept frankly
the invitation You gave us so willingly to
come and live here in our old home, and
share freely in all the good things OF this life
above all, in the love of my impulSiye little
cousin" As she spoke she stroBed gently
the others shining hair.
Tears started to Fides's eyes, and an old
aching yeaning rose in her heart as she re-
nrned the caress.
4 wish" she began, then stopped with a
nigh.
You wish?" her companion said Inferno
Gatiyely.
The g RI turned and walked to the window
The last rays of the sun were still Pickering
on the terraced gardens; but III the distance
over the spires of the old gray Minister, {
great yellow moon rose slowly.
why is everything at such croSs-pur
poses?" she sighed. And why does Onl!
the unattanable seem worth having? WheI
we are babies, we think that if we cry TO
the moon yOndeT, it will come down to us
but we live and learn, and bitter experience
teaches that it never even looks at u.s."
Her companion crossed to where she stood
She was a tall fnely-formed woman of owe
thirty, and she looked down at her cousin
with a loving air of amusement She tool
Fidess chin in her hand and turned her fac,
upward till the troubled eyes looked Straigh
into hers-then with pleasant laugh re
leased her hold.
MY dear" she said, ''you have let me int
little secret Shall l tell you story in ex
changer"
FideS bluShed violently.