Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1889-06-27

''Papa, who is the stranger | saw in
the library just nowP He was talking
to your secretary, Mr.. Winchell, as il
he were quite at home," said Daisy
Clyburne, winding one plump, white
arm around her fathers neck, as she
perched herself on the arm of his
chair.
Those who knew Silas Clyburne
only as business man, president OF
several railroads, director in a score OF
other corporations and a shareholder
in every paying concern in the state,
would have been amazed to see how
easily this fragile girl bent to her
will the stony-hearted, irOn-handed
man.
"His name is Osborne Palmer" re-
piled the elder Clyburne, gazing af-
fectionately at his idol.
II didn't ask you what his name is;
/ ask, who is he? And that is the way
you dare to answer my questions, sirP"
and as she spoke Daisy playfully
pinched one of his ears.
Ouch! You little inquisitive tor
ment! Well, to be explicit. Mr.. Pal
mer is to be one of my under secretar-
les. He is TOTO assist Mr.. Winchell."
Come, come, sir? that hesitation
shows that you are trying to hide
something; [ want the truth, the
whole truth, and nothing but the
truth.
Perhaps you remember that few
weeks ago your mother extracted
from me promise that would never
again, under any circumstances, open
packages which might come to me by
mail or express"
''Of course we did, If those wretch
es send you a dynamite bomb once,
they might do it more successfully
again; it was by a mere chance that
the thing was out offorder and did not
blow us all up" replied Daisy with a
shudder.
Not one of the servants has courage
enough to do it for me; Mr.. Winchell
has family, and since our recent ex-
perience he has no taste for the task;
so | have employed this young Palmer,
whose special business it will be to
open my parcels.
''Oh, papa, why should he take the
risk of his life? He is $3.50 young,
maybe he has a mother?"
mo, nor sister, nor any near rela-
tive. He is highly educated and well
born, but being unfortunate in bust
ness, and therefore Tilted by heart
less girl, he resolved to put an end to
an unhappy life. He procured a
quantity of laudanum, but decided
that that was uncertain, and so shot
himself in the head. Either his hand
swerved or his aim was uncertain,
for the wound proved to be only seri-
Gus, not fatal. He was taken to a hos
pital, and us the letter he had written
for post norton purposes proved that
the shooting was intentional, he was in
danger of arrest and trial for attempt
ed Self-murder.
Learning or the affair, was struck
with an idea and so used my influence
in his behalf, and there was no arrest.
He placed no value on his life, and sc
readily accepted the position | offered
him. He came the very day after you
and your mother went to your grand
mothers to spend Thanksgiving, and
Mr.. Winchell tells me that he is OF
great assistance to him, especially in
my large foreign correspondence. He
is gentleman born, so he will live
and | want you to give your cousin
Bertha hint that while she is with u:
we hope she will be courteous to him
am very fond of Berth, my dear, bu
can see that she is the least bit snob
bish-like her father. Obed Jennes
is an inbred snob!'
The famous Kilkenny cats Nigh
well have been named Silas Clyburn,
and Obed Jenness, for these two meI
were continually fighting, tooth anC
nail. If one could thwart a scheme o
The other it was rare sport to him, bu
retaliation was sure to come in some
understanding way. As they married
sisters and there was constant inter
course between their wives and daugh
tiers, they outwardly maintained al
armed neutrality.
Goodness gracious, Daisy, do yol
know who Uncle Silas has in his EN-
ploy now?" cried Bertha Jenness t,
her cousin when she, too, had seen tn
young package opener.
''Yes, but he told me all about hin
just few moments ago. Poor fellow
He has a romantic and sad history.
replied Daisy, and then went on to re
late what we already know about Os
borne Palmer.
Bertha listened attentivelv with
peculiar smile lowering around he
thin, soulless lips, and when the stor,
was concluded she said, with a shrus
of her shoulders, Every romantic,
admit, but what fool he was"
''Oh, no, Bertha! Doubtless hi
troubles had temporarily turned hi
brain, yet surely he is to be pitied."
Il am not so sure that he is not nov
but tell me, Daisy, did you eve
hear me speak of young cavalier
had who used to deluge me with rar
roses and choice bonbons until his fol
tune vanished, and then Showered o
me tender verses of his own compost
tion?n
"Oh, yes; and how l envied you fo
having a real poet at your feet! Bu
where is he now? Does he still sen
you poemsP"
"Doggerel. you mean! No. l hop
not. In Osborne Palmer, you
fathers clerk, you behold the manr'
No! Not really? Isn't that odd
And now that he has come to life agail
SO to speak, the lovely romance wi
begin all over again." said Daisy
with faint shade of regret in he
voice.
Each of these cousins had somethin
the other lacked. Bertha was one of
large family, and how Daisy wishe
that she, too, might have one or tw
brothers, or one or two dear lit
midgets of sisters. But Bertha regart
ed these younger ones as channe
where a large share of her fail