Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1889-08-29

Mary BARLEY, and told her all about it.
| She hung upon him. and gazed admir-
| ingly into his eyes all the time, and they
parted happy lovers.
Mr.. Bartloy met her at the gate.
MARY" said he, gravely, who was that
I saw you with Just noW?"
Cousin Walter"
II feared SO. You are too much with
| him"
Mary turned red and white by turns,
! but said nothing.
BARLEY went on: "You are a good
child, and / have always trusted you. I
am sure you mean no harm. But YOU
must be more discreet. / have Just
heard that you and that young man are
! looked upon as engaged lovers. They
say it is all over the village Of course
a father is the last to hear these things.
| Does Mrs. Easton know of this?"
"Oh yes, papa, and approves it."
Stupid old woman! She ought to be
ashamed of herself"
"Oh, papaI" said Mary, in deep dis
tress; why, what objection can there
be to Cousin Walter?"
'NOne whatever as cousin but every
objection to intimacy. Does he court
your"
"I don't know, papa. I suppose he
does"
'Does he seek your love?"
HE does not say so exactly"
: Come, Mary, you have never deceiv-
ed me- Does he love your"
Il am afraid he does: and if you reject
him he will be very unhappy. And so
shall l."
Il am truly sorry to hear it, Mary, for
there are reasons why cannot consent
to an engagement between him and
YOU"
what reasons, papa?"
ut would not be proper to disclose
my reasons; but hope, Mary, that it
will be enough to say that Colonel Cliff
ford has other views for his son, and I
have other views for my daughter. Do
you think blessing will attend you or
him if you defy both fathers?"
mo, no." said poor Mary. 1--WE have
been hasty anu very foolish. But, oh,
papa, have you not seen from the first?
Oh, why did you not warn me in time?
Then | could have Obeyed you easily.
Now it will cost me the happiness of
my life. We are very unfortunate. Poor
Walter! He left me so full of hope.
What shall | do? what shall I do?"
1t was Mary Bartley's first grief. She
thought all chance of happiness was
gone forever, and she Wept bitterly fol-
Walter and herself.
Barley was not unmoved, but he
could not change his nature. The sum
he had obtained by crime was dearer
to him than all his more honest gains.
He was kind ON the surface, but hard
as marble.
go to your room, my child" said he,
and try and compose yourself; L am
not angry with you. / ought to have
WafPhnH R11+
and | trusted to that woman"
Mary retired, sobbing, and he sent for
Mrs. Easton.
Mrs. Easton," said he, 'for the first
time in all these years have fault to
find with you"
What is that, sir, if you please?"
Young Clifford has been counting
that child, and you have encouraged it,"
NAY, sir" said the woman, Il have
not done that. She never spoke to me,
nor [ to her"
We'll, then, you never interfered."
NO, sir; no more than you did"
Because l never observed it till to-
day"
"How could I know that, sir? Every
body else observed it. Mr.. Hope would
have been the first to see it, if he had
been in your place." This sudden thrust
made BARLEY vince, and showed him
he had tougher customer to deal with
than poor Mary.
You can't bear to be found fault
with, Easton," said he, craftily, sand 1
don't wonder at it, after fourteen years.
fidelity to me-"
Il take no credit for that" said the
woman, doggedly. II have been paid
for it."
NO doubt. But I don't always get
the thing pay for. Then let by-gones
be by-gones; but just assist me now to
cure the girl of this folly"
Sir" said the woman, firmly, "it is
not folly; it is wisest and best for all;
and can't make up my mind to lift a
finger against it."
'no YOU mean to defy me. then?"
To be continued.