Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1889-07-11

something younger and possibly faIrer
than the substantial Dame Cooper, and
with some refined raste.'
Buj neither that day nor that week did
| he see any woman other than Mrs. Cooper
or the hired girl. However, the cooking
was good, the country air and his walks
round about gave him an appetite, and ne
was content. He fshed the stream close
| Iy, or rambled here and there, hammer in
hand and bag at side, OR leaning over
| fences and talked with farmers about
"crops" and the weather.
| In weeks time the thing grew mono
tonous. The fish were not always in
clined to bite, good specimens in quarries
and in stu grew scarcer, and his stock of
talk on farming was nearly exhausted.
! He began TO think of going to the Branch
and hunting up Boudinot. AS he sat
upon the veranda one afternoon debating
the matter, wagon was driven up the
lane and stopped at the door. Lightly
out stepped a young woman in neat
travelling dress, and the driver followed
J her with large trunk, under which he
/ staggered, bury as he was. Mrs. Cooper
came from the kitchen and exclaimed,
"Why, it's Gwenny, declared
you dear old Aunty Ruthp said the
new conner, hugging and kissing the
farmers wife. 81 came to have good
time for a mouth"
"And SO you shall, my DEAR" was the
hearty reply.
Philip took an ocular inventory of the
looks, dress and manner of the new
conner as he took off his hat. GA sweet
face and graceful figure, and presentable
anywhere" was the internal comment.
"Here's luck. I shall not visit the ranch
yet"
''You have a boarder, aunty," said the
girl, when upstairs with Mrs. Cooper.
eyes. He's Mr.. Bee" said the other.
ut don't look as if he had any call TO
work for his living, judging by his white
hands and fx-ups, and he's plenty of
money"
"Bee? Then he isn't busy bee. But
he's good looking; If he be agreeable he'll
do for walking stick"
Mrs. Cooper's mistake as to Philip was
natural enough. When she had asked his
name on his coming he had said, in his
eiry way, "Phllip B., ct your service" and
she had taken the sound of the initial for
his surname. After she had called him
Mr.. Bee several times Philip saw the
hlunder, smiled at it, and, as the officers
| say, made it so;' and when Gwenny
|
| ''Miss Gwenny, Mr.. Bee" AS she was the
niece, he concluded her name to be Coop
er, but as the farmer addressed her as
/ Miss Gwenny, and the farmers wife as
| GWenny, Philip chose the more respect
| full form of the two.
As Philip was gallant young gentle
man, and the young lady was charming
in manner, he naturally paid her much
| mt
woman are thrown together under such
circumstances it is not unusual for fir
tation TO follow. Ii is generally fore
gone conclusion.
Philip soon learned that "Gwenny" was
diminutive of Gwenllian, and not of the
more stilted Gwendoline which interested
him. Philips mother had been a Powell,
with Welsh blood in her veins, and bore
the same name. This later Gwenllian was
mystery TO him. For the niece of a
rather coarse farmer-for Cooper, though
a worthy man, was the reverse of refined
she displayed unquestionably gentle
manners. Then she showed fair knowl
edge of any subject touched upon in con-
versatiOn.
What was shea teacher? She had not
the look nor the way of the school ma am.
n
family. But her belongings were not of
the secondhand kind. Philip had keen
eye for female apparel. Her lace was of
the rarest; her gloves were perfect snd of
the newest; her dresses were pretty in
material and well-figting, though quiet in
tone; and though she displayed little in
the way of jewelry, the stone that spark
ed on the head of lace pin was uBmis-
takabIy diamond. She had been well
cultured and every word and action show
ed purity that fitted her name.
| On the other hand, Philip was as much
a mystery CO the young girl He was a
| gentleman beyond doubt. But what was
! he doing there, man of culture, refine
ment and % sthetic tastes, in that farm
house? He mad said nothing of the
| Boudinots, which would have ex planned If
| With little affectaGi0n of cynicism,
which did not il become him, the man
was as clear as water, frank as air. But
| Why did he loiter there with no apparent
purpose? The girl did not at first deem
she was the attraction, but il came TO her
| after five weeks, and she grew shy, and
| her shyness for the last week of her stay
infected Philip, who became shy too, and
lost all ease. At length she announced
TO Mrs. Cooper that she had to return
home, and that her father, who was in
Philadel phia visiting friend there would
! come for her on the following day, and
his friend with him. Philip heard this
with depression that told him he had
met his fate, and that it lay in the power
of this girl to make him happy or mis-
| cradle for life.
All the night that followed, Philip lay
and tossed restlessly. He could not
sleep. He felt that his father would be
good as his word, but ne would win wife
then or never. Near morning he arose,
dressed, and sat at the window until the
sun showed itself. Then he slipped out
of the house and strolled toward glen a
few yards off, intending TO remain out
until he heard the breakfast bell. Is had
been a favorate haunt of the two, and yet
for the last few days both had avoided it.
He made his way 70 = messy rock which
formed a sort of rustic seat, and there
saw-Gwenny.
IN SIS Gvenllian?" be exclaimed.
She rose with rather embarrassed air.
81 rested badly last night, Mr.. Bee, and
1 came cot at day break. / have been
here ever since. The morning air seems
to refresh me-"
81 have the same experience" he said
! ~ have rested badly or rather have not
rested at sill, l."
She looked up inquiriugly, and at some
thing she read III his eyes, dropped her
own, while flush overspread his face and
neck.
"Gvenny!" he said, desperately, and
took her hand. The fingers trembIed in
; his. but were not withdrawn. &c genuy,
darling" he said, 'we are TO part to-day.
, Do YOU know that / love you dearly ?"