Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1889-08-22
r." said the astute BARLEY, ignoring

| fore Colonel Clifford: not that he for
gave Mr.. BARLEY that old atfrOnt the
reader knows of.
The judieious BARLEY read his face,
| and, as a first step toward Precipitation,
| introduced him to his daughter. Wal
| ter was amazed at her beauty and grace,
| coming from such a stock. He welcom-
ed her courteously. but shyly. She re-
| piled with rare affability. and that en-
| tire absence of mock-modesty which
! was already feature in her character.
10 be sure, she was little more than
! fifteen, though she was full grown, and
| looked nearer twenty.
BARLEY began to feel his way with
Colonel Clifford about the farm. He
! told him he was pretty successful in
| agriculture, thanks to the assistance of
| an experienced friend. and then he said,
half carelesSly, "By-the-bye. they tell
me you have one to let. Is that so?"
Walter" said Colonel Clifford, "have
| you farm to let?"
Not at present, sir; but one will be
vacant in month, unless the present
tenant consents to pay thirty per cent.
more than he has DONE"
Might | see that farm, Mr. Walter?"
asked BARLEY.
Certainly" said Walter; 81 shall be
| happy to show you over it." Then he
turned to Mary. Il am afraid it would
be no compliment to you. Ladies are
not interested in farms"
, "Oh, but 1 am, since papa is, and Mr..
! Hope; and then on oar farm there are so
/ many dear little young things; little
calves, little lambs, and little pigs. Lit
tie pigs are ducks-rerg little ones, /
mean; and there is nearly always a
young colt about, that eats out of my
hand. Not like a farm? The ideal"
Then | will show you all over ours,
ly. He then asked Mr. BARLEY where
he was to be found; and when Mr.. Bart
ley told him at the Dun Cow" he look
ed at Mary and said, "Ohl"
Mary understood in moment, and
laughed and said: "We are very COM
Portable, [ assure you. We have the
parlor all to ourselves, and there are
samplers hung up, and OIL such funny
pictures, and the landlady is beginning
to spoil me already"
Nobody can spoil you, Mary" said
Mr.. Bartl,y.
you ought to know, papa, for you
have been trying good many years."
Not very many, Miss BARLEY" said
Colonel Clifford, graciously. Then he
gave half start and said: Here am l
calling her miss when she is my own
niece, and, now / think of it, she can't
be half as old as she looks. [ remem-
Der the day she was born. My dear, you
are an impostor."
BARLEY changed color at this chance
shaft. But Colonel Clifford explained:
you pass for twenty, and you can't
be more than-Let me see."
Il am fifteen and four months" said
Mary, "and [ do take people cruelty"
oil COT
you can't take me in. / knoWyour date
So come and give your old rufian of an
| uncle a kiss"
"That I will" cried Mary, and flew at
Colonel Clifford, and flung both arms
round his neck and kissed him. ooh!
papa" said she, Il have got an uncle
now. A hero, too; and me that is so
fond of heroes! Only this is my first
out of books"
MARY, my DEAR" said BARLEY, "you
are too impetuous. Please excuse her,
Colonel Clifford. Now, my dear, shake
hands with your cousin, for we must be
going"
Mary complied; but not at all impetu-
Ously. She lowered her long lashes, and
put out her hand timidly, and said,
"GOod-by, Cousin Walter"
He held her hand moment, and that
made her color directly. you will come
over the farm. Can you ride? Have
you your habit"
NO, cousin; but never mind that. 1
can put on long skirt"
"A skirt But, after all, it does not
matter straw what you wear"
Next day, punctual to the minute.
Walter drove up to the uoor IN an open
carriage drawn by two fast steppers.
He found Mr.. BARLEY alone, and why?
because, at sight of Walter, Mary, for
the first time in her life, had flown up
stairs to look at herself in the glass be-
fore facing the visitor, and to smooth her
hair, and retouch bow, etc., underrat-
ing, as usual, the power of beauty, and
overrating utilities. BARLEY took this
opportunity, and said to young Clifford:
Il owe you an apology, and most
earnest one. Can you ever forgive me?"
Walter changed color. Even this
humble allusion to SO great an insult
was wormwood to him. He bit his lip
and said:
mo man can do more than say he is
sorry. l will try to forget it, sir"
That is as much as | can expect"
said BARLEY, humbly. "But if you only
knew the art, the cunning, the apparent
evidence, with which that villain Monck-
ton deluded me-"
"That | can believe"
And permit me one observation be-
fore we drop this unhappy subject for
ever. If you had done me the honor
to come to me as Walter Clifford, why,
then, strong and misleading as the evil
dence was, [ should have said, Appear
ances are deceitful, but no Clifford was
ever disloyal."
This artful speech conquered Walter
Clifford. He blushed. and bowed a lit
tie haughtily at the compliment to the
Cliffords. But his sense of justice was
aroused.
you are right" said he. Unjust try
and see both sides. If man sails I'M
der false colors, he mustn't howl if he
is mistaken for a pirate. Let us dis
miss the subject forever. | am Walter
Clifford noW-at your service"
At that moment Mary Barley came
in beaming with youth and beauty, and
illumined the room. The cousins shook
hands, and Walters eyes gloWed with
admiration.
After few words Of greeting he
handed Mary into the drag. Her father
followed, and he was about to drive off,
when Mary cried out, "Oh, forgot my
skirt if | am to ride"
The skirt was brought down, and the
horses, that were beginning to fret,
dashed off. A smart little groom rode
behind, and on reaching the farm they
found another with two saddle-hOrses,
one of them, small gentle Arab geld
ing, had a side-saddle. They rode all
over the farm, and inspected the build
ings which were in excellent repair.
thanks to Walters supervision. Bart
ley inquired the number Of acres and
the rent demanded. Walter told him.
BARLEY said it seemed to him a fair