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

'sAh, Guy she said simply, ''I thought it
was almost good enough for me TO know your
genius; but find am much happier now
the world acknowledges it too"
He kissed her tenderly.
''You have always helped me, my dear,
and have been a mother to me ever since we
lost our own. Most of the good that is in me
l owe to you, and the greatest JOY have in
my success comes from the knowledge that
very soon l shall be able to offer you home
with me. 1t has been cruelty bitter to me to
feel indebted even to you, and to know that
from my having spent your money, you have
had to live on charity
'sFides's charity has been by no means
cold, Guy" returned his sister, smiling; land
should not like to leave her now, much as l
love you. She has been so good 10 me-"
''Was she there?" he asked, turning away
abruptly and lifting, as if abSently, the pho
tograph on the piano. Did she think well
of it?''
''She had a special engagement" his sister
answered, land did not care to accompany
me-"
There was a sudden crash. The picture
had fallen, and the frame and glass were
broken.
at does not matter, Theo,' he said, as she
made movement to pick up the portrait;
''let it lie. 1t is valueless to me-"
His sister smiled slightly. She seemed
curiously oblivious Of the trouble in his face.
even were l willing to leave Fides," she
resumed, II know that home with you
would be only temporarily established. Now
that you have the ball at your feet and
glorious future awaiting you, you will be sure
to marry soon; and then should be turned
adrift again"
He sat down modify and pushed away the
picture with his foot.
Il shall never marry" he declared.
Nonsense! Guy" she added, after a
pause, don't you think it would be good
thing to fulfil the old mans implied, if not
expressed, desire, and try for Fides?"
''TheO, can you imagine that l could ever
be guilty of so mean an action? You know
how by the terms of our grandfather's will,
she must if l ask her-thank Heaven for that
if marry me- or forfeit her fortune. Sure
ly you must see how that precludes man of
honor from even thinking of it. Ordinary
fortune-hunters are bad enough, but the
basest among them would not stOop to put a
girl into such a false position. If hated
her, could not, and if | loved her''-his
voice softened, and he bent and picked up
the portrait-''if l loved her thousand times
less, could put before her the two alterna-
tiveS?'
But, if you loved her, Guy'-his sister
laid emphasis on the WOrdS-"Why should
the happiness of your-and perhaps her-life
be sacrificed to the folly of an old and the
false pride of young man?'
''Better sacrifice happiness than honor,
x,rOIIo 7 do
ever you may say. Let her keep her fortune
in peace and cOntentment, never guessing
that anything could shake her in its posses
sion; and, whatever she does, may Heaven
bless her! She shall never be troubled by me,
unless-unless-"
UNLESS what, my foolish brother?''
UNLESS should know that she loved me.
There-its out now, Theo-what dare say
you have guessed long ago-that FideS is the
only girl [ have ever cared for or am ever
likely to love! But there is no use in talk
ing about it, and you must put away my Sc
cret in the fartheSt corner of your heart"
His sister crossed the room and laid her
hand on his hair
'sMy poor boy" she said very gently, 81
thought knew the symptoms, and, though
am sure you are wrong, honor you for all
you say. Tell me-" she went on abruptly
''whO was that boy who sang so exquisitely
to-day? Is he DoWnbury lad?"
Her brother shook his head.
II wish | knew. If | were superStitious,
should be inclined to say he was not mortal.
He came to me last night in the dusk, land this
morning he appeared and disappeared as by
enchantment."
''And his name?'-Miss HalIan was MAX
ing preparations for departure.
''He calls himself Harry Sisson; but Curl
ously enough, he seems to be utterly un-
known. Such a voice as that can scarcely
waste its sweetness altogether on the desert
air; and yet
''Yet dare say it is doomed to be cracked
in shouting to the plough-horses, or choked
with the river-mistS or something equally
unromantic. Now J. must go. leaving you
my advice in the matter-which is, to be con-
tent with results, letting the means remain
uninvestigated."
'Uninvestigated! shall never be happy
till [ have found him. There is nothing on
earth l would not do for the boy who sang
my music as be did. [ should be genuinely
unhappy if | thought was never to hear him
sing it again. / would do anything and e
anywhere to find him."
Goodbye, enthusiast! Now that you be
come excited, l shall leave you. Blythe
way" she added, turning as she reached the
door, there is Harry Sisson at Deepdene
who may be the one you are in search Of
VIII your feelings carry you so far as to
make you break your VOW and go up there to
look for him?''
Break his VOW and 90 to Deepdene! The
words haunted Guy Hallam when his sister
had left him-haunted him in the quiet twl-
Of hot
days that followed it.
After all, he had made no VOW never to sec
the old place again; and, now that each post
brought him letters from iT1presGriOS of all
sorts containing offers of every + nd of en-
gagement, when he heard himself spoken OF
as the man of the day, the feeling of bitter
ness and injustice passed out of his heart
and his pride, reassertiug itself. told him thai
he possessed in his genius a greater Inherit
ance than any which could be left him OF
taken away. Besides, his inquiries about
the missing chOriSter continued utterly fruit
less, and, as each day the chance of finding
him grew smaller, so did his restless desire
to discover him deepen.
Thus it came about that one evening, when
the rays of the setting sun were lighting up
the distant Minister, Guy, for the first time In
fourteen years, stood again by the gates of
Deepdene.
The old lodge-keeper came out to open
them. When last he had seen her, she had
been standing there, her apron at her eyes
as she waved farewell to master Guy"
The old feelings of love and sorrow creps
into his heart as he took her wrinkled hand
| Here too Fides had fingered, sobbing as II
her heart would break, while her grandfath-
er stood beside her, stern and cold.
For moment the lodge-keeper did not