Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1889-09-12

of time returned with book OF teIe-
graph forms.
Meanwhile Mary tore the letter open,
and read it eagerly to John Baker.
''GRAND HOTEL NoAlLEs,
MARSELLEs, May L. I
MY Own DEAR LovE,I have vowed
that will not write again to tempt you to
anything you think wrong: but it looks like
ouarrelling to hide my address FROM you.
Only do beg of you, as the only kindness
you can do me now, never let it be known
by any living creature at Clifford Hall.
yours till death,
Mr.. BARLEY entered with the tele-
graph forms, and said TO Mary. sharply.
"Now where is he?" Mary told him.
well, write him a telegram. 1t shall
be at the railway in half an hour, at
Marseilles theoretically in one hour,
practically in four"
Mary sat down and wrote her tele-
gram: pray come to Clifford Hall.
Your father is dangerously ILL.,"
"Show it to me" said BARLEY. And
on perusing it: "a woman's telegram.
Don't brighten him too much; leave
him the option to come or stay"
He tore it up, and said, Nov write a
business telegram, and make sure of
the thing you want"
Come home directly-your father is
dying"
Old Baker started up. @God bless you,
sir" says he, "and God bless you, miss,
and make you happy one day. I'll take
it myself, as my trap is at the door. He
hustled out, and his carriage drove
away at a great rate.
Mr.. BARLEY went quietly to his study
to business without another word, and
Mary leaned back little exhausted by
the scene, but smile almost of happi-
ness came and tarried on her sweet face
for the first time these many days; as
for old John Baker, he told his tale
triumphantly at the Hall, and not with
out vanity. for he was proud Of his
good jugdment in going to Mary Bart
ley.
To the old housekeeper, most su-
periOr woman of his own age, and al
most a lady, he said something rather
remarkable which he was careful not to
bestow on the young wags in the SER
wants hall: Mrs. Milton" SAYS he, 81
am an old man, and have knocked about
at home and abroad and seen a deal Of
life, but I've seen something to-day that
never saw before"
cay, Joon, surely; and what ever was
that?"
Give seen an angel pray to God, and
/ have seen God answer her"
From that day Mary had two stout
partiSans in Clifford Hall.
Mr.. Bartley's views about Mary now
began to waver. 1t occurred to him
that should Colonel Clifford die and
ly come to terms with the young man so
passionately devoted to his daughter.
He had only to say: 81 can make no al
loWance at present, but | will settle my
whole fortune upon Mary and her chill
dren after my death, if you'll make a
moderate settlement at present." and
Walter would certainly fall into this,
and not demand accounts from Mary's
trustee. So now he would have posi-
lively encouraged Mary in her attach
ment, but one thing held him back a
little; he had learned by accident that
the last entail of Clifford Hall and the
dependent estates dated two genera
tons back, so that the entail expired
with Colonel Clifford, and this had en-
abled the Colonel to sell some of the
estates, and clearly gave him power now
to leave Clifford Hall away from his
son. Now the people who had begun
to fetch and carry tales between the
two magnates told him of the lawyers
recent visits to Clifford Hall, and he had
some misgivings that the Colonel had
sent for the lawyer to alter his will and
disinherit, in whole or part, his absent
and rebellioUs son. All this taken to-
gether made Mr.. BARLEY resolve to be
kinder to Mary in her love affair than
he had ever been, but still to be guard
ed and cautious.
MARY, my DEAR" said he, Il am sure
you'll be'on thorns till this young man
comes home; perhaps now would be a
good time to pay your visit TO Mrs. Eas-
ton
To be continued.