Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1889-10-10

torture-and degradation"
Il don't feel it. [ call this good fun
"Oh. Walteri Good funl For shame!
Hushl"
BARLEY brstled on to the green, called
Hope out, md sat down in Colonel Cliff
ford's chair. Hope came TO him. md
BARLEY. V no lad in his hand some
drawings OF the strata in the coal mine,
handed the hook to Hone. and sad. Il
quite agree with vOa. That is the seam
to follow; there's fortune in it."
Then you are satisfied y. III me?"
More than satisfied"
I have something to ask in return
Il am not likely to say no, my good
friend" was the cordial reply.
THANK you. Well, then, there is an
attachment between Mary and young
Clifford"
BARLEY was on his guard directly.
sHer happiness is at stake. That gives
me right to interfere, and say, be
kind to her."
Am l not kind to her? Was any pa
rent ever kinder? But [ must be wise
as well as kind. Colonel Clifford can
disinherit his SON."
At this point the young people ven
tured to peep and listen, taking advan-
tage of the circumstance that both
Hope and BARLEY were at some distance.
with their backs turned to the work.
shop.
So they both heard Hope say;
Withdraw your personal opposition
to the match, and the other difficulty
can be got over. If you want to be
kind to young woman. it is no use
feeding her ambition and her avarice,
for these are mans idols. A Woman'S
is love-"
Mary waited the speaker a furtive
kiss.
"To enrich that dear child after your
death, thirty years hence, and break her
heart in the flower of her youth, is to
be unkind to her; and if you are unkind
to her, our compact is broken"
"Unk1nd to her" said BARLEY. what
male parent has ever been more kind,
more vigilant? Sentimental weakness
is another matter. My affection is more
solid: Can [ oblige you in anything
that is businesS~
"Mr. Barley" said Hope, you can
not divert me from the more important
question: business is secondary to that
dear girls happiness. However, I have
more than once asked you to tell me
who is the loser of that large sum, which,
as you and / have dealt with it. has en-
rlched you and given me d competence"
That's my business" said BARLEY,
sharply, "fOr you never fingered a shil-
ling of it. So if the pittance [ pay you
for conducting my business burns your
pocket, why, send it to Rothschild"
And having made this little point,
BARLEY walked away to:escape further
comment, and Hope turned on his heel
and walked into his office, and out at
the back door directly, and proceeded
to his duties in the mine; but he was
much displeased with BARLEY, and his
looks showed it.
The coast lay cleaE. The lovers came
cautiously out, and silently too. for
what they had heard puzzled them not
a little.
Mary came out first, and wore a very
meditative look. She did not say a
word till they got TO some little distance
from the workshop. Then she half turn
ed her head toward Walter, who was
behind her, and said, Il suppose you
know we have done a contemplate
-listening?"
Well" said Walter, cit wasn't good
form; but" added he, eve could hardly
help it,"
OF course not" said Mary. 1--WE have
been guilty of acOncealmentt that drives
us into holes and corners, and all man
ner of meanneSSes must be expected to
follow. Well, we haze listened, and [
am very glad of it; for it is plain we are
not the only people who have got Sc
crets. Now tell me, please, what does
it all meant"
We'll, Mary" said Walter, ito tell the
truth, it is all Greek to me, eXceptabo
the money. / think could givea guess
where that came FROM"
There, nowf" cried Mary; that is so
like you gentlemen. Money--moneyl
Never mind the money part; leave that
to take care OF itself. Can you explain
what Mr.. Hope said to papa about naeg
Mr.. Hope is a very superior man, and
papa1s adviser IN business. But. after all,
he is in papa employment. Papa pays
him. Then how comes he to care more
about my happiness than papa does
and say so?"
~Why. you begged him to intercede."
yes" said Mary:-"but not to threaten
Mary, our compact is broken"
Then she pondered awhile; then she
turned to Walter, and said:
What sort Of compact is that? a
compact between a father and another
gentleman that "a father shall not be I'M
kind TO his own daughter? Did you
ever hear of such a thing?"
Il can't say lever did"
did you ever hear of such thing?"
We'll, now you put it to me. don't
think | ever die"
And yet yoa could run off about
money. What's money? This compact
is great mystery. It's my business
from this hour to fathom that mystery.
Please let me think"
Mary's face now began to show great
nd in iftTT. cd
to veil themselves, and to turn down
their chances inward.
Walter was struck with the intensity
of that fair brow, those remarkable
eyes, and that beautifulface; they SEEM
ed now to be all strung up to concert
pitch. He kept silent and looked at his
wife with certain reverence, for to tell
the truth she had something of the
Pythian priestess about her, when she
concentrated her whole mind on any
one thing in this remarkable manner.
AT last the oracle spoke:
Mr.. Hope has been deceiving me
with some good intention. He pretends
to be subservient to papa, but he is the
master. How he comes to be master |
don't know, but SO it is, Walter. If it
came to battle royal Mr.. Hope would
side, not with papa, but with me-"
That's important, if true" said Wal
ter, dryly.
"It's true" said Mary, "and it's i'm
portant." Then she turned suddenly
round on him. How did you feel when
you ran into that workshop. and we
both crouched and hid like criminals or
SlaveS?"
Well" said Walter, hanging his head,
to tell the truth, l took comic view
of the business"
L can't do that" said Mary. II re-
speet my husband, and 1 can't bear him
"a hide Prom hn fooa Of