Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1889-10-31
CHAPTER XVII.
LOVERS cUARRELs.

LOVERS QUARRELS.
1t was a living picture. The father
protecting his child like an eagle: Bart
ley cooled in moment, and hanging
his head apart, gloomy and alarmed at
the mad blunder rage had betrayed him
into; Colonel Clifford amazed and puZ-
zled, and beginning to see the conse-
quences Of all this; Julia clasping her
hands III rapture ana thrilling interest
at so romantic ar incident; FitZroy
beaming with delight at his sweetheart
being cleared; and, to complete the pic
ture, the villainOuS face of Leonard
Monckton, disguised as an old man,
showed itself fora moment sinister and
gloomy; for now all hope of pecuniary
advantage to him was gone, and moth
ing but revenge was on the cards. and
he could not see his way clear to that.
But Hope was no posture-maker; he
turned the next moment and said
word or two to all present.
y es, this is Grace Hope, my daugh-
ter. We were very poor and her life
was III danger; | saw nothing else but
that; my love was stronger than my
conscience; | gave her to that man up
on acOnditiOn which he hasnOw broken.
He saved her life and was kind to her.
thanked him; | thank him STILL and |
tllu my bCoO W repay lllILl. DuG lIOW ilO
has trusted to appearances, and not to
her; he has belied and outraged her
publicly. But am as proud of her as
ever, and don't believe appearances
against her character and her Angel face
and"
mo more do l." cried Julia Clifford,
eagerly. q know her. She's purity
itself, and better woman than shall
ever be-"
"Thank you, Miss Clifford" said Hope,
in a broken voice; God bless you.
Come, Grace, and share my humble
home. AT all events, twill shelter you
from insult"
And so the pair went lovingly away,
Grace clinging to her father, comfOrted
for the moment, but unable to speak,
and entered Hopes little cottage. 1t
was but a stones throw from where
they stood.
This broke up the party.
And my house is yours" said Colo
mel Clifford to Julia. q did not believe
appearances against Clifford" With
these words he took two steps toward
his niece and held out his arm. She
moved toward him. Percy came for
ward radiant to congratulate her. She
drew up with a look of furious scOrn
that made him recOil, and she marched
proudly away with her uncle. He be-
slowed one parting glance of contempt
upon the discounted BARLEY, and
marched his niece proudly off, more de-
termined than ever that she should be
his daughter. But for once he was wise
enough not to press that topic; he let
her Indignation work alone. Moreover.
though he was a little wrOng-headed
and not little pigheaded, he was q
undetermined man, and nothing noble
passed him unobServed or unappreci-
ated
That Bartley's daughter!" said he to
Julia. GAY, when roses spring from
dunghills, and eagles are born Of spar
row-hawks. Brave girl!-brave girl"
"Oh. uncle" said Julia, Il am so glad
you appreciate herr
Appreciate her!" said the Colonel;
"what should l be worth if | did not?
Why, these are the women that win
Waterloo in the persons of their sons.
That girl could never breed q coward
nor cheat" Then his incisive voice
mellowed suddenly. "PoOryOung thing"
said he, with manly emotion, Il sawher
come out of that room pale as death to
do another woman Justice. She's no
fool, though that ruffian called her one.
She knew what she was doing, yet for
all her woman heart she faced disgrace
as untlinchingly as if it was only death.
1t was a great action. noble action, a
Just action, and manly action. but
done like very woman. Where the
two sexes meet like that one brave deed
it's grand. declare it warns an old
soldiers heart, and makes him thank
God there are a few creatures in the
world that do humanity honor"
AS the Colonel was man that stuck
to topic when he got upon it, this was
the main of his talk all the way to Cliff
ford Hall. He even remarked to his
niece that. so far as his observations of
the sex extended, great love of justice
was not the leading feature of the fe-
male mind; other virtues he ventured
to think We're more prominent.
$50 everybody says" was Julia's adj
mission.
Everybody is rightfor once, said the
Colonel.
They entered the house together, and
Miss Clifford went up to her room;
there she put ON a new bonnet and a
lovely shawl, recently imported from
Paris. Who could this be for? She
sauntered upon the lawn till she found
,aorv where there was q gate lead
mo INTO the Park. As she walked %
and fro by this gate she observer, 9u'
a ae 40 fail of her eve of course, the ng-
,,ra Of ! devoted lover creeping toWaro
her. Whether this took her by surprise
or whether the lovely creature was pay.
ing the part of beautiful striped spider
waiting for her fly, the reader must
judge for himself.
Percy came to the gate; she. walke6
past him twice, coming and going witt
her eyes fixed upon vacancy. she pass
ed him third time. He murmured II
pleading voice;
"Julial"
!. She neither saw nor heard. so attrac