Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1889-08-29


praised her. An hour later the peril
nacious beauty asked for a carrot from
the garden, and fed Black Bess with it
it in the stable.
BY these arts, very light hand, and
tact in riding, she soothed Black Bess's
nerves, so that at last the very touch of
her habit skirt, or her hand, or the
sound of her voice, seemed to soothe
the poor nervous creature; and at last
one day in the stable Bess protruded
her great lips and kissed her fair rider
on the shoulder after her manner.
All this interested and amused Wal
ter Clifford, but still he was beginning
TO chafe at being kept from Miss Bart
ley, when one morning her SerVantrode
over with note.
DEAR COUSIN WALTER,-Wi you kind
ly send me back my opera glass? / want to
see what is going on at Clifford Hall.
yours affectionately,
MARY BARLEY"
Walter wrote back directly that he
would bring it himself, and tell her
what was going on at Clifford Hall.
SO he rode over and told her of Julia
Clifford's arrival. and how his father
had deputed him to attend on her, and
she took up his time. 1t was beginning
to be a bore.
"On the contrary" said Mary, II dare
say she is very handsome"
"That she is" said Walter
"Please describe her"
"A very tall, dark girl, with wonder
full eyebrows; and she has broken in
Black Bess, that some of us men could
not ride in comfort"
Mary changed color. She murmured,
No wonder the Hall is more attractive
than the farm" and the tears shone in
her eyes.
"Oh, Mary" said Walter reproachful-
ly, how can you say that? What is
Julia Clifford to me?"
81 can't tell" said Mary, dryly. 81
never saw you together through my glass,
you kn0lC."
Walter laughed at this innuendo.
You shall see us together tomorrow,
if you will bless one of us with your
company"
81 might be in the way"
THAT is not very likely. VIII you
ride to Hammond Church tomorrow
at about ten, and finish your sketch of
the tower? | will bring Miss Clifford
there. and introduce you to each other"
This was settled, and Mary was APP
parently quite intent on her sketch
when Walter and Julia rode up, and
Walter said:
"This is my cousin, Mary BARLEY.
May | introduce her to your"
vi IONlHG. w ittJ Il ONCCO ldCS!
So the ladies were introduced, and
Julia praised Mary's sketch, and Mary
asked leave to add her to it, hanging,
pensive figure, over atOmb-Stone. Julia
took an admirable pose, and Mary, with
her quick and facile fingers, had her on
the paper in no time. Walter asked her.
in whisper, what she thought of her
model.
81 like her" said Mary. "She is rath-
er pretty"
Rather pretty Why, she is an &C
knowledged beauty"
"a beauty? The ideal Long black
thingl"
Then they rode all together to the
farm. There Mary was all innocent
hospitality, and the obnoxious Julia
kissed her at parting, and begged herto
come and see her at the Hall.
Mary did call, and found her with a
young gentleman of short stature, who
was devouring her with his eyes, but
did not overflow in discourse, having a
slight impediment in his speech. This
was Mr.. Percy Fitzroy. Julia intro
duced him.
and where are you staying, Percy?"
inquired she.
Cat the D-D-Dun-Cow
What is that?"
Walter explained that it was small
hostelry, but one that was occasionally
honored by distinguishedvis visitors. Miss
BARLEY stayed three days.
Il h-hope to stay more than that"
said little Percy, with an amorous
glance at Julia.
Miss Clifford took Mary to her room,
and soon asked her what she thought of
him; then anticipating criticism, she
said there was not much of him, but he
was such duck.
"He dresses beautifully" was Mary's
guarded remark.
However, when Walter rode home
with her, being now relieved of his at
tendance on Julia, she was more COM
municative. Said she: Il never knew
before that a man could look like fresh
cambria. Dear mel his head and his
face and his little whiskerS, his white
scarf, his white waist-coat, and all his
clothes, and himself, seem just washed
and ironed and starched. Hooked round
for the bdndbOC."
Never mind" said Walter. HE is a
great addition. My duties devolve on
him. And | shall be free to-How
her eyes Shone and her voice mellowed
when she spoke to himl Confess, now,
love is beautiful thing"
Il cannot say. Not experienced in
beautiful things" And Mary looked
mighty demure.
vi course not. w udG dIl lIlllh1IlS
of? You are only a child"
a little more than that, please"
AT all events, love beautifed her,"
Il saw no difference. Shewas always
lovely girl"
"Why, you said she was "a long black
thing"
"Oh, that was before-she looked en-
gagged"
After this young Fitzroy was gener-
ally Miss Clifford's companion in her
many walks. and Walter Clifford had a
DELIGHTFUL time with Mary BARLEY.
Her nurse discovered how matters
were going. But she said nothing.
From Something BARLEY let fall years
ago She OWNED that BARLEY was rob-
bing Walter Clifford by substituting
Hopes child for his own, and she
thought the mischief could be repaired
and the sin atoned for if he and Mary
became man and wife. So she held her
tongue and watched.
The servants at the hall watched the
whole game, and saw how the young
people were pairing, and talked them
over very freely.
The only person in the dark was Colo
mel Clifford. He was nearly always con-
fined to his room. However. one day
he came down, and found Julia and
Percy together. She introduced Percy
to him. The Colonel was curt. but
grumpy, and Percy soon beat a retreat.