Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1889-10-17

alarm, and literary cuIareu him. MY
good friend" said he, you don't know
the prOvocation. 1t is the affront to
her that has made me forget myself.
Affronts to myself from the same quar-
ter | have borne with patience. But
now this inSolent man has forbidden his
son to court her, and that to her face;
as if we wanted his son or him. Haven't
forbidden the connections"
1--WE are agreed for once" said the
Colonel, and carried his son off bodily.
sore against his will
yes" shrieked BARLEY after him:
"only L did it like a gentleman, and did
not insult the young mant to his face for
loving nv daughter"
Let me hear what Mary says" was
Hopes reply.
''Mr. Hope" said Mary, did you ever
know papa to be hard on me before?
He is veXed because he feels | am low
cred. We have both been grossly in
suited, and he may well be in apaSsion,
But | am very unhappy"
And she began to cry again.
''My poor child" said BARLEY. coax
ingly, talk it all over with Mr.. Hope.
He may be able to comfort you, and, in
deed, to advise me. For what can | do
when the man calls me sharper, vii
lain, and knave, before his son and my
daughter?"
Is it possible?" said Hope, beginning
to relent little.
ut is true" replied Mary.
BARLEY then drew Hope aside, and
said, "See what confidence l place in
you. Now show me my trust is not
misplaced" Then he left them together.
Hope came to Mary and said, tender
ly, What can say or do to comfort
your"
Mary shook her head. "I asked you
to mend my prospects; but you can't do
that. They are desperate. You can do
nothing for me now but comfort me
with your kind voice. And mend nv
poor wrist-hal ha! ha! oh! Oil" (Hys-
terical)
"What?" cried Hope, in sudden alarm:
"is it hurt? is it sprained?"
Mary recovered her cOmpOSure. "Oh
no." said she, "only twisted a little.
Papa was SO rough"
Hope went into rage again. "Perdi-
toni" cried he. "I'n go and end this
once for ALL"
You will do nothing of the kind"
said the quick-witted girl. ooh, Mr..
Hope, would you break my heart alto
gether, qurrelling with Papa? Be rea-
sOnable. | tell you he couldn't help it,
that old monster insulted him so. It
hurts, for all that" said she, naively,
and held him out a lovely white wrist
with a red mark on it.
Hope inspected it. poor little wrist"
said he. Il think can cure it." Then
he went into his Office for something to
bind it with.
But he had spoken those few words
as one speaks to an afflicted child. There
was a mellow softness and an undis-
guised paternity in his tones-and what
more natural, the girl being in pain?
But Mary'S ear was so acute that
these tones carried her out of the pres
ent situation, and seemed to stir the
depths of memory. She fell into a lit
tie reverie, and asked herself had she
not heard voice like that many years
ago.
She was pulling herself little over
this when Hope returned with long
thin band of white Indian cotton, steep
ed in water, and taking her hand gently,
began to bind her wrist with great light
ness and delicacy. And as he bound it
he said, There, the pain will soon 60"
Mary looked at him full and said,
slowly, Il believe it will" Then, very
thouohtfullv ut did before"
ITO he continued \