Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1890-09-25

waters edge, and leaning against the
low rail that surrounded the little
gothic cottage that overlooked it all,
girl, day-dreaming her soft. dark eyes
fixed on the bright, blue changing
waters below.
A girl of perhaps Is, slim and grace
full, with face of rare loneliness, low.
broad forehead and delicate brows.
scarlet. the dainty little head set
proudly on the rounded throat, and all
crowned by shining mass of red-gold
hair that clustered and curled round
the lovely, childish face, and then fell
unconlined in heavy curls to the slim,
girlish waist.
1t was thus that Alvin Emerson saw
her first, and, seeing her thought of
Tennyson's Guinevere-thOught if the
l-pless queen,
With her violet eyes and lovely face,
Brow-bound with red-gOld hair
were half as fair as this dark-eyed
girl, then Lancelot might we'll be for
given his fatal love, that made him
more than willing
"To give the world for this;
To waste his whole life in one kiss;
Upon her perfect lips"
But there was no sign of his thoughts
upon his handsome, high-bred face as
he told her he had missed the path
that led to Emerson Hail. and she look
ing up-poor child-met her doom in
the light of the sunny, laughing eyes
that looked with frank admiration into
her own, felt her heart grow faint with
the passionate thrill that swept over
her, flushing her delicate cheeks and
making the wine-brown eyes droop
low.
81 am Alvin Emerson" he said.
alvin Emerson, the new master of
the hail?''
Exactly, and a lucky fellow, am [
notp Better to be born lucky than
rich you know, and | am rather in
clined to believe it. One month ago,
penniless lawyer, wondering where
my first brief would come from, to-day
master of Emerson Hall, heir of my
ninety-second cousin, for he was no
nearer, whom | always looked upon as
IA crusty old fellow, who hated the
world in general and his own people
in particular"
The GIRL laughed softly.
He was rather crusty," she said,
land yet he could be kind. He was
kind to me. Very kind. He was very
kind to Mana as WE'LL
And who is Nanap Your sisterp'
Il have no sister. l have no one
but Mana"
Pardon me; spoke without think
ing" he said, as he saw shadow fall
over the lovely face,
at is true" she said. Il am alone
Father and mother died leaving me a
little baby in another land. and the
last master of the hall, ut their dying
request. sent Tor me and Mana, and |
have lived here ever since. This cot
tage is part Of your estate, or rather
was. 1t belongs now to Mana"
That was only the beginning of the
end.
The buds were only blossoming that
sunny day when first Gloria Delmaine's
wine-brown ewes had dropped beneath
the passionate admiration that leaped
into Alvin Emerson's laughing blue
ones when they first rested on her
lovely face but ere the June roses
faded she had learned the browning
glory of woman's life, and, alas! its
most passionate pain.
All, heavens! while life lasted would
she ever forget the moment of agony
when her whole heart awoke to the
truth of its love-the bitter despair the
awakening brought her?
Standing there she lived that mo-
ment of passion and pain again, and a
lave of despair swept over her soul at
the memory.
There had been fete at Emerson
Hall, and Alvin had insisted that she
should be there.
Il know no one" she said. Il have
lived so much by myself. | would be
afraid"
He laughed lightly.
You must come" he said. Il have
something to tell you when the day is
done"
And she had gone, with Mana to
chaperon her. gone to learn the bitter
est agony woman's heart can know.
She had been standing alone for a
little time, and she had wandered down
to little green arbor and sunk upon
the low. rustic seat when suddenly
her own name fell upon her ears.
She is rather pretty woman's
voice said. But it is out of place to
see her here. No one, YOU know, can
tell who or what she really is. A
protege of the old master of Emerson
Hall"
No one can tell who or what she
really is.
The words seemed to ring through
the girls brain. and it seemed for a
moment as if life itself had left her.
and then:
What do you think of the future
mistress of Emerson Hall-Miss Yer
non?n
She is very beautiful, and she is to
be mistress here?"
Yes" the first speaker said: u
heard that she and Mr. Emerson are
engaged.
mo doubt. He is very attentive tc
her. They are coming this way now
They are well mated
Almost blinded by her agony. Gloria
Delmaine rose to her feet as the speak
ers left where they stood, and, almost
reeling, reached the arbor door.
Alvin Emerson was coming dowr
one of the avenues. his head bent low
as he listened to the light, jesting tall
of the girl at his side.
4 girl SO beautiful. in dark Spanish
style, that she almost took Gloria.
breath away.
Tall, slim, and supple in motion