Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1890-05-15
EQUAL TO THE TEST.

Her face was her fortuner' Rosa
Hilton sang. saucily, when her cousin
Laura's engagement to Max Creighton
was announced.
Lucky for her that she is pretty"
said Mrs. Hilton, fretfully; for that lady
had hoped that the visits of the young
daughter not her niece.
Yes" said third voice-that of
Arthur Hilton-''it is hard lines for
girl without penny to be ugly too.
But after all Laura has brains as well
as good looks, and sings like seraph!
After which period to my speech, |
will depart! Goodbye, Rosa; present
my congratulations to the bride-elect!'
And Arthur departed to his chambers
in York, where he waited patiently for
his first client, being man needing
patience, namely, a new-tledged barris-
ter. As soon as he left Mrs. Hilton
broke into a string of fretful COM
plants.
If Laura was going to marry Will
Fielding now, or any other of Arthurs
cronies, it would not be so BAD she
said, because as poor mans bride
trousseau. But for our own credit
we must give her Il handsome outfit;
and between Arthur's expenses and
YOURS | am sure [ don't see how it can
be done"
And then her heart smote her, for
Laura came i'll dressed for walking, and
must have heard her last words.
She had not half meant them, for,
after her weak, selfish fashion, she was
fond of her dead sisters lovely child,
and would not willingly have wounded
her. But Laura, a tritle paler than
usual, only said: II promised to call
upon Mrs. Creighton this morning,
Aunt Carrie, as she is not we'll and re-
quested that would waive ceremony,
and not wait for her"
Are you warmly wrapped up? 1t
is very cold, her aunt said, with an
extra touch of affection In her tone, to
make amends for her unlucky speech.
Yes, thank you. I'll get the ribbon
for your sash, if you wish, Rosa. |
have a piece of your dress in my
purse.
So she left them, with pleasant
smile, trying to think she had mis-
understood her aunt's words. For
Laura Marston was of sunny temper
ament, one who found silver Innings to
all the Clouds and they had been
numerous, that had darkened her
young life.
She had been tried by poverty, had
nursed her father through consump-
ton, teaching music in large semi
nary at the same time, to earn bread
for both. When she accepted her
aunt's invitation to visit her, after her
fathers death. she had intended only
to remain a few weeks and return to
the seminary, where position as resi-
dent governess had been offered to her
But Mrs. Hilton had urged her to stay
and Rosa gave her warmest love and
welcome.
So two years of rest and content
passed quickly in the luxurious home,
and now she was to 90 to new home
of her own, Max Creightons wife.
1t was good match, in a worldly
point of view-a great catch for a
penniless girl; but Laura never thought
of wealth and possession when she
promised to be Max Creighton's wife.
She walked hriskly through the Win
ter air, till she reached Mrs. Creighton's
and spent happy morning; for the
lady gave her cordial welcome as a
daughter, and let her feel that she was
entirely happy in her sons choice.
There were some weeks of happiness
following the weeks
when Mrs. Creighton and her son
threw much brightness into the life of
the young betrothed. and then a sor-
row came in a separation of the lovers.
1t became necessary for Max to 90 to
England to look after some property
his father had owned there, and he was
unwilling to have Laura cross the
ocean in Winter A proposal of i'm
mediate marriage and a European
bridal trip had been made, but Mrs.
Hilton and Mrs. Creighton opposed it
and Max did not press it urgently
The business that called him to En-
gland would probably engross all his
time, and he knew there must be many
dull, lonely days for his bride, if she
was his companion, so he left her. hop
ing to return in two months or three.
1t was only natural that during the
absence of the son and lover Mrs.
Creighton and Laura should be often
together. There was a strong. mutual
affection to make the hours of inter-
course pass happily; and Mrs. Hilton
and Rosa had a new occupation in pre-
pairing a trousseau for the latter who
had consented to make VIII Fielding a
happy man, rather to her mothers
secret disappointment.
In Mrs. Creighton's house Laura
learned much of the tastes and habits
of her betrothed, and it became an al
most painful certainty to her that one
Of the ruling passions of his heart was
love of beauty in all its forms. His
mother often spoke of the shudderine