Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1891-06-25

not wishing for dissertation on the Lon
don school board, Her Won Althans took
his leave.
''Fredal do you know that | am afraid
you are doing too much? You are looking
very tired, dear. Lady Ferrars was say
ing"
She rose quickly
Il am sure that my health cannot in
tprest Lady Ferrars in the slightest de-
gree, and | would much rather, that you
would not discuss me with her In any way!'
and with dignifed sweep she left the
room.
"Jealousr' he calculated; jealous, by
jove, and of Blanche! and resting back
in his arm chair. he laughed soft, low
laugh.
That Freda should care enough for him
to be jealous:was delightful discovery, but
why her fancy should have lighted on
Blanche Ferrars, Of all women IN the
world, was a puzzle to him! Why she
was at least ten years his senior, and had
snubbed and lectured him from his nursery
days upward.
Well, he must put this right; but first,
just to give this little wife of his a les
son.
The days wore on, and the arrangements
for the tableaux wants advanced apace;
but there we're many knotty points to set
tie, and numerous combinations had to
be held In in that dainty blue boudoir of
Freda and, of course, as master of the re-
vels, Won Althais was privileged to arrive
earlier and to remain later than the mere
puppets CT the show Freda was getting
little frightened; the solt grass begin
ming to feel very thin, and the marshy
boys beneath seemed very near sometimes.
On the morning of the embassy ball,
when all the chattering crowd of rehear-
ers had gone, Kari, as usual, fingered
to discuss some details of Freda cos
tune.
Il shall be very sorry when these tab
leaux are over" lie said, drawing a low
chair near her.
"RealIy?" She tried to speak careless
ly, but felt it was rather a failure, and
then almost before she knew it, he was
holding her hands and pouring out wild
declaration of love.
Il have frightened YOU" he said at
last; seeing how white and faint she
had grown. ''Do not speak to me now;
tonight, at the ball, shall learn my
fate
She sat there little while after he had
left her, her brain whirling At lunch she
scarce dared to meet her husbands eyes,
and her curt laconic replies made him
smile under his moustache.
Poor little woman! and so she is jeaI-
ous."
In the late afternoon Freda recIined on
hn CSNEl h-,, lo,.I L., l., Il.
ing the exquisite orchids which lay on the
card. What should she say to him?
Should she wear his flowers? If she did
she need say nothing, he would under
stand; but then-then-
The handle of the door turned gently,
and in a glass opposite she saw her has
bands figure She hastily closed her
eyes. He would think she was sleep, and
60 away. He came softly toward her and
bent down to look in her face, then NOV
ed noiselessly toward the door He stop
ped suddenly, however, and turned back,
then, casting glance at the sofa, he sat
down hastily at the escritoire and wrote
rapidly. He had carefully sealed the let
ter, and was engaged IN addressing it,
when foOtman entered with a card.
Lord Aylmer put up his finger, to enforce
silence, and hastily followed the man out
Of the room.
Freda sat up. What could Leslie have
written? Why did he do it 50 stealthiIy?
The letter lay there, white patch on the
sea Of dark leather.
She got up and went over to the escri-
toire.
"Lady F"
She started. Lady Ferrars without a
doubt. Nc wonder he had been so anxious
to be positive that she slept Freda turn
ed the letter over and over A wild desire
to learn its contents filled her heart. To
know the worst! For at that moment she
realized that it would be the worst if she
learned what she feared. And if she did ?
Why then she would wear Carl Won Al
thans' flowers tonight?
With flushed face and trembling fin
gers she broke the seal. A strange light
leaped into her eyes as she read:
dearest Freda-You are the most
adorable, suspicious little goose in the
whole world
The door opened, and the costly orchids
were pitilessly crushed and MANNED by
Lady Aylmer's tiny feet as she rushed into
her husbands arms-London World.