Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1891-09-24

and then dies away. RUnaync steps back,
and all seems over. How Olga has proved
go utterly unmOved by the passionate pro-
test is exercising more minds than one,
when suddenly she rises, and with swift
movement bends over the fountain. Another
moment, and she has dropped the guitar in
to the water. Some little silver ornament
upon its neck flashes for an instant in the
moonlight, and then it is gone.
oh, Olga" says Hernia, making an in
voluntary step toward her.
Il shall never play on it again." says Olga,
with gesture that is almost impassiOned.
An instant, and it is all Over,-her little
burst of passion, the thought that led to it,
-everythingl
Il hate itP' she says, with a petulant
laugh. Il am glad to be rid of it. Some
body made me present Of it whom learn
ed to detest afterward. No, Owen, do not
try to bring it to life again; let it lie down
there out of sight, where | may learn to for
get it,"
AS you will, madame" says Owen Kelly,
who has been truitlessly fishing for the
drowned guitar.
1T is curious how hateful anything, how
ever pretty, can become to us if we dislike
the giyer OF it," says Mary Browne, pleas
antly.
Yes" says Hernia, quickly gIancing at
her with a sudden CLEAN i'll her eyeS,-Of
gratitude, perhaps. A moment ago there
had been certain awkwardness following
on Olga's capriciOus action; now these lew
careless, kindly words from this ugly stran-
ger have dispelIed it. And is she SO plain,
after all? The fastidious Hernia, gazing at
her int"ntly, asks herself this question
Surely before that triyht and generous
CLEAN in her eyes her frecllles sink into in
significance.
Il knew you would like her," says Mr..
Kelly, at this moment, speaking low in Her
MAS ear.
When woman is startled she is general
ly angry. Mrs. Herrick is angry now,
whether because of his words, or the fact
that she did not know he was so close to her,
let who will decide.
You are very, very clever she says,
glancing at him from under dropping lids,
and then turning away.
so they al! tell me-" returns he, mod
estly.
RossmOyne, crossing the brilliant mOOnlit
path that divides him from the group round
Hernia, seats himself beside her, thereby
leaving Olga and Ulic Ronayne virtually
alone.
''You viii regret that guitar tomorrow"
says Ronayne, - atleast not the thing itself
Il can replace that, but"
II regret nothing" says Mrs. Bohun,
carelesSly,-"un L regret that you have
much to heart / am ill-tempared. you
know
II don't, says Ronayne.
AaSn ppurtannG liar must mazda ohio N
pardon. But let us forget everything but
this lovely night. Was there ever so serene
a sky? see how the stars shine and glimmer
through the dark interStices of the bIue-gray
clouds ~
''They remind me Of something,-of some
Words" says Rpnayne, in a low voice.
"They come to me now, [ hardly know why,
perhaps because of the night itself, and per-
haps because" he hesitates.
Olga Is staring dreamily at the studded
vault above her.
About the stars2" she asks, without look
ing at him.
yes"
"A poet loved a star,
And to it whispered nightly,
Being so fair, why art thou. love, 80 far,
Or why so coldly shine who shin'st SO bright
lv?'
The poet was presumptuous, it seems to
me-"
WAS he? | don't know. All things come
TO him who knows how to wait"
Who's waiting" says Kelly'S voice from
the other side Of the fountain; land for
what?"
'T,}gottrS Owen" says Mrs. Bohun, with
a Shru1 Of her pretty shoulders. "WeII, no
one even i'll this life is altogether without a
taste of purgatory; mine (this is a delicate
compliment to you, Owen, so listen to it,
might have been worse. Do you know
have sometimes thought"
'She has reallyp' interrupts Mr. Kelly,
turning with cheerful encouragement to the
others. You wouldn't think it to look at
her, would YOU? but know her intimately.
and can youeh for the truth of her words
Go OIL, my dear Olga"
But my dear Olga" has turned aSid :, and
declines to take any notice of his remark
beyond a faint 2rimace.
she's very shy" says Mr.. Kelly, In an
explanatory aside, "and so retiring. Can t
bear to hear herself publicly praised, or feel
herself the center Of attraction. Let us haste
TO change the subject"
This with many ''becLS, and mods, and
wreathed SMILES" meant to explain the
delicacy of the feeling that prompts him to
this course. BY the bye, Desmond, doesn't
this fairylike spot, and the moonlight, and
the pathos of the silent night, and every
thing, remind you forcibly of old OConnOr?'
but ] always heard begins Monica,
In voice of much ama7ement; then she
stops contusedly and presently goes on
again, but in different key. WAS The
OConnor, then, esthetic%' she says
AT this Lord RoSSmoyne, who is in the
lowest depths of despair, gives way to open
mrth.
"Well, no, not exactly" says Ulc Ro-
nayne. There was a fatal healthiness
about his appearance that disagreed with
that idea. But he certainly was fond of
this little place; he mt up the fountain him
self, had it brought all the wsy from Flor
ence for the purpose; and had trick of ly-
ing here on his face and hands for hours to.
gether, grubbing for worms,-or studying
the insect world think he used to call it. ~
Il have always thought" says Mr.. Kelly,
In tone of reflect sadness, what an un-
comfortable position that must be-"
What must beY'
Lying on ones face and hands. What
becomes of the rest Of one? Does one keep
ones heels in the air whilst doing it? To
me it sounds awful! Yet only last week I
read III the papers of a fellow who was
found on road on his face and hands, and
the doctors said he must have been in that
position for hours! Fancy-your nose, for
instance, Rossmoyne, in mud, and your
heels in the air, for hoursr'
Lord Rossmoyne, having vainly tried to
imagine his digniied body in such posi-
ton, looks dist ncty offended.
No, nobody would like it." says Kelly,
pathetfcally, answering his disguised look
eNac.ly as IL 1t hal been PUT into words.
mere Is shameful frivolity about it not
10 De countenanced for moment. Yet
NNDl and NIriSn ian-,I 4