Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1891-08-20
MON ICA.
LOVE STORY OF MODERN DAYS
CHAPTER XVI.


ingS.
Monica, raising her head with extreme
nervousness, has just time to see Mr.. DeS-
mond in the huge tir-tree above her, before
he drops at her feet.
What on earth were you doing up there?"
asks she, thinking it wise to adopt the Of
fensive style, SO as to be first in the field,
feeling instinctively that a scolding is COM
ing and that she deserves it.
''Watching aJO1L, returns he, sternIy, moth
ing dismayed by her assumption of injured
innocence, SO her little ruSe falls through.
"a charming occupation, cerTainiy!' says
Miss Beresford, with fine disgust.
Il climbed up into that tree" says Mr..
Desmond, sayagely, 'anu from it saw that
you have spent your eutire day Will that
idiot, Ryde."
''Do you think" says Miss Barcsford,
with awful calm, that it was a gentleman
W thing to climb into that tree like hor-
rld schoOEb0y, and spy upon perSOn?-dO
you2'
Il don't" vehemently; 'but l was driven
TO 1t. | don't care what is gentlemanly. !
don't CARE" furiOusly, what you think of
me. | only know that my mind is now
satisfied about you, and that [ know you are
the most abOminable flirt in the world, and
that you ought to be ashamed of yourself"
well, I'm not" with great self-posSeS-
sion.
'The more to your discredit! That only
means that you are bent on doingit again"
Il shall certainly always talk to any man
who talks to me. That is" cuttingIy, ANY
man who knows how to conduct himself
with propriety."
'NIeaning-I don't, suppose?'
"Certdj9ly you don't"
=
tones of the deepest desperation, and as if
nothing is left to expect but the deluge in
another moment.
And, i'll effect, it comes. Not, as one has
been taught to expect, in sudden storm, and
wind, and lightning, but first in soft light
drops, and then III a perfect dOWnpOur, that
bursts upon them with passionate fury.
AS they are standing beneath magnifi-
cent beech, they getbut a taste of the shower
IN reality, though Desmond, seeing some
huge drops lying on Mcnica's thin white
gown, feels his heart smte him.
Here, take this" he says, roughly, TAX
ing off his coat and placing it round her
shoulders.
NO, thank you," says Miss Beresford,
stifiiy
you must" returns he, and, to his sur
prise, she makes no further resistance Per-
hapS she is cowed by the authority of his
manner; perhaps she doesn't like the rain
drops.
Encouraged, however, by her submission
to further daring of fortune, he saws, pres
entity
you might have given Cobbett turn, l
think, instead Of deyoting yourself all day
to tt a. egrcgious ass
He prefers talking to Hernia. ] suppose
you don't want me to go up to people and
ask them to be civil 10 me?"
Some other fellow, then"
You would be just as jealous of him,
whoever he was"
Il am not alous at aIl," Indignantly Il
only object to your saying one thing to me
and another to him"
What IS the one thing | say to your
This sta@garS him.
you must find me q very monotonous
person II | say only one thing to you al
ways"
II haven't found you So"
''Then it-whatever it is must be one of
the most eloquent and remarkable speeches
upon rec"r'l. DO tell it to me.'
Look re, Monica" says Mr.. Desmond,
cautiously eyading reply; what l want to
know is-What you see in Ryde. He is tall,
certainly, but he is fat and effeminate, with
a forehead yilainous low"
''Your own is very low" says Miss Beres-
ford.
''If thought it was like his, I'd make
away with myself. And you listen TO all
his stories, and believe them every one.
don't believe a single syllable he says; [
never met such bragger. To listen to him,
one would think he had killed every tiger
in Bengal. In my opinion, he never even
SGlC one.
I,pC for
she, i'll a low, significant tone.
This is the finishing stroke.
ooh! you defend him." he says, as saw
agely almost as one of those wild beasts he
has just mentioned. ''In your eyes he is
hero, no doubt. dare say all women see
virtue in Il man who talks as Familiarity of
roaring lions as maids of thirteen do of pup
py-dogs.''
u don't think maids of thirteen, as rule
talk much of puppy-dogs. I'm sure Kit
DOESN'T says Monica, prOyOkingly. And
really, to 60 Mr. Ryde justice too, never
heard hi.. mention a roaring lion. Perhaps
you are thinking of ArtemuS Wards lion
that goes shout seeking whom he may de-
YOUR Somebody" She smiles in madden
ing fashion.
81 am thin&ing of Ryde," says D 1smond
81 am thinking, too, how mad l was when
thought YOU liked me better than him. |
did think it, you know; but now the delu-
sion is dispelled. It is plain to me you are
infatuated about this fellow, who is per-
fumed like 4 miIliner' and hasn't two ideas
in his head"
81 can't think where you find all your
quotation" says Monica, who is now seri-
ously annoyed; ''but l must ask you not to
worry me any further about Mr.. Ryde."
You are madly in love with him." says
Desmond choking with rage. Upon which
Miss BeresfOrd loses the lastremnant Of her
patience, and very properly turns her back
on him.
The rain has ceased, but during its reign
has eXtinguished the dying sun, which has
disappeared far below the horizon. 4 great
hush and silence has followed the petulant
burst of storm, and a peace unspeakabe lies
on all the land. There is little glimpse of
the ocean far away beyond the giant fires,
and one can see that its waves are calm, and
the fshing-bOats upon its bosom scarcely
rock.
The grass is bending still with the weight
Of the past rain, and plaintiye dripping
from the trees can be heard,-a refreshing
sound that lessons the sense of heat. The
small birds stir cOzily in their nests and now
and then droWsy note breaks from one or
another; a faint mist, white and intangible,
rises from the hills, spreading from field 70
sky, until
The earth, with heaven mingled, in the shad-
owy twilight lay,
And the white sails seemed like specters in
clOUd-land far away
"Ahl you don't like me to say that says
Desmond, unappeased by the beauty of the
growing night; but"
''Do not say another word" says Monica,
imperiously. The moon is rising slowly
slowly,-and so, by the bye, is her temper.