Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1891-07-23
MON lCA.
a LOVE STORY OF MODERN DAYS

an unfortunate thing! If l were you"
mournfully, L should go home. Get i'll.
Do sO7netbing.'
AND so let her think I'm wasting in deS-
par because she prefers another? No, I
sha'n't," says ROnayne, with sudden ANNA
ton. Il shall see it out with her. If she
chooses to cancel this dance, we'll and good,
but l shall certainly remind her she promis-
ed it to me-"
Rash boyr' says Kelly, with sigh. LAS
you refuse to hearken to the voice of COM
mon sense, and afflict yourself with me-
grim, leave you to your fate"
So saying, he turns aside, and, having
gone step or two, finds himself face to face
with Miss Beresford."
This dance is ours" he says, menda-
ciously, knowing well this is the first time
they have met this evening.
Monica laughs; to be angry with so sad
visaged man as Owen Kelly would be
cruelty.
Il am glad of it, she says, because 1 do
not want to dance at all; and think you
will not mind sitting with me and talking
to me for little while"
You remember me, then?" he saws, shift
ing his glass from one eye to the other, and
telling himself she is as pretty as she is
wise.
81 think So" shyly, yet with merry
glance; you are that Master O'Kelly, of
KelIy's Grove, county Antrim, who is the
bright and shining light of the Junior Bar"
You do indeed know me-" returns he
mildly.
THY modesty's a candle to thy merit"
quotes she, Wickedly, in low tone.
At this he smiles sadly "a luxury he rarely
L, -o1~i h
lays it on his arm.
Come" he says, Il will sit with you, and
talk with you, when, and where, and as long
as you like The longer the greater bliss
for me. The SpacOusnesS Of these halls,
fair madam, as doubtless you have perceiv-
ed, gives wide scope for choice of seats. In
which secluded bower will it please you to
etface yOurSelf?'
Monica chances from one small room to
the landing-place, and from the landing
place to the other small room beyond and
naturally heSitates.
There is another stairs besides the one
we assembled" says Mr.. Kelly. Il saw it
when first [ came; would y0u like to see it
too?"
II should indeed" says Monica, grateful
for the hint, and, going with him. suddenly
becomes aware of staircase, leading good
ness knows whittier, upon the third step OF
which she seats herself, after q rapid glance
around and upward that tells her nothing,
so mysterious are the workings of bar
racks.
Mr.. Kelly seats himself beside her.
Il suppose it is my mission to amuSe yOu,"
he says, calmly, 'as | dare not make love to.
YOU
'Why not?' says Monica, quite as calmly.
For one thing, you would not listen to
me; and for another, don't want my head
broken"
Monica smiles, more because it is her duty
to than for any other reason, because after
the smile comes a sigh.
Il know few knights would tilt lance
for me-" she says, and Kelly, glancing at
her, feels quick desire rise within him to
restore sunshine to her perfect face.
Zone knight should be enough for any
one, even the fairest lady in the land" he
says.
True; but what is to be for her who has
nOne?' asks she, pathos in her eyes, but a
smile upon her lips"
''She must be a very peryerse maiden who
has that story to tell returns he; and then,
seeing she has turned her face away from
him, he goes on quietly
''You know every one here, of course"
Indeed, no. The very names of most are
unknown to me. Tell me about them, if
you will"
About that girl over there, for instance?'
pointing to dingy-loOking girl in the dis
lance, whose face is as like button as it
we'll can be, and whose general appearance
may be expressed by the word "unclean."
THAT is Miss Luker," says Kelly. Filthy
Lucre is, I believe, the name she usually
goes by, on account of her obvious unpalat-
ableness (my own word, will you notice.,
and her overwhelming affection for coin
small and great"
''She looks very untidy," says Monica.
''She does, indeed. She is, too, an inveter-
ate chatter-box. She might give any fellow
odds and beat him; 1 don't believe myself
there is so much as one comma in her COM
position"
Poor girl! What an exertion it must be
to her."
Mustn't it2 Especially nowadays, when
one 1eeUer goes for much, real hard work of
any kind being such bore. That's her
mother beside her. She is always beside
her. Fat little woman, dye see?'
Eyes. A nice motherly-looking little wo-
man, she seems to be-
Horribly motherlyI She has birthday
for every month in the yearP'
''HoW"' says Monica, opening her eyes.
II don't so much allude to her own natal
day (Which by this time should say is OBJ
scure) as to her children's. They came to
her at all seasons from January to Deem
Der. There are fourteen of them"
''Oh, it can't be possible! Poor, Door
soulr' says Monica, feeling quite depressed.
''She isn't poor; she is very we'll off, !" SAYS
Mr.. Kelly, obtusely. Much better than she
deserves. So don't grieve for her. She
glories in her crime. Well, it's "a poor heart
that never rejoices, you know; so I suppose
she is right. There's Miss Fitzgerald; do
you admire her"'
Il am sure ought" says Monica, simply;
''but I DON'T"
you have the courage of your opinions.
Every one down here admires her tremend-
ously. l agree with you, you know, but
then" softly, II am nobodyr'
perhaps you think | am jealous" says
Monica. "But indeed am not"
What baby you are!" says Mr.. Kelly.
"Who could suppose you jealous of Bella
Fitzgerald? Two stars keep not their mo-
ton in one sphere and 1 shouldn't think
the fair Bella would have much motion if
put in comparison with you. She always
calls "a spade spade etc. In fact, she is
material"
That means, she has common sense. Why
call her 'materal?"
Never mind. 1t is quite irnn,aterial."
says Mr.. Kelly, TRANQUILITY, after which si-
lence reigns triumphantly for moment or
two, until new figure presents itself on the
small platform below them.
'Ah! there is Desmond, says Kelly. ''He
looks" innocently, "as if he was looking
for somebody"
II hope he will find her." remarks Miss
Beresford, with some acerbity and most