Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1891-02-26
THE sEFRET OLA SCREEN

The girl busying herself around the lit
tie kitchen paused at the words.
About the screen, auntie?" she asked,
wistfuIly.
about the screen. my love-"
And she otfered?''
"Seventy-fve dollars this time. -
"And," rather hopeIessIy, you
81 refused it, dear!' very promptly and
proudly.
Phyllis pressed her red lips very tightly
together.
How she wished her aunt wonld sell the
article in question! They were SO very
poor. Her salary as teacher in the village
school barely paid for their necessaries,
and she did so long to be able to spend a
few dollars foolishly sometimes.
She was pretty girl-an extraordinarily
pretty girl Her slender but we'll rounded
form was most alertly and charmingly
graceful; and the face, with its smooth,
broad brow, its sunbright hair its short,
arch features, its delicate coloring and
dreamy, violet eyes. deserved better gown
ing to emphasize its exquisitness than
the faded and mended old blue cashmere
which she wore.
But, auntie. all your other old heir
looms went long ago to buy bread and but
ter for us bota-went in the time before
was old enough to earn the little do. Why
do you prize this so much more highly
than the rest?"
The small, withered old lady, dressed
in black al paca, with net handkerchief
crossed over her bosom, ceased her slow
rocking and looked up into the question
ing young face.
''l'm Keeping it to give you for we'd
ding present,
That is very kind of you auntie, out
indeed | would rather have you sell 1T and
enjoy some comfort now"
Mrs. Merritts little brown bird-like
eyes twinkled shrewaly.
81 would if | were offered enough for
it,"
But cried Phyllis, stopping in the
act of filing the tea kettle, "seventy-fve
dollars, auntie!'
"Seventy-fve dollars can't touch it," de-
clared the old lady, with asperity.
Phyllis sighed.
1t was quite useless to argue with her
aunt when she got an idea into her head.
As the girl washed the supper dishes
and tidied up the tiny room which was
both dining room and kitchen, and which,
with two other apartments, formed their
whole establishment, she recalled many OF
the odd stories she had heard about her
aunt.
A peculiar character, every one seemed
to consider Predetermined, many init
mated. Certainly it was that one episode
relating to her seemed to Justify suspicion
Of her sanity.
Very wealthy in her own right was she
when she had married handsome adven-
turer named Oswald Merritt She had
converted ali her property into money, in
vested the money in bonds, and then made
bonfire CT the bonds Her Jewels dis
appeared no one knew where She said
she wished to test the sincerity of her
husband S love, and believed Il husband
should solely support his wife.
But a test so severe Oswald Merritt
could not stand. Infatuated at his bride s
deed and doctrine, he told her he had
only married her for money, and took
himself off.
For years, worthless, abusive, dissipat-
| ed, he hung around the neighborhood,
seeking no reconciliation with his wife.
but ever to her providing persistent and
malicious menace.
To her immense relief she learned one
day he had fallen out Of third story win
dow. and broken his neck.
His widow devoted herself to the care
Of her brothers orphan child, Phyllis
Clyde, and, till the latter was Of an age
to work, had supported them both by
nursing, doing PLAIN sewing, and occa-
sionally selling bit of antique furniture
or old family silver Now the only relic
was the ire screen, with which Mrs Mer-
rift so stubbornly refused to part.
That night when she had given her
| aunt her regular cup of cocoa and tucked
her snugly away in bed, Phyllis went in
TO the wee box of a parlor and stood before
the screen in question.
Nv orth more than seventy-fve dollars,
indeed!' she murmured disgustedly
That clumsy, ugly, useless old thing!
But then It is just the articles which are
| ugly, clumsy and useless that rich people
seem to run crazy after nowadays"
1t was an oval shape, bound in dull sill
yer, and swung in 4 splendid frame OF
black mahogany. The back-it was a
couple of inches deep-was of papier
mache; the front, d queer tumble of APP
pliqued pictures in oil, India ink and
water colors, all being protected from the
dust by glass.
The following day was Saturday, and
Phyllis, in her best gown, d pretty, soft.
rose and white callie, set off for the Van
Roosevelt'S where she was engaged to In
struct tri-weekly the younger children In
| music.
Quite the show place of the neighbor-
hood was the Van Roosevelt s. Built IN
the most elaborate style Of moderate ar
chitecture, it was surrounded by conser-
vatoIies, orchid houses, and terrace of en-
| erald velvet.
{ PHYLLIS was endeavoring to make the
most diminutive Miss Van Roosevelt com
prehend the difference between a crotchet
and uuaver, wnen Archie came
into the room.
| Archie the Van Roosevelts eldest son
| their pride and heir. and Archie was mos
| tremendously in love with Phyllis Clyde
This, to the girls decided embarrassment
and CONSERVATION. Not that she dldn
like Archie-cne couldn't help that, sc
frank and kind and handsome. and honor
able was he--but Phyllis felt their paths la.
In widely different world, and that sh
would be more content with her prosal
existence if he barred out from it III
dreams which never, never could culml
nate in realization. So that was VIII
she now gave him the meerest nod of rec
ognition when he entered the music room
To half a dozen random remarks sh
i. made no reply. He tried the stately {
questions.
My mother went to see your aur
= yesterday, didn't she?"
about that curious screen?"
Yes"