Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1891-06-25
MON ICA.
A LOVE STORY OF MODERN DAYS

to emphasize his words.
II wouldn't take it so much to heart if l
were YOU" says Brian, who is really begin
ming to pity him.
1T has lain on my heart for twenty years.
l can't take it off now" says the Squire.
''You have evidently suffered" returns
Brian, who is getting more and more amazed
at the volcano he has reused. 'Of course
can quite understand that if you were once
more to find yourself in similar ciTcum-
stances you would act very differently"
Il should indeed!-Uery differently. A
man seldom makes fool Of himself twice
in lifetime"
"YOu didn't show much wisdom, | dare
say"
mo, none; and as for her,-to fling away
such love as that" Here he pauSes,
and looks dreamily at the silver tankard be-
fore him.
This last speech rather annoys Brian; to
gloat over the remembrance of love that
had been callously cast aside to suit the ext
gences of the moment, seems to the younger
man caddish sort of thing not to be endured.
C"Though what the mischief any pretty
girl of nineteen could have seen in him." he
muses., gazing with ill-concealed amazement
at his uncle'S ugly cOuntenance, lis more
than l can fathom.")
perhaps it wasn't so deep love as you
imagine" he cannot refrain from saying
q 9TOpOS his uncle'S last rema44-, with the
view to taking him down peg.
sit was, sir" says the Squire, sternly. ut
was the love of a lifetime. People may
doubt as they will, but know no love has
superseded it,"
Ooh, he is in his dotagen' thinks Brian,
disgustedly; and, rising from the table, he
makes few more trivial remarks, and then
walks from the dining-roOm on to the bal.
cory, and too the garden beneath.
Finding his friend Kelly in an iVied bower,
lost in cigar, and possibly, though inn
probably, in improving meditation, he is
careful not to disturb him, but, making a
successful detour, escapes his notice, and
turns his face toward that part of COole
that is connected with M0yne by means OF
the river.
4
At Moyne, too, dinner has come to an end
and, tempted by the beauty of the quiet
evening" the two old ladies and the children
have strolled into the twilit garden.
There is strange and sweet hush in the
air-a stiffness full of life-but SlumberOus
life. The music of streams can be heard
and distant murmur from the ocean; but
the birds have got their heads beneath theil
wings, and the rising night wind wOOeS
them all in vain.
Shadows numberIeSs are lying in misty
corners; the daylight fingers yet, as though
loath to quit us and sink into eternal night
1t is an eve of ''holest mood" full of tran
guilty and absolute calm.
''It is tnat hour of quiet ecstasy,
When every ruSting wind that passes by
The sleeping leaf makes busiest mnstrelsy.'
''You are silent, Priscilla" says Miss
Penelope, glancing at her.
81 am thinking. Such an eve as this al
ways recalls Katherine; and yesterday thu
meetinG-all has helped to bring the past
most wildly before me-"
"Ah, dear, yes" said Miss Penelope, re
garding her with furtive but tender glance
GLOW must he have felt, when he thought
what grief he brought to her young lifep
You are talking of mOther?" asks Kit
suddenly, letting her large dark eyes rest Oh
Miss PenelopeS face, as though searching
for latent madness there.
Eyes, my dear, of course"
''He would not have dared so to treat her
had her father been alive or had we been
blessed with brother" says Miss Priscilla
sternly ''IIe proved himself a bastard anC
a coward
perhaps there was some mistake" says
Monica, timidly, pluclIing pale blossom
and pretending to admire it.
mo, no. We believe he contracted al
affection for some other girl, and for hel
sake Tilted your mother. If so, retributioI
swift and proper followed on his pertidy
because he brought no wife later on to grace
his home. Doubtless he was betrayed il
his turn. That was only just"
"a I, -
lecture" says Miss Penelope, because ht
went abroad almost Immediately. [ saw
him shortly before he left the country, anC
he was then quite broben-down man. Ht
must have taken his OlUn misfortune greatly
to heart.
''Served him rightp' says Miss Priscilla,
uncompromsingly. HE observed no greater
luck. Your mother suffered so much at his
hands that she almost lost her health.
don't believe she ever got over it,"
''Oh, yes, she did, says Terry, suddenly
''She got over it uncOmmonly well. We
didn't know who Mr.. Desmond was then, OF
course; but | know she used to make quite
joke of him."
"a joker says Miss Priscilla, in an awful
tone.
Yes, regular fun, you know" goes on
Terence, undaunted. lone day she was tell
ing father some old story about Mr.. Des
mond, a good thing she called it, and she
was laughing heartily; but he wasn't, and
when she had finished, | remember, he said
something to her about want of delicacy OF
feeling, or something like that"
~ was there" says Kit, in her high treble
"He said, too, she ought to be ashamed OF
herself"
"Oh, that was nothiRg," says Mr.. Beres
ford, airiIy. Father and mother never
agreed for a moment; they were always
Squabbling from the time they got up til
they went to bed again"
The Misses Blake have turned quite pale
Terence, how can you speak so of you
sainted mother"' says Miss Penelope. "I'n
sure, from her letters to us, she was a mos
devoted mother and wife, and, indeed, sacri
feed her every wish and pleasure to yours.
Il never knew it cost her so much to 6eei
array from u.s. says Terence. IF she wa
dying for our society, she must indeed hav
sacrificed herself, because she made it til
business of her life to avoid us from NOR
to dewy eve"
DOUBTLESS she had her duties,' says Mis-
Penelope, in voice of suppressed feal
What is she going to hear next? what az
these dreadful children going to say?
perhaps she had," says Terence. eff Sc
they didn't agree with her, as she was a
ways in bad temper. She used to give
to papa right and left, until he didn't dar
call his soul his own. When I marry, sha.
take very good care my wife doesn't leat
me the life my mother led my father"
Your wife! who d marry you?" says XII
scornfully, which mterlude gives the dis
cussiOn rest for little time. But 500
they return to the charge.
Your mother when here had an angel
temper" says Miss Penelope. Miss Pri
ella all this time seems incapable of speed
nMell she hadn't when there y Saws Ie