Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1891-06-04

III.
you understand all that it is needful you
should, Monica says Miss Penelope, with
glance at her sister. who really seems quite
| overcome. $50 we will say no more about
| it. Only you can see for yourself how i'm
possible it is for any of our blood to be CD
| friendly terms with a Desmond
They may not all be like that Mr. Des-
| mOnd," says Monica. timidly, col0ring to
her brow
Eyes, yes. Like father, like son; you
know the old adage; and a nephew is as
! close a relation almost. We can know 10
| one at Coole."
4 would almost rather see you dead than
! Intimate with one of the name says Miss
| Priscilla, with sudden harshness.
L don't think we told Monica about the
other guests at AghyOhiIlbeg" SAYS Miss
Penelope, hastily; with the kindly intention
OF changing the conversation. "A very pref
ty woman came there about a week before
your arrival, child, and is to remain, l be-
lieye, for some time. She is widow and
young, andy the bye, 1 wonder if she can
be any relation to your friends in the South
Of France
"Why?'
Her name is Bohun, and"
Not Olga Bohun?" says Monica, springing
to her feet "A widow, you say, and young.
Oh! auntie, if she only might be Olgar'
Well certainly she has heathenish-I
mean, Russian-name like that" says
Miss Priscilla. ''She is a very little woman,
with merry eyes, and she laughs always.
and she has the prettiest, the most courte-
! Gus manners. Quite a relief l found her,
after the inanities of Bella Fitzgerald"
''She is even smaller than [ am. Yes, and
her eyes do laughr' says Monica, delight
| making her cheeks warm. 'She is the pref
| test thing. All! how happy shall be if I
may see her sOmetime?r'
You shall see her just as often as ever
you and she WISH" say the two old maids
in breath, glad in the thought that they
| can make her home at Moyne happy to her.
Il hope Y01C like her" says Monica, slanc-
ing from one to the other of them.
Yes. | thought her quite fascinating"
says Miss Penelope. Some people say she
| is rather-rather fast, l believe is the word
they use Nowadays getting the word out
with difficulty, as though afraid it may go
| off and do somebody an injury. But for
ny part, I don't believe word of it. She
IS quite natural, and most pleasing in man
ner, especially to those who are older than
herself. great charm in these times, my
dear, when age is despised.''
Plainly, the little widow at Aghy0hilbeg
has been playing off her sweetest graces up
on the two Misses Blake.
Il dare say Monica will like young Ro-
| nayne," says Miss Priscilla. "He is quite
nice, that lad. But [ hope, Monica, that,
even if circumstances should throw you to-
gether, you will take no notice of young Mr..
Desmond. l would not exchange word
with him if queens diadem were offered
me as a bribe'
You might speak to him without know
ing him." says Monica, blushing again that
nervous crimson of a while ago.
impossible, my dear. Instinct, sharpen
| ed by hatred, would tell me when one Of the
race was near me-"
Well as it is your first party here, dear
child, L hope you will enjoy it, says Miss
Penelope, quickly, as though again anxious
to throw oil on the waters by changing the
conversation. 1T is a charming place, and
its mistress, if little rough, is at least
kindly"
At this moment Kit emerging from the
curtains that have hidden her for the past
hour, comes slowly to the front Her face,
her very attitude, is martial. She is plainly
in batte-array. Pausing before Miss Pris-
ella, she directs her first fire upon her.
Am not asked at all?'' she says, in
| terrible tone, that contrasts painfully with
| the OminOuS silence she has maintained ever
snce the invitation was brought by Mrs.
OCOnnOr'S groom.
MY dear child, you must remember you
are only fourteen" says Miss Priscilla, who
is sincerely sorry the child has not been in
cluded in the invitation, and in fact, thinks
it rather unkind she has been left out.
y knO1O that, thank YOU says the young
| est Miss BareSford, uncomprOmisingly, fix
ing her aunt with a stony glare. Il know
l. IL,
so just because [ am child, l am to be
sighted, am /? | call it unfair! 1 call it
| beastly mean, that every one here is to be
invited out to enjoy themselves except me-"
Young people are seldom asked to grown
| up parjies,' says Miss Priscilla, in her most
| conciliatOry manner. ''When you are as
| Cd as Monica, of course you will go every
Where. In the mean time you are only
| chiid.'
I am old enough to conduct myself prop
erly, at all events" says Kit, unmoved. Il
suppose at f0uTteen''- as if this age is an
age rep,ete with wsdom-'I am not likely
| to do anything Uery extraordinary, or make
myself unpleasant, or be in anybody way"
THAT is not the question, at all; it is
merely one of age" says Miss Priscilla.
Us it? And yet people say great deal
about childhood being the happiest time of
| scOrnful rage. Il should just like to see
the fellow who first said that. Maybe /
wouldn't enlighten him, and tell him what
hypocrite he was. Whoever said it, it is a
| decided untruth, and know Iwish to good
| ness was grown up, because them" with
whitening emphasis, Il shOuldnOt be tram
! pied upon and insultedW
This is dreadful. The two Old ladies, uTl-
accustomed in their quiet lives 10 tornadoes
and volcanoes Of any kind, are almost
| speeehless with fright.
Dearest" says Monica, going up to her,
show cam you look at it in such light?'
! ''Et's oil vnrv wnll for YOU" saws the in
dignant Kit; you're gong, you KNOW. L iii
to stay at home, like that wretched Gin
| deTella."
katherine, l am sure you are quite I'M
aware of the injustice of your remarks, "
says Miss Priscilla, at last finding her voice.
She is bent on delivering a calm rebuke; ;
but inwardly Gas any one can see) she is
quaking. And | have frequently told you
before that the expression / wish to good
ness which you used just now, is anything
but ladylike 1t is not nice; it is not proper"
Il don't care what is proper or improper,
when | am treated as I now am" says the
| rebel, with flashing eyes and undaunted
| front
There is really nothing to complain Of"
! says Miss Priscilla, earnestly. seeing cenSure
has no effect. Madam O'COnnor would
not willingly offend any one; she is a very
kind woman, and"
''She is regular old wretchr says the
youngest Miss Beresford with considerable
spirit.
My dear Katherine!'
And it's my belief she done it orr pltr-
pose" with increasing rage.