Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1891-08-20

MY EARRING. My one Jnln5 bright IN all
this hateful world! Ohr' throwing up his
head with an impatient gesture, Il have
been so wretched all this EVENING" I have
suffered the tortures Of the"
Now, you mustn't say naughty words"
interrupts she, with an adorable smile You
are glad | have forgiven yOu?'
This is how she puts it, and he is only too
content to be friends with her on any terms,
to show further fight.
More than glad"
And you will promise me never to be
jealous againT'
This is bitter pill, considering his former
declaration that jealousy and he had moth
ing to do with each other; but he swallows
it bravely.
''Neyer. And you-you will never again
give me cause, darling, will you?"
Il gave you 10 cause now" says the dar-
ling, shaking her pretty head obstinately.
And he doesn't dare contradict her. you
behaved really badly" she goes on, re-
proachfully, land at such time, too,-just
when was dying to tell you such good
news"
"Good?-your aunts-" eagerly, ''havere-
lented-they-"
ooh, no! oh, dear, mop says Miss Beres-
ford. "They are harder than ever against
you. Adamant is a sponge in comparison
with them. 1t isn't that; but Madame
OConnor has asked me to go and stay with
her next Monday for week !-therer'
And me too?"
"N-o. Aunt Priscilla made it a condition
with regard to my going that you shouldn't
be there"
THE And Madame O'Connor gave in
to such abominable tyranny?'
"WithOut a murmur"
81 thought she had a soul above that sort
of thing says Mr.. Desmond, with disgust.
''But they are all alike"
'WhO?-Women?'
eyes"
you mean to tell me that am like Aunt
Priscilla and Madame OConnor"
"OJd women | mean. with anxious haste,
seeing cloud descending upon the brow of
his beloved.
'Ohv'
"And, after all, it is good news" says
Brian, Frightening, 'because though | can't
stop in the house for a week, still there is
nothing to prevent my riding over there
every one Of the seven days"
That's just what [ thought" says Moni-
ca, ingenuously, with a sweet little blush.
"Ah! YOU wished for me, them"
She refuses to answer this in any more di-
rect manner that her eyes afford, but says,
quickly, douMfuIly,-
1T won't be deceiying Aunt Priscilla,
your coming there to visit will it? She must
know she cannot compel Madame O'C0nnor
to forbid you the house. And she knows
perfectly you are an intimate friend Of
hers"
''Of course she does She is a regular old
tyrant,-a BIuebeard in petticoats; but"
so, no; Won must not abuse her." says
Monica; so he becomes silent.
She is standing very close to the trunk Of
the old beech, half leaning against it upon
one arm which is slightly raised. She has
70 gloves, but long white mittens that reach
above her elbow to where the sleeves Of her
gown JOIN them. Through the little holes
in the pattern of these kindly mttens her
white arms can be seen cleaning like snow
beneath the faint rays of the early moon.
With one hand she is playing some imagi-
nary air upon the trees bark.
As she SO plays, tiny sparl1les from her
rings attract his notice.
'rhoSe five little rings" says Desmond,
idly, always remind me of the five little
pigs that went to markell don't know
why"
They didn't all go to market" demurely.
zone of them, l knOaO, stayed at home"
so he did. remember now. Somehow
1t makes me feel like a boy again"
Then, according to Hood, you must be
nearer heaven than you were moment
ago.
Il couldn't" says Desmond, turning, and
looking into her beautiful eyes. ''My heaven
has been near me for the last half-hOur." If
he had said hour he would have been closer
to the truth.
A soft, lovely crimson creeps into her
cheeks, and her eyes fall before his for
moment. Then she laughs,-a gay, mirth-
tuI laugh, that somehow put. sentiments to
flight
Go on about your little pigs" she says,
glancing at him with coquettiSh mirth.
a bout your rings, you mean. l never
LOOK at them that [ don't begin this sort of
thing" Here, seeing an excellent opp0r-
tunity for IL, he takes her hand in his. This
little turquoise went to market, this little
pearl stayed at home, this little emerald got
SOme-er-cheeSe-
No, it wasn't" hastily. sit was roast
beef"
$50 it was. Better than cheese, any day.
How stupid of me! might have known an
emerald-I mean, pig-wouldn't like
cheese"
Il don't suppose it would like roast beef
bit BETTER" says Monica; and then her lips
part, and she bursts into merry laugh at
the absurdity of the thing. She is such a
child still that she finds the keenest enjoy
ment i'll it.
''Never mind" with dignity, land permit
me to tell you, Miss Beresford, that open
ridicule is rude. To continue; this little
pearl got none, and this little plain gold
ring gOt-he got-What on earth did the little
plain gold pig-I mean, ring-get?"
JucE rl,o+
for such a badly-toId story. He only cried,
Vice."
''Oh, no, indeed. He sha'n't cry at all. 1
won't have tears connected with you in any
way"
She glances up at him with eyes half shy,
and pleased, and with the prettieSt daWning
smiles upon her lips.
He clasps the slender fingers closer, as
though loath to part with them, and yet bis
tale has come to a climax.
IF have told my story so badly, perhaps
| had better tell it all over again." he says,
with base assumption of viTtuouS regret.
No. l would not give you that trouble
for the wOrld,'' she says, miSchievouSly, and
then the dawning smile widens, brightens
into something indescribable, but perfect.
'Oh, Monica, l do think you are thesweet-
est thing on EARTH" says the young man,
Win Snduen IerVlu passion: ana then all at
once, and tor the nrSJ Tune, he puts out MS
arms impulsvely and draws her to him. She
colors,-still smilin~, however,-and, after a
brief hesitation, moves slowly but decided
ly back from him.
You don't hate me to touch you, do you?"
asks he, rather hurt.
NO, no. indeed hurriediy. "Oniv-"
"Only what, darling?"
81 hardly know what" she answers, look
ing bewildered. perhaps because it is all
so strange. Why should you love me better
than any one?-and yet you do" anXiously,