Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1891-09-03

of copper-red is knitting languidly little
six sock for the child nesting silently at
her knee.
Monica, in plain white Indian muslin, is
doing nothing, unless smiling now and then
at Brian Desmond be anything, who is lying
on q bear-skin rug, looking supremacy hap
py and full of life and spirits He has come
over from CoOle very early, being generous
ly urged so to do by Madame O'Connor
when parting with HIM last night. Ryde is
DOT On the field, so the day is his own.
Miss Fitzgerald is looking rather hand
some, in a dress of the very tiniest check,
that is meant for small woman only, or a
child, and SO makes her appear several sizes
larger than she really is. U.ic Ronayne,
standing leaning against the chimney-piece
as close to Olga as circumstances will per-
NIT is silent to fault; and, indeed every
one but Mr.. Kelly has succumbed to the
damp depression of the air.
They have had only one distraction all
day,-the arrival of another guest, a distant
cousin of their hostess, who has been laud-
ing her for a week or so. On inspection she
proves to be a girl of nineteen, decidedly
unprepossessing in appearance,-in fact, as
Nj. Murphy, the butler, says to Mrs. Collins,
the hOusekeeper, las ugly as if she was be-
spoke"
A tall girl oppressed by freckles and with
hair of a deep-well, let us emulate our po-
lite French neighbors and call it blond ar
dent.
''Who is she?" asks Lord Rossmoyne,
who arrived about an hour ago, to Ulic Ro-
haynes discontinue.
''She'S fraud!'' says Mr.. Kelly, indig-
nantly,-''a swindlel Madame assured Us,
last night, charming girl was coming, to
turn all heads and storm all hearts; and to-
day, when we rushed in a body to the win
dow and fattened our noses against the
panes to see her, 10! a creature with red
hair and pimples-'
NO, no; frecllled, my dear Owen inter-
rupts Olga, indolently.
1T is all the same at a distance! general
effect fatal in both cases." says Mr.. Kelly,
ariy. 1T makes one positively uncOm-
Portable to look at her. | consider her being
thrust upon us like this q deliberate insult.
l think if she continues l shall leave"
''Oh, dO1Gt,' says Desmond, in a tone OF
agonized entreaty. How should We man
age to get Oh without you?"
Badly, badly, | know that" regretfully.
But it is a question of breaking either
your hearts or mine. Some of us must go
to the wall; it would be unfair to the world
to make it me-"
L don't believe you will 90 far" says
Mrs. Herrcl, slowly. Kelly gIancas at her
quickly, but She does not LIT her eyes from
the little sock, and her fingers move rapidly,
easily as ever.
London OF Paris" he says,-'the city of
fO9s or the city Of frogs. l don't know
which prefer"
"B 3tter stay where you are" says Brian.
well, | really didn't think her so very
plain" says Bella Fitzgerald d, who thinks it
pretty to say the kind thing always. "a
large mouth is an affection, certainly; and
as for her compi6Xion-but really, after all,
it is better to see it as it is than painted and
powdered, as one sees other people"
This is a faint cut at Olga. who is fond of
powder, and who has nOC scYlpled to add TO
her charms by little touch Of rouge now
and then when she felt pallor demanded it.
Il think a little artificial aid might i'm
prove poor Miss Browne" says Hernia Her
rick. Miss Browne is the new arrival.
Il don't. l think it is an abominable
thing to cheat the pubic like that" says
Miss Fitzgerald, doggedly; nobody respec-
table would do it. The delni-lnOnde paint
and powder"
DO they? how do you know, dear?" asks
Olga BOhun, sweetly.
Miss Fitzgerald, feeling she has made a
faur-paS, colors violently, tries to get her.
self out Of it, and founders helplessly. Lord
ROsSmoyne is looking surprised, Ulic Ro-
nayne and Desmond amused
Every one says So" says the fair Bella,
at last, in voice that trembles with anger;
you know very we'll they do"
Il don't, indeed, my dear Bella. My aC-
quaintance with-er-that sort of person
has been limited; [ quite envy you your
superior knowledge"
Here Olga laughs little, low, ripping
laugh that completes her enemy's defeat.
After the laugh there is a dead silence.
Il think somebody ought to remove the
poor little child" says Mr.. Kelly, in low,
/ impressive tone, pointing to Mrs. Herrick's
little girl. At which everybody laughs
heartily, and awlzwardness is banished.
''Browne?-I knew an Archibald Browne
once; anything to this grl?' asks Lord Ross
mOyne, hurriedly, unwilling to let silence
settle down on them again."
Big man with loose tie?' asks Ulic.
'Ye-eS. There was something odd about
his neck, now remember" says RosSmoyne.
''That was her father. He had an idea he
was like Lord Byron, and always wore his
necl1tie flying in the wind.''
''He couldn't manage it, though" says
Mr.. Kelly, with as near an attempt at mirth
as he ever permits himself. at always flew
the wrong way. Byron's. if you call to mind
his many portraits, always flewover his left
shoulder; old Brownies wouldn't. BY the
| bye" thOughtfully, Byron must have had
! wind of his own, mustn't he? our ordinary
| winds don't always ''-'--J in the same direc-
| ton, do they9'
81 would that wind could arise to blow
! you in the same direction, when you are in
! such an Idle moo as nOW," says Mrs. Her
rick in a low tone.
If it would blow me in yo1cr direction, l
! should say amen to that" in a voice aS sub
| due, as her own.
MAY the Fates avert from me a calamity
! so greatr'
| You will have to entreat them very dill
! gently, if you hope to escape it,"
! Are you so very determined, then?"
| Eyes. Although | feel [ am Knocked by
, the hope within me, still l shall persist"
! You waste your time"
81 am content to waste it in such cause.
| Yet am sorry am so distasteful to YOU"
THAT is not your fault. l forgive you
| that"
'What is it, then, you can't forgive in
me?''
! Not more than | can't forgive in another.
| God made you all, therefore letyOu all pass
! for men, l don't deal more hardly with
you than with the rest, you see. You are
only one of many"
THAT is the unkindest thing youeYer said
to me. And that is saying much. Yet l.
| too, will beseech the Fates in my turn"
ITO grant you what?'
THE finding of you in gentler mind"
The faintest flicker of a smile crosses her
F., lips. She lays her knitting on her knee for
an instant, that she may the more readily
let her taper fingers droop until they touch