Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1892-10-06

ue NotlIu peISudue ner 10 turn back.
and this she was resolute not to do: so
that between her obstinacy and his pa
thence they ambled on for full half
mile without a syllable, till Frank,
quite certain of her now, but growing
| uneasy at her silence, tried to take the
hand that held the hood so closely to-
| gether. and for his pains cot a sudden,
sound, singing box on the ear.
Perhaps the shock of it mOmentarily
took away his sight, at any rate he got
| no glimpse of the features of his assail-
ant, who returned to the study of her
hedgerOw with fresh satisfaction. feel
ING sure that she had now left her I'M
welcome escort no alternative but to
withdraw.
"Madcap," he said reproachfully,
where are you going, and why won't
you speak to me-"
She began to reflect that they were
now more than half way to Lovel, and
that he cOuld not hinder her much.
W ere you going to fetch me news of
Dody?' she said, turning d young face
fuII OF re.antlng over her shoulder.
well, I'm going to fetch some myself.
and you can 90 back and tell Mr.. Eyre"
Then he does not know" exclaimed
Frank.
Are middle-aged people ever waken-
ed up by the sun shining i'll on them?'
she said inconsequently; then colored
wildly, and added
If they will let me Co-my sweet
hearts, | mean-parhapS I'll be back to-
night in time for dinner"
But Frank, alive to the fact that he
was Unexpectedly placed on guard, and
must not lose sight of her till she was
safe in her husbands hands, was too
+n IF he Iop
Immediately. he could hardly arouse
MIR. Eyre and bring him on before Mad
cap should have reached home, where
i'll luck might possibly COnuive that
meeting with Hester which Mr. Eyre
dreaded; but as he elected to go for
ward with her, he knew that scandal
would follow at their heels.
"Mldcap." he said desperately.
won't you come back with me? and
your husband and I will take you home
this very morning. to stay at home or
not, just as Won like; it is not suitable
that you should return in this way, or
Or polite to the Duchess he added.
'Oh. she will be happy enough with
Mr.. Eyre" said Madcdp, turning her
head aside.
''Madcap!" he cried, "you cannot be
SO foolish as to be jealous OF herr"
MaGcap hung her head a moment,
then looked round With q little smile
lowering about her Inexperienced
jealousy always ends in mirth, as real
jealousy in tears.
Have yon been pitving me, too"
she said "YOu need nos, for if | had
only crust of bread, and a drink OF
milk. should be the happies5 woman
on earth at this moment"
I will get you both, Madcap," he
said, IF YOU will let No take you to a
| farmhouse, and leave YOU there while
| go back for Mr.. Eyre"
Did ever you play truant, Frank?'
she sid, considering III n gravely; land
just as You were BEGINNING to enjoy
yourself, did you run back to your
SchOO master? | wonder people don't
ingS early in the morning, when they
are fresh, and feeling and looking Their
very best" she added, medita}iyelv, as
she sniff ii ut flower here and pIucIed
a blossom there; land if one took COW
look" she cried. suddenly. "thare is
one cOming;" and to Franks delight,
he perceived that behind the animal
there walked woman.
She was rather promising specimen
Of her class, and when Frank begged
draught of milk for Madcap, she sat
down without more ado and sent the
milk f0aming into the pail, then lifted
her stout arm and cOntrived that Mad
can should drink it, 50 that Frank, who
dropped behind, imagined that he was
nos missed.
But when Madcap had thanked the
woman and moved on, she turned her
face to the hedgerOW and smiled, for
being less hungry, her spirits were now
returning.
Frank" she said, when a little out
Of breath with running he overlook her,
Pm going to pick yOu nOSegay. but
you mustn't look round, and you're to
walk straight on and not turn your
head once"
Misled by the innocence of her tone,
he promised, and walked ahead, where
upon she slipped nimbly off the ass,
and ran nOiselessly over the grass to
where, in bend of the road, she saw
the milkmaid standing, looking down
at something she held in her hand, and
talking to herself aloud.
The bit of gold I'll buy me a new rig
out for the fair" she muttered, land
III beat Sukey yet. and p'r'aps Garge'n
fancy me now, and all for just taking
q bit of letter up to his GraSS'S!"
Madcap bounced on the scrap of pa
.
water flying, then with her slender fin
gers closed the astOnished woman's red
hand over the gold, and ran back to the
ass, who waited where she had thin;
while Frank, hOnOrably disappearing,
had not once tHrned his head round, il
the back of it might be trusted to speak
the truth.
ut is pleasanter walking,' she said,
when she called him back. and be &C
cepted unsuspiciously the apology for
buttonhole she gave him, and for mile
he led the ass happily enough, while she
walked beside him, and they talked of
everything but the subject nearest to
the hearts of bOth-Hester.
But at the crossroads the ass created
an unexpected diversion by refusing to
bulge save in the direction of Marmi-
ton, so that the contest ended in Franks
lifting the animal bodily and carrying
him good step down the road to LOvel,
along which he presently logged, sad
der if not wiser beast.
But when, in the distance, Madcap
saw the morning sun shining on her
home, she was in such haste to be there
that, having mounted her steed, she
felt each Stepa WEAKNESS till they reach
ed the village, which was already awake,
and hurrying to its doors to see the
young mistress riding by in white
gown and garden hat, on donkey,
with young Lord LOvel to hold its
bride, and not a sign Of Mr.. Eyre visi-
BILE either before or behind.
Never was there more unsuspected
elopement, never sedatpr home COM
oh Tr-C,