Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1892-04-28

"You re quite wrong, Amy. He all but
told me it was you. 1t S absurd of you to
pretend not to know it.
Something followed | did not hear;
then the tone of the voices changed, and
Amy said, with the sound of choked
sob:
You're horrid girl; you want me to
die, and then you'll marry B. B Bob.
Il thought you loved him, sobbed Dol
ly, in reply; land now you're planning my
death. | hate you, Amy
Lunch was a somber meal ~;
The girls would speak neither to me nor
to one another; only Mrs, Girdlestone tried
to he p up the conversation. 1t was just
as bad all day; they snapped at one an
other and they snapped at the little wild
ow, and wor, OF all, they snapped at me
until really the horrid thought that lad
struck me before would have seemed less
horrid if only l could have relied on the
inetf siency of the bloodhcunds Of justice;
but the police happened to arrest muir
derer about then-he walked into the sta
| lion, and that stayed my fell imaglnings.
Besides, should net have known which
| to murder any more than [ had known
which to marry.
| In very low spirits, | started OF a soli-
tary walk next afternoon, thinking |
would come to a definite conclusion.
arrived at no such thing. | knew they
would both refuse me as matters stood,
: and, although justly incen ed. know l
| should not have the nerve 10 take the al
ternalive fate eff ed. The rain came
down, and turned to go home. 10 my
surprise, l met MIS-. Gl1dlestone.
why have you ventured out such a day
as this?"
''Ob, had some shopping to de-"
Gould not have done it for you?"
'lndeed. no. she answered with q
laugh and blush.
| 'Or one of the servants ?"
mo; servants chatte~ So"
Its a secret, then?'
"Well, yes, it is-from you, anyhow,
Mr.. Thompson"
"Did YOU get what you wanted?"
Eyes; have it here
noticed she was carrying a fair-sized
parcel wrapped In tissue p ,per.
"Oh, let me take it for youp'
'Will you be very careful? | don't
know what | should do if it came to
grief"
promised to guard it like my life, and
we walked on. Presently the rain stopped,
the sun came out, and we heightened our
walk. She was very kind and sympa-
thetic, and at last | told hor the whole
story. Nothing could be nicer than the
way she spoke, and | became quite en-
crossed in our conversation. 1t listed up
to the very door, and we paused in front
of the house, while she stopped to say a
last word, pressing my hand and telling
me show grieved, how very"
At this point, butcher boy came along,
carrying basket. The boy ran against
Mira. Girdlestone's parcel. There was a
sound of breaking glass. | dropped the
thing, but not before my hand was covered
with blood-as | thought.
ooh, oh, oh!'' | cried; "my hands cut
TO bits. :"
The widow looked at it.
II must stanch the blood!'' | cried.
Nonsense, Mr.. Thompson. It's not
blood it's - it's - well, it's my hair
wash and she blushed very becomingy.
clair wash!'
YES" she murmured; my hair is
Woman, don't hesitate at such a mo
ment -
well, pale red; and that dries lovely
auburn"
Her hair might have been blue for all
cared. She was charming woman, and
had rescued me from fearful temptation
and one of my cousins from an early
death. proposed to her on the spot.
Then | went in and told my cousins
They leape1 up and rushed into one an
other arms. enchanting. in furious tones
"The old cat!'
We were married in month. | have
no wori to say against my wife; only it is
a fact that she had nothing but 81 900 a
year, which ceased on re, marriage.
So my visit to Fatima cost me exactly
$51 900.
think the law should be impartiaIly
administered and all such persons put in
prison.-St. James Gazette.