Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1893-02-02

you scratch the gold the brass IS Dound
to show beneath
You say this because you can see
no good in Ray; your love for Harding
causes you to be unjust"
An hour later Harding knelt by his
mothers side. She brushed back the
tangled cuIrls from his forehead and
kissed it as she softly whispered:
Good night. God bless you both"
Master1nan's credit castle was likely
to fall and bury him in its ruins. He
enjoyed it's pleasures with a reckless
ness that was suicidal. His debt had
grown to a considerable amount: the
funds placed in his hands for safe keep
ing had melted away. The squire had
loaned him considerable money. Idelle
alone stood between him and disgrace
How he hated heri H2 could deceive
others, but not this girl, whose honest
eyes peered behind the mask of hypoc-
risy.
/ Her absence for three months was a
calamity that almost overwhelmed him
But he plucked up fresh courage ard
settled his debts by promises in the fail.
He surely must win her in the end; if
not, there was the alternative of flight.
! IT would not be such bad one: he was
not the least in love with the heiress.
The rivals awaited Idelle's return with
motives rs far apart as the poles. With
lay the moments were flashes, the APP
preaching maturity of the promissory
notes caused the earth to revolve in
ten years. Harding thought the hin
ges of the globe needed oiling. With
all this discomfort Time neither hur-
ried, not retarded his changeless march,
but swung the days into position, re-
CARELESS OF mans desires.
Summer passed, and with it the Op-
pressiye heat; the tall trees along the
era ssy lane were leaflesS; the coo north
winds whistled through the branches
and made Harding shiver as he walked
rapidly to the station with a stretcher
upon his shoulder. The news had out
stripped him; crowd of anxious friends
were impatienuy awaiting the arrival
of the train.
| The cars stopped with d jerk that
brought a moan of pain from the muttl-
ed figure which gentle hands placed up
on the stretcher, which was then car
ried up the street and into the long ave
nue. that led into the squires gate
No one could tell how the accident
happened, neither did they know the
extent of her injuries. The door gong
was muffled and nobody was permitted
to enter the house. The servants tip
tOed about the Sitting-room, which was
darkened i'll objects were faint and in
distinct. Even Harding failed to gain
admission, and contented himself with
the stray information that drifted into
his office.
/ Rayland was absent from the village
Important business in an adjoining town
delayed his return, consequently he was
considerably shocked when he heard
the unexpected news. He huIriedly re-
moved the evidences OF travel and has
tened to the squire's. His persistency
gained the coveted admission to the
darkened room, where he played his
part like Il finished actOr-the grief was
us real as good acting could make it.
He threw himself into a stacy position
and purred:
"Idelle, my darling, my little wound
ed bird, let me draw back these cur
tains. | can't see you"
Don't! don't!' she moaned fretfuly
Il do not wish you to see the ugly cash
es that mark my face"
In a soothing tone he replied:
They are only temporary; they viii
heal"
You are kind to say SO but the doc
tor gives me no such encouragement. He
says / shall be SCARED for life"
Rayland's fastidious taste was shock
ed, but pressing necessities plucked at
his sleeve, and with solicitous gentle
ness he continued:
Let me lead you to the veranda; a
breath of air will do you good"
Idelle shrank from him.
DO you wish to mock at my mis-
fortune?" she asked in a pathetic tone.
Has no one informed your
In heavens name, what do you
mean?"
My left leg has been amputated
above the knee. Ray, l do not mind
that so much as the scars. l can use
Il wooden leg aad few will know the
difference"
What a calamity! lam sorry for
you," he stammered.
rs that all?" she sobbed. Il have
changed my mind, Ray. I shall be glad
to trust my future happiness in your
keeping, and feel assured that you will
love me all the more because / am q
cripple"
But Rayland did not ansW er; he was
a vain man; he could not marry a wo-
man who would do his taste positive
discrcdit. Better fight than that! Nut
tering some confused words he turned
and left the room and house.
No sooner had his footsteps died away
than the squire slipped from behind
the sofa and blurted out:
The infamous, cold-blooded Sound
rel! You were right, child, and l was
wrong. l beg your pardon"
Masterman left town that night-he
never returned for sundry reasons. The
little souvenirs with his autograph at
tached are folded neatly away and filed:
ITO be collected in the day of judy
ment.''
One day not long afterward Idelle
approached her papa in a wheedling
manner and III a pleading voice said:
You must be gentle with Harding; he
is coming this ey ening to make very
/ important request"
In help the lad along, never fear.
] % OH TO