Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1893-09-28

years ago, when the orphan was sent
to her rich aunt, as the legacy Of a
dying sister, the sole issue Of a foolish
marriage. and behold here was
another golden-haired child, sole issue
OF another foolish-marriage looking up
at Theresa Fitzpatrick with just the
same heaven-blue eyes, and the same
scared shrinking look, as doubling
whether to find a friend or a foe in the
richly-clad stately dame.
# Miss Fitzpatrick had been of the
melting mood, she would assuredly
have taken the child to her heart and
home. and the child'S dark-eyed, frank
browed, lovable stepsister with her
There was ample room for both girls,
in the big handsome house at Bath
empty rooms which no one ever visited
save the hOusemaid with her brooms
and brushes; furnished
rooms, swept and garnished. and kept
in spotless order for nobody.
Although there was ample room in
Miss Fitzpatrick's house, there was no
room in Miss FitZpatrick's heart for
two orphans.
Il shall do my duty to you, my
| dearS,' she said, and | shall make no
distinctions, although you, Rose, are no
relation Of mine, and have no claim
upon me-
You won't take Rose away?" cried
Kathleen, pale with terror, the blue
eyes filling with tears.
NO, my dear, l shall not separate
you while you are SO young" answered
Miss Fitzpatrick, complacently settling
herself in her sable-bordered mantle.
BY and by, when you are young
women, you will have to make our way
in the world, and then you may be
parted. But for the next few years
you shall be together. How have they
been educated!' she asked, appealing
to Biddy, who stood by, courtsying
every time the lady looked her way.
Sure, ma'am, my lady, the Captain
was very careful with them; he'd never
have let the dear children out Of his
sight, only he wanted d little gentle
mems society now and then, blessed
soul, and he liked to spend half an
hour or so at a caffy. But many's the
day I've heard UNI reading POETRY to
the two children Observation-Disclosures
and the Ghost, and King Leered, and
Lilly O'ROurke. There never was a
better father, if the Lord had been
pleased to spare him." concluded Bid
dy. with her apron at her eyes.
My good woman, you do not under
stand my question:" said Miss Fitz-
patrick impatiently. L want to know
~ cI,. =
[ begin to fear they have been sorely
neglected by that foolish man. Can
they read and write and cipher?"
Biddy, hard pushed, was fain to con
fess that Kathleen did not even know
: her letters, and that Rose was very
backward with her pen, though she
could read beautifully.
L thought as much said Miss Fitz
patrick. And now, Bridget Ryan,, I'll
tell you what | mean to do; you seem
to have been a faithful servant, so
; shall not allow you to be a loser by
Captain OHara'S death. I shall pay
you your wages i'll full, and send you
home to Ireland"
with the young LADIES'" asked
Biddy, beaming.
What should the young ladies do il
:, IrelandY' exclaimed Miss Fitzpatrick
they haven't a friend in that WretcheG
country. No, you can go back to YOU
home, for [ suppose you have some
l kind of a home to go to. But | shall
place the two young ladies in a con
vent I have been told about, three miles
,, from this city, where they viii be care
fully educated and kindly looked after
by the good nuns. I shall pay fol
their schooling and provide their ward
: robes till they are grown up; but Wher
they come to nineteen or twenty, they
, will have to earn their own living. The
l better they are educated the easier
they will find it to earn their bread
Biddy could but confess that Miss
: Fitzpatrick, upon whom the elder sister
had no shadow of claim, was actins
very generously; yet she was in despair
l at the thought Of being separated from
the children she had nursed, and who
; were to her as her own flesh and blood
If Miss Fitzpatrick had sent them al
three to Ireland, and give her cot
tage, a potato-field, and a pig, she fell
she could have worked for the two
children, and brought them up in com
; fort, and been as happy as the days
5 were long. They would have run abou
the fields barefoot, and with wild un
: covered hair, and made a friend anG
companion of the pig, but they would
have grown up strong and beautiful il
that free life; and it seemed to bel
that such a life would be ever so much
happier for them nan the enclosed
convent in the fiat arid country outside
Bruges, the grim white house within
high walls, the tall slated roof which
| she and her charges ad seen one day in
: their afternoon walk.
/ She accepted her wages from Miss
I Fitzpatrick, but she declined the fare
home to Ireland.
1T may be long days before [ see
! that blessed country" she said, ''for
with all submission to your ladyship,
L shall try to get a place in Bruges, so
that [ may be near these darling
: children, and gladden. my eyes with the
sight of them now and then, as the
good nuns give lave"
, Miss Fitzpatrick had no objection to
, this plan. She was a good woman ac-
g, cOrding to her lights, but as hard as a
| stone She wanted to do her duty in a
prompt and business like manner, and
: to provide for these orphans; not be
) cause she cared a straw for them, but
\ i