Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1893-10-19

SOrDed IN his DetlrOtned to nave eyes
for the divers expressions Of the passers
by He was full of gladness. thank
fulneSS for his lot. He had been emf
nently successful as Il craftsman, and
won a medal for Il piece of fine work
manship in the exhibition of &c; he was
looked upon as leading light in the
syndicate, and the dearest woman in
the world had promised to be his wife.
Now that Kathleen was engaged there
was no more difficulty. SO soen rs
Castor WAS in Il fair way to maintain
wife, the two couples would be unit
ed.
The evening at the Ambigu was en-
chantment; but both girls refused the
luxury of ices at TortOni's. How were
lovers to be thrifty if their betrothed
were ready to accept costly attentions! e
Besides, as they passed the famous con-
| fectiOner's, Rose caught sight OF
couple Of carriage setting down some
ladies and their cavaliers at Il side door,
and those painted faces and rustllng
silks belonged to a world from which
Rose OHara recoiled as from pesti-
! lence. so they walked home in the
| August moonlight, talking of the play,
| and were safe in the Rue Git lie Occur
before midnight.
Rose did not forget that look of Ma
dame AIichels. Her intense affection
| for kathleen made her suspicious of
| Kathleen's lover. Such Il look as that
| in a Young WOman'S face could but
! have one meaning. 1t meant jealousy,
! and there could hardly be jealousy
without cause The look suggested
history. and Rose set herself to find out
! that history. She consulted Madame
| Schubert, the one friend whom she
| could trust in so delicate Il matter, and
! the GOOD Schubert was not long in en-
tightening her. One does not live in
such place as the Rue Git lie Occur for
| fye-and-tWenty years without know
| ING n good deal about ones neighbOr.
Yes, my dear, there is no doubt this
dear Mortemar had once tenderness
for the Michel He used to breakfast
at her shop every mOrninG-a lelsufely
breakfast, during which those two talk
| ed-ah, great Heaven, how they talked.
one could hardly get properly served
while he was there. And he danced
with her in the winter at the Butler
balls. and he used to take her to the
theatre. Friends of mine saw them
there, as happy as turtle-doyes. But
what Of that? A man must SOW his
wild oats; and Castor is not the less
| fond of your sister because he has
played fast and loose with the Michel.
| NV sister shall not marry man
who has played fast and loose with any
woman" said Rose.
That is rank nonsense answered
| Maman Schubert. MARK my words,
Rose; if you try to part those two, you
will break Kathleen's heart"
| Better her heart should be broken
| than by bad husband" said Rose.
| He will not make bad husband.
Do YOU think a man is any the worse
for a Irritation or two in his bachelor
DAYS? That is the way he learns the
meaning of real love.
Rose was not easily appeased. She
saw Castor next day, and taxed INN
with his dishOnorable conduct to the
widow. He was indignant at the
charge. and declared that there had
never been anything serious between
them. She had been attentive to him
as a customer at her cremerie; he had
been civil to her-that was ALL Inc
visits to the theatre meant no more
than civilty.
There was something more than
civilty on her part, and l think you
must have known it" answered Rose,
intensely in earnest eff you knew
| it and fooled her, you are not good
true man; and you shall not marry my
sister,"
CASTOR protested against this absurd
/ decree: but finally admitted that he
had been to blame. Yes, perhaps he
had known that Madame Michel was
| just Il little taken with him, inclined
to like his society, and to be jealous
| and angry when he deserted her shop.
| The shop was convenient; the woman
! was handsome and amusing. Why
should not Il man who was heartWnoie,
who had not one real wOman-frlend
| in the world talk and laugh with
pretty shopkeeper? 1t could do no
harm.
ut has done harm. I saw as
much in Madame Michefs face the 9th
er evening" And then she told CASTOR
the story of that encounter on the
! quay.
'MademOiselle Rose, you eXaggerate
the situation The Michel has a spice
of the devil in her, and can give black
looks on very slight provocation. For
the rest, she and 1 have seen the last
of each other. [ have never crossed
the threshold since 1 was betrothed to
Kathleen; l never shall cross it again.
! Promise me thai" said Rose.
Il promise, from my heart"
This happened in the year SO; and
now it was midsummer in the Hateful
year 10, and France was ueading
daily, step by step, nearer the edge of
the abyss.
CHAPTER ".