Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1893-09-07

Miss Denman to come without delay
to Mrs. BrOdie.
Cecilia arrived to hear with apparent
dismay the service required of her
With emotion she threw her arms round
Mrs. Brodie's neck, declaring thai
though she had always felt that fol-
the slightest wish of Sans mother she
was prepared to go through fire anG
water: yet to face-to speak-perhap
to be left alone, with Mr. Green. was
almost more than her courage dare
For Samuers sake" said Mrs
Brodie, tragically.
Il WILL" answered Miss Denman
with herosm. Strength will be given
me. Only tell me as nearly as you can
what to say-what TO do-and what ]
must avoid
Mrs. Brodie kissed her future daugh-
ter-in-aw effusively You are a dear
good girl she said, 'and Providence
will watch over and bless the efforts
you make" And having primed her
as to ali the selfish old monsters
whims and ways, and peculiarities. the
two ladies set off tC put to the test their
scheme
Without permitting the servant to
announce them, Mrs. Brodie went
straight to Mr.. Green's sitting room
The step she was to take was a deSper-
ate one, and in presence Of the despotic
old man she felt all her courage ooz-
ing out at her finger tips. If she did
not begin at once, and seize the bull by
the horns, her voice would fail her
already her tongue felt like dried
! leather in her mouth.
MI. Green she burst out, making
the pseudo invalid jump in his chair,
L hope I shall not incur your displeas-
ure on account of the step have.taken,
| but feeling, as | dc, the bond between
us-in-as you may say-well, being
| Sans mother [ have ventured to bring
with me young lady who is anxious to
I'LL UP gap as reader
Already Mr. Green's face was purple
He began to puff himself out with rage
that would presently find venfit in Il
torrent Of words, when-by d dexter
Gus pushing aside Of Mrs. Brodie-in
front of him stood the fair form of the
blushing Cecilia.
Now, the old Adam, although anguish
ing, was far from dead in NJ. Green;
he still possessed an eye for the come
~. There wasn't any need for trOu-
bling anybody" he began, rather
churlishly. and then his glance resting
on Cecilia, he added in a more gracious
tone, Still, as the young lady has been
at the pains of coming, /"
viii let her stay?" said Cecilia,
pleadingly.
I don't know that that was quite
what [ meant to say and a smile
long a stranger to Mr.. Green's puffy
visa ge-began to overspread his usual
expression of settled gloom. However,
if you don't mind sparing me little
of your time, so let it be-
There was a quick interchange of
signals between the ladies; then, muir
muring something about seeing after
poor Miss Sphinx, Mrs. Brodie-without
the slightest misgiving of coming evil
hurried from the rOom and, alas! that
we should have it to say, left the camp
in possession Of an enemy.
Whether that morning or how soon
Miss Denman took Mr. Green into her
confidence and betrayed her trust, does
not signify. Certain it is that before
long she had filled him with anger, in
dignation, and amusement by dressing
I, fo a+in c+,+
agitation and terror into which the
mere mention of a successor to Miss
Sphinx had plunged the BrOdie family.
They felt sure the situation would be
sought by some one young and perhaps
good looking, and what might not
happen? Mrs. Brodie says if you
were to maryland that's what she
lives in dread of-she is certain it
would be her death-blow; it would XII
her"
Mr.. Green visibly smiled with tickled
vanity. Oh, oh! that was what they
were afraid of, was it? Well really,
if people do not think him too old to
marry again, why should he think him
self so, and his eyes involuntarily
wandered toward his merry entertain
er, who seemed as much at home as
if she had spent half a lifetime there.
In Mrs. Brodie's presence Mr.. Green,
primed by Cecilia, said very stiffiy that
if she pleased and it was not troubling
her young friend, Miss Denman could
come there for little time Cecilia re-
manned silent, but the door was not
well shut before she asked, ''Was it
necessary" OF course, she would do
anything to oblige her dear was-to-be-
mamma-in-law; but the tiresome old
man was so dull-the morning had
seemed so long. He had limited at her
going again in the evening; but that
she really could not do. No. Sam must
go instead; only, mind, if he was asked,
for the worlds he mustn't seem to
know her. There were reasons more
than ever, just now, why they should
use caution. That evening Sam went,
and Mr.. Green by his questions lured
! the unfortunate youth to destruction.
80 that is it," said the old gentle
man meaningly, after the unhappy Sam
! had taken his departure. Il always
knew you were fool, sir, but that you're
a rogue, too, is quite as CERTAIN and
| he drew out from his side pocket a
little book and wrote down a memOran-
dunn to send for his lawyer.
For a whole fortnight four persons
played together a game full Of artifice
and deception, one hand among them