Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1893-11-30
Deuped.

out"
Out where? Who ever knew Hal.
Belmont to be Lite to his dinner be-
fore?'
He is out riding with Mrs. Col.
LaWtOn.'
And who is Mrs Col. LaWton, pray?"
My old schoolmate, Isabelle Cliff
ford"
4 suppose you have not put your
nose out doors since this lovely Indian
summer began. You have just brooded
! over baby, and cried when he cried,
and fancied that he was going to have
the Group or something dreadful
Laura's eyes overlooked. 20 Emma,
| he is such Il darling! What should l
do if 1 were to lose him? 1 am SO sor-
ry Harry is so afraid of hurting him.
He won't touch him"
She went to the window and press
ed her forehead against q pane of
glass
Tel me about Mrs. Lawton,' said l.
There is not much to TELL" said
| she. I'VE were at school together.
| She was older than | and left the next
| term after | went. But she married
| Col. Lawton, an old friend of Harry's,
| He died last year in Mexico, and
| though she came to visit me, l think
| much more Of her on my husbands ac-
count than ON my own. Col. Lawton
| and Harry We're at West Point tOgeth
err. Mrs. Lawton never hears her hus-
| bands name without shedding tears,
and that makes Harry think great
| deal of her"
How many times have they been
out riding
Three times. Every day this week.
| She has delicate health. Her lungs
are affected, and the doctor says She
must ride, and she has no one but Har
ry to go with her"
| At & o'clock the riders returned. /
| was looking out and saw them come
up. Harry looked the beau idell Of Il
I handsome cavalier, and the Lady was
certainly one of the most snowy wo-
men that l ever saw on horseback.
| But I sympathi1ed so much in my
sisters unacl1neWleged pain that I felt
afraid that l was prejudiced against
| the beautiful woman to whom Laura
! introduced me.
| I always battle with my impressions
when they are against a person. 1t
seems as if I were mentally uni Just. [
am sure to like or dislike almost all
candidates fer my friendship, most I'M
reasonably. And yet l always find a
reason, if l come to know them. |
must own to a very comfortable aver
sion to Mrs. Lawton.
| Laura ate scarcely a mOrSel, while
Harry and the lady did ample justice
to the cooks illtreated dinner.
After dinner we went into the parlor
! to have some music.
You shall he'll. Mrs Lawton and
in a duet" said Harry, as tine lady sat
down to the piano.
| Just then Laura became very pale,
and l spoke to Harry:
| Laura is going to faint, | ana
afraid" said I.
He went to her, I fear a little ont of
! patience.
Laura" said he, will you never
hear any music again? Yori know you
love music better than anything, ard
yet You always get faint, now, just
as [ am going to sing"
Il must go upstairs" said she, very
languidly, and Harry started to help
her-but she said she was better on
the first landing and begged that he
would not mind her, but go and have
! his music.
He hurried back to the parlor, and
heard their rich voices mingle in &
wonderful harmony.
! Laura lay down. looking almost as
white as the pillow on which she rest
ed.
Laura" said I, do you know Mrs.
LawtOn well:"
Very little. / saw her a good deal
at school While she staid, but it was
not long after / went, before she left.
There was A rumor of some scandal
respecting her.
Have you mentioned it to your hus-
band?'
! ..Oh, no, the fact that she married
his friend assures US that she is really
! above reproach."
| l saw right into the wOman's heart.
! She was afraid of losing ground in her
! husbands estimation, if she allowed
! him to have the slightest idea of her
/ feelings toward his friend.
; DO you like Mrs. Lawton"
'She is very pleasant and attentive
to me and baby said she. ''She
embl oidered that love Of a sack she has
! On, and she has only been here a week.
She spends all her time with me, when
! she is not dressing, or out riding, OF
playing chess or singing with Harry"
! .Wen, Laura" said I, aloud, Il
don't like this woman"
Il beg you not to hint to Harry that
you don't like her. Promise me, Emma
to be prudent
! / promised her. I do not see now
how did it. 1 am sure if all were to
do over again. I should certainly act
differently. but I did all for the best
then. l determined to stay with
Laura. while Mrs. Lawton remained.
The next day Laura seemed better
j in the forenoon Mrs. Lawton was
: planning clothes for the baby, and her
; sweet little attentions to mother and
babe seemed enough to disarm even
my prejudices. As the time drew near
for Mrs Lawton to ride, Laura became
detected and pale.
/ DO ask Harry not to keep dinner
! waiting today" she whispered to me.