Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1893-08-31
W 1ster Of The Wine .
BY K. l.

In large wooden building not far
from the seashore, q building attached
;4s school house 10 MINISTERS Board
ing Academy for Young Gentlemen"
/, Hugh Trelawney. then scarcely ten
years old, was moping alone. L had
only arrived two days before from Lon
don, where | had parted from my faith
er, 4 travelling lecturer in the cause Of
what was then known as the New Nor
al World. My mother had long been
neglected life, sometimes accompanying
my father on his Wanderings, more
often being left TO the care, or care
lessneSs, of strangers At last l had
been sent to Southampton to complete
very perfunctory education.
1t was afternoon, and Il half-holiday;
my new schoolfelloWs were playing
close by. For myself, | was too used
to loneliness To be very miserable. L
merely felt an outcast for the time
being. and took no interest whatever
in my new associations. As | sat thus,
| must have fallen into IL brown study,
from which Il slight sound startled me.
Looking up, | met the flash of two
dark eyes, which were intcntly regard
ing me.
Are you the new boy" said clear
voice / nodded, and stared at my in
terrogator, girl of about my own age,
whose black eyebrows were knitted in
a way very curious i'll So Young Il child
IIrr. nd oak
were bare, and she was fondling
Kitten whose bright eyes and lissome
movements seemed to have something
i'll common with her own beauty. l
noticed, too, that she wore earrings.
and that they were very bright and
glistening.
What is your name?' she continued,
III the same clear, questioning tone,
although with the manner of a super
Tor who was not to be trihed with.
Hugh"
High what|
Hugh Trelawney."
| felt somewhat overawed by the tone
of the little lady, who to my boyish
eyes, seemed much more my senior
than she was in reality. She continued
to regard me with the same keen
scrutiny, and then said, looking at my
attire:
WHO is dead?"
| still wore black for my mother,
and, with somewhat faitering voice,
| told her so.
She did not seem surprised, and ex-
pressed no sympathy; but walking to
the school-room window, looked out,
saying: why don't you go out and
play with the other boys:"
Il don't care about play. | am tired"
Tired of what?" she questioned
quickly.
| made no reply, for | was not pre-
pared for the question. | had meant to
imply that | was low-spirited and dull,
but had not cared to confess SO much
in so many words. She understood
me, however, and, although she seem,
ed Indifferent to my condition, troubled
me with no more questions. Glad to
direct her attention from myself, for
her bright eyes troubled me and made
me feel ashamed. | stopped down and
stroked the kitten, which she had
placed upon the floor. Even as l did
so. | could feel her eyes still fixed upon
me; but when | looked up again with
an annoyed expression, she turned her
eyes away and laughed This EN-
boldened me, and l began to question
in my turn.
Are you the schoolmaster's daugh
ter!'
At this she laughed the more-sC
brightly and pleasantly, with such :
gcr -humored sympathy with my
bIu..ger. that my first impression OF
her began to improve. and l saw that
besides being rather imperious, Sh,
was very pretty youhs lady
WHY do YOU laugh?' l remarked.
AT you," she replied, because yol
take me for Mr. MINISTER'S child.
am Il stranger here, like yourself. NJ,
people live far away i'll South Amerl
ca, and are very rich. My mother /
dead, and | dent remember her. Nj,
father has sent me here to be taught
hut | shall soon go back to him. HAY
you a father?" she added quickly.
nodded.
rs he kind to you, and was it h
that sent you to school," she asked.
But without waiting fer my reply Il
her question she continued: My faith
er cried when / left him, though he i
a great man and when he gave m
these earrings he told me my mothe
had worn them before me and he kiss
ed them. We live far away from her
in a brighter place. Don't you hat
England?''
This was father a startling query
but being in state Of mind borderin