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

by emotion. Samuel was the only
word she could utter.
Everything in it goes to him.
My dear boy" calculated the
agitated mother. as she clasped her
hands in gratitude TO that particular
providence who had so wisely guided
the disposition of Mr.. Green's affairs.
| Strangely enough, when they parted.
Mrs. Brodie did not feel as cordial as
had Of late been her wont toward
Cecilia. Uppermost in her mind was
that fortune of which her son was now
of certainty the possessor. In choos-
ing 4 wife, might he not have looked
higher? Cecilia, it was true, might be
good looking, but she was years older
than Sam, and they knew nothing of
her family, and she so perSiStently re-
peated TO her son that Cecilia ought
TO bless the day on which she met him
that, unconsciously, Sans manner be-
came a little tinged by the same idea.
Without any intention that it should
be apparent, there was from the date
Of this communication a marked diff
ference in the bearing and behavior
of the Brodies. Sam-to quote his
brother clerks suddenly put on a
sight of swagger,' and the little airs
of condescending patronage assumed
by Mrs. Brodie when mimicl1ed by
Cecilia for the benefit of Mr.. Green,
provoked much amusement and laugh
ter.
Mr. Green was altogether 4 different
creature by this time. He had shaken
off his state of chrySalis, and, without
vet being one, was contemplating the
pleasures he might enjoy as butter
fly. Half the mischief which entered
his head was placed there by Mrs.
Brodie who never missed an opportun-
ity of commenting on cataStrOpheS
which had occurred to over contiding
gentlemen in their declining years had
had their domestic hearths desecrated
through advertisements for cOmpan-
ions which they had put into news
papers being responded to by promiscu-
Gus, painted, yellow-haired harpies.
Poor woman. Little did she dream of
the baleful serpent that through her
agency had already been admitted to
bask upon that sacred hearth. In years
to come no doubt revenge was melted
out to Cecilia, but at this time all her
nefarious deep laid schemes prospered,
and her plans We're carried on swim
mingly.
Miss Sphinx, whose glass now always
reflected to her the Was-tO-be Mrs.
Green, helped to the utmost to further
hoodWink Mrs. BrOdie, and it was
through her means the secret was
kept that for a month at least Mr..
Green was going away-Was leaving
home for the seaside-a thing he had
not done since the late lamented Mrs.
Green died. By a singular coincidence
the Websters were going to Brighton.
Of this Cecilia spoke openly, deploring
her sisters desire that she should &C
company her.
You'll have to put your foot down
on the family, SAM" remarked Mrs.
Brodie. Il should give Cecilia to IN
derstand that in marrying her [ didn't
marry her sister, and Sam dropping
hint of this nature-fOr he was not
in the best of humors at his lady-love
going away-NIisS Denman took it up
so warmly that a quarrel ensued, and
for the first time the two parted in
anger. Instead of narrowing the
breach, it is to be feared that Mrs.
Brodies inclination went towards max
Sl oh
said, that you'll not be the one to
give in. So much at least is due to
you, that the first advances should
come from Cecilia"
At the time when his mother spoke
Sam was quite of her opinion, but
that the Websters had gone, and Ceci-
liza with them, without one word of
adieu or any address left or given, he
rushed home like one distracted to
find Mrs. Brodie in a similar state of
perturbation. She, in the meanwhile,
had made the discovery of Mr.. Green's
flight-the house was left in possession
of chose insolent servants" Miss
Sphinx, too, had gone away, cher boxes,
by masters orders, was to follow"
Coming events cast their shadows
before them" With sickening PRESENT.
ment that all was not right, Mrs. Bro
die turned away from the door through
which she was doomed never again to
enter. From whom was to come the
blow? Would it be from Miss Sphinx?
or worse still, was it-cOuld it be from
Cecilia? A thousand suspicious to
which she had been blind came crowd
ing now upon her. Forced to be silent,
compelled to keep a brave front to all
the prying eyes around, the suspense
was horrible, but the end was near.
First a letter came from Miss Sphinx,
full of incoherent illusions to the hor-
rible deceit practised upon her. By
cunning and cajoling she had been in
duced, she said, to quit Mr.. Green's
house under the preteXt of needing a
holiday.
A few days later Mrs. Brodie received
a newspaper. 1T was the times, which,
except when birth, death, or mar
rage occurred, no one had been ever
known to send her. In vain her tremb-
ling fingers fumbled with the string,
until she was fain to fetch knife to
cut it, Before this could be accomplish
ed, a neighbor had appeared at the
window. and in that CHEEKY voice
which trumpeters of bad news vainly
try to dissemble, said, you've heard
the news, of course? Only fancy, that