Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1893-10-26

10 be In town service yet"
I'm near seventeen" she replies: and
then he sees that tears are in her ewes.
and She is funbling ut the pocket of
her gown in search of her handker-
chief.
I'm afraid you'm in trouble" he
says gently, all the cheerfulness fad
ing out Of his face in genuine regret:
but lis he says it all her lassitude seems
struck away from her
Trouble" she cries. clenching her
small, toil-Wo:n hands, Its al trouble
never nothin' but trouble: ever since
| was Old enough TO know what it was
Their its hin hangin' over US: an now
fathers dead-an' l don't care who
knows that we'm miserable an beg
garS, an nothin' else
The youth looks at her burning face
and loses the remr3nts of his bashflt,-
ness as he does it. You can't be angry
just with trouble, if tisn't nobody's
fault" he remarks grayely and decided
ly.
But It's some ones fault-a brut..
who calls himself Il man. who's bounded
an drove my father to his death; an
now he's dead there's no money at
home to keep Us from staryin, an I'm
the Oldest, an I'm goin' in service
The youths face turns a deeper color
than sunburn as he listens; when the
girl stops, he asks: And where's your
homer
AT Liscaddick, the other side of the
big bridge
Whats the name Of the MANI
"Eellum-JoSias Eellum; he lives in
the next village, an he an father had
a quarrel when they was boys together
I've heard tell that twas about mother;
anyhow, JoSias Vellum never forgave
father, an he's never let a week pass
without tryin' to do him Il bad turn;
an we've got poorer an poorer ever
since | can remember, an father cot to
look WHISTLER and WHISTLER, an fearful
that he'd never last on till good times
came again, for he grew feeble an
white with trouble; an then three
months ago our donkey was poisoned
an [ know JOsias Vellum must a-done
it; am POOR father had to go an work
as day laborer; an he hadn't been at
that more'n two months before Josias
Nellum told lies to his master, an got
him turned off, an then Well, |
don't care who knows it-'twaSn't faith
nr's fault-he went light-headed with
trouble, an we only Thought he was
wonderful cheerful. and when we was
into the market, tryin' to get some
pence by selling flowers from mothers
bit of garden, he went-he went an
hung himself
The girl leans her head ON the wagon
rail and bursts into tears. The youths
face is troubled, too, and he leans
forward anl lays his big brown hand
tentedly CT rye up the hill a. their
pleasure.
Your names Goldsworthy," he says,
quietly. I've heard all about your
trouble; and Josias Neilum has behaved
bad by you, youm right there; but, all
the same, b'lieve you'm happier than
he is"
Yes, I'm Ann Goldsworthy''-
lifts her head quickly from the rail
in her establishment, the tears still
wet on her chee1s-''but how'd you
know about Josias Vellum?'
There was a pause, while the youth
looks tiXedly at the white stretch of
hill before him. Because I'm Josias
Vellum,s son." he answers at last.
The girls eyes blaze with anger.
Then I'll please to get out an walk,
rather than be beholden to Josias Vel
lum's son for lift"
But again he lays his big hand on
hers, though she roughly shakes it off.
Don't you go till [ tell you one thing
more I'm Josias Vellum's only son;
but when [ found out what he'd done
to your father from some words he let
slip when he heard of the hangin', I
told him what 1 thought about it, and
then I walked straight away and took
service at Treslawn Mill. An if you've
got your troubles, he's got his now; for
I'm the only Gvin' bein' he's got in the
world, an he'd a-done anything for me;
and he knelt and prayed to me, with
the tears runnin' down his cheeks, but
l left him, and called him a murderer"
There is long silence, during which
Ann Goldsworthy thinks good DEAL
and then.
Il b'leeve I'd rather be me than you,
she declares. And, after another pause,
But you don't care very much for your
father, I S'pOSeT'
''Why not?"
why, you couldn't a-borne it. 1t
must have bin awful to see him cryin'
to you"
yes, it was" he returned shortly.
And he gathers the reins tighter, and
fiicks at Peasants ear with his whip;
and Ann GoIdswOrthy watches him
furtiyely in her turn, till he looks down
at her and meets her eyes. Then he
leans down towards her again, and The
gravity fades out of bis face IS he says,
coaXiEgly:
"Yol don't want to get down and
walk, do your
Ann GOldSWorthy bushes, and smiles
a little smile in spite of her swollen
lids and hot cheeks. No" she an
swers shyly.
Then, while her eyes are cast down,
Tom Vellum looks at her again, and
seems to like the doing of it.
And now you must please to tell
me where you'm goin' to service"