Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1894-12-27

the sheep huddled together still closer
under a sudden sharp side blast, that
whisked round Their shelter and set
the branches above them signing and
moaning.
The sun had sunk further into the
west and had carried its glow away,
and the snow had lost Its glitter.
Gwen Shivered
1t chokes one to think OF it, she
said. Pulling her hands out of her
mum, ana taxing OIL her hat, she
turned her face to the blast, and let
it beat her at its savage will
ON, my hair-how heavy it is she
muttered, and began pulling out the
hairpinS until the whole heavy mass
fell about her and was caught by the
wind, which Shrieked with delight al
! its prize. All, that's better! Well
now, this duty. After all, it's only
sheer justice. l must, must face it.
II only an earthquake would come
Humphrey mOrtaly wounded, or IL
into our lives, if | were dying OF
some catastrophe could fall on us, IN
the general shock and upneaYal some
| thing might snap in me, some unulS-
! covered spring might burst up and /
| might feel as duty demands. But III
this everyday existence, in this fiat
country, among the tiatter squires and
SquiresSeS, nothing ever happens, nc
| one dies, no one gets 4 mortal wound
there is never i sign of an earthquake
of any description, and yet this duty
stands out as clear and as aggressive
as ever"
\ strand of her long hair got caught
in a nail in the fence, she fingered ovel
the di>entangling OF it, then she turned
to Bran and had d little talk with
him, but the patient love in his eyes
veXed her.
Co she said, giving him a little
shove with her foot, go. You Ioob
like that other woman Oh, this duty
this duty! Well, l will make one soil
tary conscientious try a. it, l will be
gin this very day."
She drew a long breath.
Touches and caresses and things OF
| that sort bring thrills and shakes anC
tremhles and tushes, every female
novelist assures one of that fact. Well
l must practice touches and such, anC
hope for results; also, l must not lei
myself SILVER and feel sick when l il
my turn get them bestowed upon me
| wish to goodness | had thought of al
this before it would have been fal
easier to have begun right from the
first"
She suddenly hid her face in hel
mufr.
How awful that was, how awful
ah!-gr-'
She began to drum her feet Will
some slight violence Oh the lower raj
Of the fence and she beat her hands
together-"tO keep them warm" she
assured herself.
THAT picture person must be pu
down and this, this" she whispered
taking her face with 4 sudden sof
pathOs between her hands, this mus
be brought forward, made inevitable
so to speak; then, then, perhaps, will
l4II1G anu SbSlO1ll IIIC OILlCI W III VI
allowed to rest, and-rOt!' she crieC
sharply, lifting her face and turning
it again to the blast. ugh! how vul
gar l am, that painted creature de
moralizes me altogether! All, there
comes Humphrey, walking and leading
his horse, l will call him and Iauncl
out on my duty. Look at him, it's {
wonder 1 can say, NO to that pulse'>
magnificent come and go! l cal
though, it doesn't move me the eight
of an inch"
She stood up on the fence and waved
her handkerchief to him.
'Now, enter duty. exit vague specu
lationr' she cried with a laugh, as she
jumped off the fence.
To Be Continued.