Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1894-10-18
CHAPTER VII.

much udu Decl euuuleu Doeh Iloli INT
childrens point of view and from that
of the instructors.
But time went on unheeding, and
Gwen and Dacre were lying under an
old cherry tree in the orchard one day
late in August.
The sun shOne aSlant through the
crimson tinted leaves above them.
and threw Pickering rosy shadows
across the faces of the two as they
lay there in the cool grass, with wisps
IF fern under their heads for ( FLOWS.
Dacre, however, seemed to benefit but
little from this arrangement; his head
was Oftener off its support than on; he
twisted and turned and wriggled and
plum ged, even his toes moved visibly
through his thick boats.
He was supposed to be reading. and
kept up the pretense from time to
time but the words conveyed no sense
to his restless eyes, that moved as if
they We're on wires. Now and again
he got irritated and threw the book
down with snort.
The sister and brother spent much
of their time together nowadays; fate
had perhaps quite as much to de with
this close companiOnship as inciina-
ton, the groom's boy and his like, ex-
cept at stolen moments, being for
Dacre things of the past.
This and various other reforms had
been brought about by Mr.. Fellowes
and one tutor of an exceptionally
strong mind.
While Dacre wriggled, his sister lay
quite still on her back with her legs
stretched out, and with a considerable
reach of stocking visible between the
edge of her frOck and her shoes. She
had ON arm curled round her neck
with the sharp elbow stuck out IN
compromisingly in Dacre's direction.
1t was useful as a buffer and saved
her many lunge. The other hand
held book, a queer old edition of
Ella, which she was deeply sunk in
until she fell to watching Dacre with
q look of curious mDckery on her red
curled lips.
I'D give my eyes to go to SCHOOL,
burst out the boy after an interval Of
comparative silence. Mutterings never
counted in Dacre.
$50 you have said six times this
afternoon, not to mention the NUT
ters," said the girl what do you
want to go to school for?'
You know without any telling.
II want to hear again"
'"To jeer at fellow, 1 suppose"
81 won't jeer, and I might help you
she said with a laugh.
He looked at her face obviously, it
was inscrutable enough, but the mock
cry had left her lips.
Il want to go, l hate to be here
Greggs is Il big enough fool but not
quite so much as the others, he amt
all bad, III say that. But what's he
to other boys and cricket and football
and larks-oh, you know"
ST wonder why on earth they let you
read Tom Brown when such heaps of
books are forbidden said Gwen re-
fectively. "They have brought all
this on themselves" she added, knit
ting her brows in the exact manner
of her mother. 1--WE have to bear
what we earn, we hear that often
enough, | don't see why they shouldn't
apply it to themselves. Dacre, you're
an awful ass, # | wanted all those
things | should have had them long
ago"
''All very we'll to say that" grrnted
the boy, I'D like to know how"
III tell you,-Fd worry till I got
them"
II worry pretty we'll as it is he
said with a Self-satiSfied grin.
Yes. in stupid, squally way-you
get into a rage and make Il row and
an ass of yourself generally. then you
get punished and repent, or pretend to.
anyway nothing is heard of you till
the next bout. You might be a dead
cat for all the Importance you are-of
course you're forgotten, and they 60
on working in peace
Now if 1 wanted thing, and
wanted it badly, / should take good
care never to be forgotten: | should
let them see there was to be no peace
as long as | was in the house; |
should make myself felt from the gar
rets to the kitchen: l should gain my
cutl, SIZE Will Cstllii Hlidiily.
By this time the sun had forsaken
their tree and had fiickered on to one
nearer the west, and in the evening
light her face cleaned out almost
CHASTITY in its pallor.
Gwen, you're queerer and Queerer!
Why don't you do all this for your
self? You are quiet enough now, Moth
ing only sulky why don't you do what
you say I ought to. yourseif?"
''For what?'' was the sharp retort.
ST don't want boys and cricket and
football and larks.'
What do you want then?'
She jumped up from her pillow and
looked out after the weStering sun,
her eyes dark and dilated, her red
lips parted.
What do I want?' she slowly re-
peated. II want-Oh. you would not
understand what I want but worrying
won't get it."
She caught up her book again and
threw herself face downward on the
sward.
That's the way! You'll never tell
me anything" said Daae angrily.
''I'll tell you one thing, and that's
I'll help you to go to school, and
you'll 90 if you aren't a common ass.
and if you'll do all tell YOU
"Golly! Til do anything in the world
for you if you'll only get me out of this