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

ing a meeting IN the nelghbOrlng town,
and it was showing heavily.
The most daring visitor must jib
today" thought Gwen, Il shall claim
it unreservedly, and l must have open.
air for this business"
Her maid naturally thought her mad;
that mattered little. She was dressed
and right out in the storm IN ten min
uteS from the time she had taken her
resolution. An old hound Of Strange's
that had taken to her from the first,
was as much ScandaIized as the maid.
but he was not the one 10 be OutdOne
by any slip Of a girl. He gathered
up his great legs, shook himself with
a droWsy grunt, and followed her with
a haf-contemptuous curiosity.
The Park had certain beauty OF
its own, it was big and, if its undula-
tons were insignificant, their curves
were soft and full, and the timber
was magnificent and Well-replaced; the
whole looked we'll under snow. The
great dull red-brick house stood out
n fine contrast to the dazzling white
Of the earth, and the glittering green
of the cIump Of pines that nanked its
left wing, and from which the fierce
wind kept stripping the snow WreatnS,
that tried hard to nestle in the shelter
Of the coy branches.
When Gwen got beyond the terraces
to a turn in the drive, she could see
the sluggish stream that ran through
mile or so of the Park, turned into
a torrent, rushing and fOaming onward
in its brilliant course.
She stopped in the very teeth of the
storm, and looked round her with a
radiant face.
| The whole place is Transformed.
she thought. 1T generally reminds me
! of Il great soft white COW, chewing the
| cud knee-deep in water in the shade OF
Il full silky beech, it has all that
| beasts ample, cOntented, intOlerably
depressing beauty; but today it is
| grand, glorious, like anything but a
| COW, the heart of it is alive and throb-
! bling under that driving storm, it is
! the birth of passion in that suaye
smooth green sod, and the snow is the
christening robe. Oh, l wish it were
always like this!'
She threw on her veil and turned
round that the blast might strike
every part of her. It's magnificent!
| she shouted in her excitement, ''and-
after all, passions a wonderful thing!
She laughed as she bent to the blast
But it's amazing the way it subsidies
| without leaving a token Of its presence
what's a broken bough or TWO as a
witness to these wonders? In two
days, in less, this place will be as unr
compromisingly smooth and snug as
ever. All, passion is fraud then, OF
else it requires explanation!
She hurried on to the little ivy
covered bridge that spanned the
stream, and looked down into the
roaring, seething waters with laugh
ing parted lips.
She wanted to stay, the hurrying
fOaming mass of unrest had a fascina-
ton for her. but she dragged herself
from it and turned off from the drive
on to a narrow path that led to a shell
tered wooded glade about half a mile
from the gates.
81 see the deer and the sheep have
taken refuge there" she said to her
self, 81 suppose the fury of the storm
goes over their heads. | can think of
nothing l ought to here, I shall follow
the deer. Bran, what do you mean to
do?"
She pointed significantly to the ant
lers peeping through the snow-laden
| branches. The hound gave a solemn
nod. Seemingly he understood her. at
any rate he kept by her side and re-
Trained from sport for that afternoon.
When she got to the trees she looked
round for a seat.
| The snow on the ground was too soft
| fOr sitting purposes, even for her reCk-
| less strength TO venture on, but she
! found at last safe anchorage on ii
| broad wooden fence that skIrted the
! grove, then she turned all her senses
| III on herself.
She fixed her eyes advisedly on a
| peaceful group of sheep, cuddled to-
| gether on the lee side OF an Old beech,
as being less disturbing to the mind
:
and then she fell to meditation.
TO begin WITH she said, Il am
| married. That is the one solid fact
| to argue from. Into the bargain | was,
| | believe, sane when l committed the
| deed which is beyond recall, even on
| the plea of insanity-that idea struck
| me once in the early days with ire
| mendOuS force. | must then give up
! crying over split milk, it is q degrad-
! ing pursuit and offers no IoopnoIe OF
| escape, l must just face the future
! all, my dear, that WringS your Withers,
does it," she muttered, as a cold Shiver
ran down her spine.
Humphrey and | are playing at
croSs-purpoSes now, that must be put
a stop to-Well, perhaps it is as Well
to leave that to time which will do
the business for him quite eTectuulIy
All, that picture! That has deluded
the man, he has hampered himself
with two WiyeS-the sooner he returns
to monOgamy, the better for himself
This" she said, touching her breast
! this is as nothing to that other!
Men might fall down before her and
call her blessed; they fall down before
me, sure enough, but they don't call
me bleSSed-quite the contrary EVEN
Humphrey can't so the length Of that.
but fancy Linn before that other. l
wish l had never looked at her, l shall
Upt To hate her Vpt She cOnfuShS mo