Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1894-11-08


no time to feel empty about the heart.
Besides. her heart was filled in a way
with the steam from the victims Sacri-
feed in her honor. and the intangibili-
~ Of the stuffing didn't trouble her. it
was warm and Smelt like Spikenard.
AS for the feelings of the victims.
these did not enter into her calcula-
tons, the whole show was so absolute
ly imperSOnal to her. For any pangs
she might feel for the aIoOfness Of the
two she called father and mother,
she had decided some time ago to
smother and to cast them cut. harbor-
ing and encouraging them never hav-
ing altered or influenced the state Of
affairs by one fingers breadth.
She saw little Of Mr.. and Mrs Eel
loves in these days. The scripture
lessons had come TO an end and she
had turned the whole subject into her
minds rubbish hole: what she had
learned was sufficiently interesting at
the time. but it had never come any
farther than to the outer edge of her
life. even when it was warmed and
lighted by Mr.. Fellowes' love for his
subject and when the hours spent at
the rectOry were the only bright
fiecks in the weeks dinginess
Now all these surroundings were
withdrawn. the slight mist of glamour
that used TO hang round the subject
had fiOated off. and Gwen was quite
ready TO shoot her stored-up accumu-
In Of
where. to make room for more service
able stuff. Only. what we have learn
ed good or bad. we must keep some
where, God help us!
She was q clever girl, however. and
well-bred. and had read a good deal
one way and the other, so she had
the sense to hold her tongue and to
keep her embryo opinions to herself
This made her equally magnanimouS
rs regarded the opinions of her neigh
bOrs.
Owens attitude of mind makes me
quite sick" said Mrs. Fellowes one
day. ''that is, when she shows q
glimpse of it, which isn't often now
adays. She hasn't had a volcanic out
break for century, they are ruinous
to ones clothes. but I'd bear the
spelling of my new front for one This
minute
Mr.. FellOwes laughed.
"There is a twist in her somehow
and we have come to nasty obstruc-
ton. When she is properly straight
ened she'll be a fine creature, but the
untwisting will be too gradual for
you, my poor Ruth, you'll be worn out
before it's finished"
cone would think she was a boa con-
Strictor, I believe she has a touch of
its nature too: she brushes hearts
enough anyway, and with just as lit
tie compunctiOn. l am sorry for young
Patrick Hamilton, I love that boy"
(Which is no reason at all why
Glen should. The girl doesn't flirt, and
he sought his crushing with open eyes
believe its the girls brains as much
as her beauty that dominates and re-
duces mems hearts"
Every lkely-the bigger fool a man
is. the more he is vanQuisheG by brain.
especially if it keeps itself in the back
ground and doesn't brighten him. He
likes the agreeable sensation of i'm
portance the possible possession of
such Il power gives him, and in his
state of nervous tension, the creatu
is apt to get mixed and to imagine that
the power he worships radiates some
how from him to his idol instead of
contrari-wise"
"a very comprehensive summary of
our modes of thought, my dear. racy
but untrustworthy. l don't, however.
ina CINE that in Owens case any man
is quite ass enough to imagine him
self the source of her intellectual
strength"
ooh, perhaps not, Ovens getting be-
yOnd me. If she goes on like this, be-
tween brains and beauty, she'll be no
better than a charnel house for crush
ed hearts. Pah?'
For the shadow of the things, not
the substance-do you imagine the
victims haven't as firm hold on their
organs as ever they had? It's only an
idea they lose half the times"
"Well, they make as much moan
over it as if it were a very tangible
flesh-and-blood article all bristling
with nerves. L hate to look at Pat
rick S face, l wish he would go and
shoot buffaloes. or take tonic, or do
anything but drink tea in that chair
and draw sympathy out of me with
those soft convey eyes of his! He had
only just left when you came"
II should be glad for your digestion's
sake if he would recover himself.
you've swallowed three cups of tea in
ten minutes"
eyes, to wash out the memory of
that boy!'
Rather a roundabout way to go to
work; if you don't look out Pats heart
will be sound long before your di-
geStive organs are"
Never mind. they haven't a tinge
Of Americanism about them, they
haven't 50 much as caught the accent.
But how can you keep on being so
hopeful of Gwen? | am downright
miserable about her"
Il have the greatest trust in the
girl my feeling about her is like faith
it is ineXplicable, but it's so natural
so instructive and ingrained one feels
its truth
Il suppose in the end she will
marry" said Mrs. Fellowes, its the
natural end or beginning of her.