Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1894-12-20

10 grow 10, UaQ language slips out
before one can catch it, at the very
sight Of him.
Don't apologize to me. especially if
my husband is the cause of your Of
fense," said Gwen kindly.
She had fancy to be kind to this
boy, if she had confessed it to her
self, it was with a distinct view of
getting to know a side of her husband,
that Brydon knew all about and she
nothing. She was making a study of
him in spite of herself, and liked to
| collect evidence.
''He says he'll say nothing until l
have unlearned every cursed manner
ism have picked up in England, that
| den Of bad taste. Then 'peut-etre-
who knows"
But the fellow RACES just as much
| against his own rapid methods, as he
| does against those we've been born
and bred in. How dare we think to
| he does, he, who has worked parbleu!
who has sweated, who has prayed,
| who has blasplemed, who has torn
| the heart out of his body to arrive
at this ease, that divine confidence
the head of us should be punched"
| he is great in English. We must take
twenty strokes to one Of his; We must
| 'delices' to him-detailS-we must
| know them as the bon Dieu' knows
| them, before we venture to omit or
even to suggest one! Then he ups and
splutters out some delicious blasphemy
on some unwary youths head
Look at me, the ghost of a creature.
stalking mournfully Oh eggs, with fur
this is an artists training! Good Lord,
when l remember how l sat in that
garnet in Bland street and thought of
fame and myself in a new suit dane
ing a war-dance before MY masterpiece
on the line, with duchesses squabbling
for the first shake of my hand!-Lady
Strange, / am going to make some
tea"
81 wish you would" said Gwen
laughing, 1--WE walked and l am so
thirsty
HUI said Brydon, examining his
milk-jug when he had filed his ket-
tie and set it on the little charcoal
stove, "every drop gone! | won't be
two minutes. The old lady on the first
fiat and | are affinities to a certain
extent; In return for Sundry packets
of English tea, she keeps me in milk
at odd times. Strange, will you shep-
herd the kettle?'
81 wonder if his cups are clean?''
said Strange rummaging them out of a
cupboard over the stove, ''look, an
inch thick with dust, and the ham
dies! That fellow moons too much
to be very clearly. Look at the tea
cloth, Lord! Have you a clean hand
kerchief, Gwen?"
Ovens hrows contracted slightly
teal and teacups in connection with
handkerchiefs gave her an uncomfort-
able feeling of improperly.
She gave him a handkerchief. how
ever, with small gasp of disgust
and watched his doing with Il faint
half-scornful interest.
"How particular you arer' she said
81 had no idea you could trouble your
self about such things"
81 can't stand dirt in man or beast
'How did you stand traveling-in
Algeria, for eXample?'
''Ah! there were cOmpenSatiOns, the
game was worth the candle, and if
civilza ton has produced nothing bet
ter-give the devil his duet has pro
duced clean skins snd clean eating.
| fancy l was originally designed for
an inspector of nuisances," he con-
tinued, running Ovens lovely morsel
of cambria on the end of pointed
stick in and out the handle Of cup.
Gwen noticed with some wonder the
curiously delicate way in which he
did it, "The thing would have smashed
long ago in any other mans hand
she thought. 'He treats women like
that, he is very gentle, but he is the
master, he holds them IN his hand and
does as he likes with them. And
have no doubt whatever, that there
are at this minute hundreds OF women
who would like it. Why doesn't that
handle break and cut him-there is
no legal bond between them?" This
struck her grim sense Of humor. and
she had to bite her lips to keep in
a wild laugh.
eyes. as nuisance man [ should
have been a success" he went on,
whereas, as a British landowner
he gave an expressive shrug. "Gwen
how do you think you'll stand fiat
clay country, overrun with wOolly-
Drained squires and their DANES and
daughters?'
1t was a hOrrid thought Gwen gave
a swift little turn to put it away from
her; her dress caught in a stretched
canvas put up face inwards against
the wall. and brought it down with a
muffied crash.
Strange came forward to help her
put it up; and with hand of each of
them on it they paused suddenly and
started, and with quick turn of his
hand Strange set it this time face
outward in its place, and looked into
it with eager excitement while Ovens
face grew cold and STILL with a touch
of sternness on it,
While they were looking, the door
burst open and Brydon came in with
the milk and a soft paper parcel lock