Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1895-04-11

she asked, giving him the rosy finger
| tips of a pretty girlish hand.
| "a nephew" said the young man.
| who was conscious of a fine bearing
and rather courted scrutiny.
| "Ah. Please be seated. I will call
my mother, who will be glad to meet
you"
Gerald Dudley sat down, but he also
made a motion to retard Miss Allyne's
intention Of calling her mother
my business is with you alone" he
said, ''and it is very Serious
There was sincerity in his voice.
Rose dropped into a chair and looked
at him inquiringly.
you are engaged to be married to
my uncle, Mr.. Edward Dudley?"
II am" answered the young woman,
firmly. "Is there any-objection, be-
yond-beyond-the disparity of our
ages?'
She came near saying Gin our for
tunes" for Mr.. Edward Dudley was a
rich man, and she had nothing, save
her youth and beauty, but these were
no inconsiderable barter.
''There is an objection-one that you
cannot possibly overcome, Miss Allyne,
do you love my uncle very much?''
II decline to answer such very per-
sonal question:" answered Rose in an
angry tone, "and your relationship does
not give you any authority to ask it."
He was glad that she was angry. He
had dreaded a scehe with a crying
woman. But this young man was
clever. He had seen life in two hemi-
spheres, and had observed the nature
and characteristics of women. The
features which redeemed this girl from
mere prettiness, in his estimation, were
her eyes; they had a certain hardness
in them, and there was no nonsense Of
tears. She looked like heroine as she
threw back her well posed head and
stood at attention for the next ma
nOeuvre. He did not beat about the
bush.
Perhaps you will think | have some
interest in the matter" he said cody,
when | tell you that I come as an
envoy from his wife across the water
to inquire into the truth of these
rumors which have reached her con-
corning his intended marriage with
you"
His wife, She turned white, but
neither tainted nor trembled. do you
mean to tell me that Edward Dudley
is a married man?"
'He actually is, and has been
married as many years as you have
lived, and his wife is not divorced, nor
imbecile, nor is there any way by
which he can annul the marriage bond.
You can understand, my dear young
lady, that a marriage with him would
simply mean no marriage at all, and
would open the doors of a prison to
him at the same time"
"What an escape! What a merciful
escaper' murmured the tense, white
lips, while the small hands We're
clenched till the nails pierced the ten
der palms. cit was bad enough as it
was but this would have been horri-
BILE! Horrib1e!''
'You will now understand why l
asked if you loved him-I dreaded
breaking your heart"
Loved him-nO. How can [? But
he was kind to me, and we were poor
and heat least his affection for me
was genuine"
Who could doubt it after once seeing
your" said the very clever young man.
But, Miss Allyne-ROse-he told me
your sweetest of names-since you did
not love him there is no harm done.
You can still have share of the Dud-
ley wealth, and-and-a fair exchange
is no robbery. Your ambition-perhaps
your love. who knows?-may still be
gratified."
/ "In what way?" asked Rose simply.
She had seated herself in deep chair,
which gave her an artistic background.
Her eyes sparkled coldly, and the pink
on her round soft cheeks had turned to
delicious red. She was ready to be
consoled, and Mr. Gerald Dudley was
we'll fitted for the task of CONSIDER.
They talked for hours. 1t seemed to
the little housemaid, who listened out
side whenever she could escape from
her duties. an interminable time, and
| it was all about the law, law, law.
She could not understand a word
about it.
! When Gerald left he stood a moment
at the door of the little parlor on the
! inside and inclined his head toward the
red cheek of the girl who stood very
close to him, but his golden brown mus
tache had not brushed it ever so re
motely when she drew back.
NO" she said. with a rather metallic
smile, sit is best to be off with the ole
love before you are on with the new
! How am to know that the nephew OF
his uncle is not a married MANI"
But / have credentials-plenty OF
them
"Your uncle has the credentials of {
blameless life for twenty years in this
town."
"You can ask him. He has had my
record since childhood, and if there is
anything unfavorable he will be glaC
to inform you"
SO they parted, and Rose went bach
to the little parlor and closed the door
Then she clasped her hands and sale
aloud:
at is almost beyond belief that an!
such thing should happen to me-tha
| of all girls must have such an eX
perience! I'll do it-yes, I'll take nj
advice. There will be some compensa
T,,Nf