Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1895-09-26

face, that his friend had so ridiculed
seemed to have vivid, witching beau
the dim half-lights Of the low fire and
the bronze lamp overhead.
Lefty, sitting there, all unmindful
| of the tender gaze of those keen eyes
was thinking, with vain. rebellious
longing, of what might have been if
Paul Lennard's wife had never left
her those Inflated riches.
HE might have loved me then" she
! thought, 'and need never have left
| Kenmore. We might have been so
happy in that old brown house. with
only my father, and none of this hate
full money to gather people round us
who would not care if we died at their
feet, so that they We're safe Oh! if he
had only been poor, / would have mar
ried him, and worked for him. and
borne anything for his sake
So she kept thinking, with fretful
pain, as she sat there. and picked
away first the leaves and then the
BLOSSOMS OF ner bouquet.
Lefty was just like the rest of us:
she was willing to endure any trouble
but the one that was pressing down
on her. Her shoulders felt strong TO
bear any of the crosses that might
have been laid on them. but they bent
and shivered under the burden that
they were called upon to carry.
I'VE thought you were lost. or had
run away. or something dreadful had
happened, Lefty. dear" called out a
clear, ringing voice. as its owner swept
into the room. turning over tiny
Partisan Psyche with her voluminous
skirts as she passed you have been
searched for everywhere, you naughty
darling, for you were most particular
~ wanted -
The young lady. the twenty-frst
and most demOnStra tive of Lettys
new friends, was standing on the rug
by this time, her gauzy skirts danger
ouSly near the steel bars of the crate
She was looking up with a mischiev-
Gus wonder at Ernest Devereuxs
smiling face and Letty's grave one.
Il beg pardon a thousand times if
l am intruding," she said, with a lit
tie mock courtesy, and a pretense of
going away again.
Ernest DevereuX stopped her. and
CALAMITY pushed forward a chair for
her close to Letty's side himself stand
ing the while, and watching the two
girls.
''Who wanted me?" asked Lefty.
looking down with a half blush on
the scattered petals strewing her lap
and the carpet at her feet.
doctor Lennard" was the reply
''He is leaving Kenmore, and he called
to say goodbye. Of course he knew
nothing of the party; but it was odd
to come at this hour, wasn't it?'
The rosy blush was burning flame
now: cheeks, neck, and bosom one
painful, flushing crimson.
"He had not time to wait till you
could be found" continued the young
lady; 'tbut he left his respects. and
the compliments of the season. and
all that. He's going by the twelve
o'clock train, and it's half past eleven
now, and more"
Putting up one white, jeweled hand
to shade her eyes from the fire, the
speaker looked at the tiny ormolu
time-piece which stood on the mantel
and which just at that moment be-
gan to ring the three-quarter chimes
1t was a quarter to twelve. In f1f-
teen minutes more he would be gone
away from Kenmore forever.
Miss Lyle rose, and shaking out her
skirts, declared she was engaged for
the very valse they We're playing, and
must go.
"Mr. Lawton will be seeking me
everywhere as it is" said she, land
thinking I have gone off after you,
Lefty, for they none Of them know
where you are hid
AS she opened the door to pass out.
a gush Of mingled music and laughter
swept in; an essence of joy it seemed :;
and Lefty, hearing it, buried her face
in her hands and burst into tears.
That sound Of outer happiness tingled
along her bruised heart like a shock
Of agony, breaking down pride and
firmness at one dash.
Ernest DevereuX was shocked,
touched even at the sight Of those
Scalding tears; he felt as if he must do
something to soothe her, but she would
not be soothed: his words fell on dull
ears; and the loud, passionate sobs
only ceased to give place to low,
broken gasps that seemed to come
from her very heart, and that a strick-
en- one.
"My darling, my own Lefty, you
must tell me what is grieving you
he cried, drawing her hands forcibly
away from her face; and then, as a
sudden thought flashed upon him, he
added Doctor Lennard!-was he?-
did your
| II loved him. she broke in with a
| sob, half shame, half sorrow, as she
| bent lower and lower to avoid his re-
proa chful eyes.
For a moment he stood passive, his
! face as white as the bent face before
/ him: the muscles Of his close mouth
Lefty to him, clasping her closely,
| tightly. as one who would not be de-
MED.
! Forget him, Lefty" he whispered,
softly. Let my love fill the place of
his in Your heart. He is rot worthy
: