Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1895-09-12

| had a weary tone in it. Lefty, too,
appeared out of humor; and it seemed
as if the doctors brief visit had
married the pleasant monotOny Of their
morning.
| Presently other visitors We're an
nounced, and Charles Temple closed
| the book altogether, and went out into
the garden. The young ladies of Fen
/ more We're not very much to his taste;
| and fastidious to a fault, he had no
Scruple in avoiding them. He strOlled
! up TO the low stone wall, and lighting
a cigar. leaned lazily against it. He
stood on the very spot where Lefty
had stood talking with Ernest Dever-
euX on the first evening of their visit.
He was thinking of him now, and
wondering whether he had really ask
ed for the hand of this rustic heiress
If he had. had he been accepted or
rejected? He would have given much
to know, but Ernest DeyereuX had
shown no inclination to satisfy his
curiosity; and no one else, save Lefty
herself. could do it. Then he thought
of DR.. Lennard, and the effect the
news of his leaving Kenmore had had
on Lefty: for, sad and dreamy as
Charles Temples eyes seemed, they
were keen to observe, and no culver
of Letty'S pale face had escaped them.
Can it be that she cares for him %
he thought, as he knocked the white
ash off his cigar; cit is plain he cares
for her. By Jove, if a county doctor
cuts me out, 1 shall feel lowish. Dew
ereux would have been different, but
1 couldn't stand that
The young man turned the costly
rings round and round his white fin
gers, and admired their Pickering
CLEANS in various lights as he medi-
ated ON Miss Leigh, her fortune, and
the prospect of one day becoming
master Of both.
Dreamy-eyed, poetical, sentimental
Charles Temple made his calculations
with an eXactitude and far-sightsd-
ness that would have astonished
Ernest DevereuX, could he have seen
into the busy brain working and plan
ming under the auburn curls of his
friend. Just then Lefty came down
the garden talking to two of her young
lady visitors. SO gay she seemed, so
content, that Charles Temples
thoughts took a change.
''She does not care for him. was
his inward comment. "She would not
laugh like that if she did for she is
one of those deep-in-earnest kind of
girls who, when they are in love, can
not help showing it,
He turned and walked along the
path to meet them, his pale, clear, cool
face sOftCning into a smile as he got
nearer. Evidently he looked upon
himself as the happy man who had yet
to awaken love in the heart of this
charming gray-eyed demoiselle.
When, after some time spent in talk
ing and laughing, the young ladies
turned to go indoors on a signal from
their mamma, Charles Temple fol
lowed with Lefty, and looking down
on her sweet dark face, grave enough
now that she thought herself unno-
ticed, he made an inward VOW that
when she was his wife he would carry
herself and her money-bags far .out
Of reach of such dull torrents as had
just been affecting him.
That same evening Charles Temple
tried his fate, and was rejected, as
his friend had been; and when. a few
days later, Mr.. Leigh's new trap car
ried him to the station, on his way
to POnsOnby's, Mr.. Leigh showed
symptoms Of being decidedly miser-
able.
A few days after Charles Temples
departure Mr.. Leigh received a long
private letter from London. A very
pleasant letter it appeared to be, iudg-
ing by it's effects upon him. On read
ing it he grew mysterious and import
ant; he patronized Mrs. Atherton,
made much of Lefty, and was in a
good humOr with every one.
''Talent, my girl, is everything" he
said, stroIing Letty's hand, as it
rested on the table near him. with I'M
wonted tenderness; that is, every
thing next to a knowledge of the
use 1 have made of those two things,
you. might have lived and died in this
poor place, faWned upon because of
your few paltry hundreds. AS it is"
He did not finish the sentence, out
his manner plainly told that it was
something vastly better that was in
store for her.
Il must start for London immedi-
ately, without a moments delay" he
continued, glancing again over the first
page Of his letter; land, Mrs. Ather-
ton, perhaps you would be kind enough
to see alter a few things for me to
take"
He pushed the cup and plate from
before him, and, leaning an elbow on
the table, began to read the letter over
again, and Mrs Atherton, Outwardly
placid, inward afame with curiosity,
left the room to see after his things,
as desired.
Lefty sat still, her cup of coffee IN
finished, her toast untonched; too
weary, too listless she seemed to do
Or care for anything.
The letter finished, Mr.. Leigh rose,
and for the first time noticed what
a poor breakfast Lefty was making.
To Be Continued.
SPORTS ON SHIPBOARD.