Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1895-08-01

i AS | helped her on to the little land
ing stage, | saw, for the first time
tears cleaning in her dark eyes. Tha
! sight determined me. Lord Hardle!
! remained behind to fasten the boat
! and l asked him if he would not Hkt
! to try to recover Miss Stuart's brace
i let
! I should like To find her another
! just like it, if that would give her any
pleasure, he replied; but as for div
! ing to the bottom of the lake to recover
a woman's toy, l should be very sorry
to give myself SO much trouble"
1T would be an act Of chivalry." ]
said, CURLY.
THANK heaven, chi galry is out of
fashion, and common sense has taken
its place. There are few rash knights
to be found in these easy-going mod
ern times" he replied, with a half
sneering laugh.
l had always been a good swimmer.
and was very expert in diving. l de-
termined TO try to recover Beatrice
Stuart'S bracelet. let the risk be wha
it might. Had / not seen tears in the
eyes l loved so we'll? What would [
not do to drive them away?
The next morning, at early dawn. |
rose for the task. One of the gar
deners, an energetic young fellow. was
to accompany me. | need not describe
my trials and failures; twice l nearly
lost my life, but the victory was won
at length, and once again | held Bea.
trice Stuart's treasured bracelet in nv
hand. How literally l rewarded the
man who had assisted me! How
wildly l kissed the gold circlet so often
clasped upon the round white arm l
had never touched! 1t looked none the
worse for its immersion. After a lit
tie reflection, / placed it in the midst
OF a bouquet Of white lilies, and laid
1t where Beatrice must see it when
she came down to breakfast
L shall never forget the look of
startled joy on her lovely face.
'Who recovered it, Paul." she said.
WAS it you?"
Yes" l answered, and smiled, my
lips trembling with passionate words
that [ dared not utter.
You are a brave fellow" she said.
brave as a knight of olden time.
Thank you. l shall prize my bracelet
doubly now"
remember murmuring tina 7 should
be willing to lay down my HE for her
If it's sacrifice could make her one
whit happier. l thought she would
look coldly on my presumption; but,
instead, a deep flush covered her face
and her eyes dropped. l was saved
from further madness by the entrance
of Hugh Stuart. When Lord Hardley
saw the bracelet he looked half sur
prised, and turning to me with mock
ing smile asked if | was Don Quixote
in disguise.
With keen eyes I watched Lord
Hardley's Wooing. I had no hope for
myself; no selfish thought or motive
actuated me; but | watched because [
wished to see the girl I loved so
deeply and so dearly happy. Constant
observation Of the young nobleman
convinced me that no rational woman
could ever be happy with him; ne was
perfect embodiment of selfishness!
He admired Beatrice Stuart for her
wonderful beauty; and, further, the
broad lands that adjoined his own
would be hers, and their acquisition
would render him the largest land
owner in the county. Of love for her
self, ner warm, true heart, her noble
intellect, her high principles and we'll
balanced mind, he was simply in
capable; to the noble qualities that
were Beatrice Stuart's chief charm he
was blind.
There were times when l felt half
tempted to warn the beautiful heiress
of what / believed to be her be-
trOthed's true character l knew her
detestation Of all things mean and IN
generous. / could not see the faintest
chance Of happiness for her as Lord
Hardley's wife.
One evening 1 stood alone in the
drawing-room opened. i had been
sketching a new and rare exotic that
Lord Hardley had procured at great
cost from Italy. AS l stood silently
watching the graceful blossoms of the
beautiful plant Beatrice entered. She
came forward slowly to the spot where
the plant stood; when she saw me a
sudden flush overSpread her face and
a half-startIed look came into her dark
eyes.
Paul" she said, Il did not know
that you were here. You startled me-"
Il have been sketching this flower
of Lord Hardley's," / replied. How
beautiful is the color of the leaves and
how graceful that little bell hangs its
headr'
But, instead of looking at the flower,
she turned away abruptly.
Leave your SKETCH she said, land
talk to me-"
I left it and went to her. She was
standing near plant, and saw her
fingers tremble as she touched the
fragile leaves.
What are you going to do with
your life, Paul. She asked suddenly.
Have you no AMBITION? Are you will
ing to remain here dreaming until the
j time comes for you to die? l shall not
be here long; but yOu-what will you
/ do with your life?'
j 1T will end when you leave Arne, y
/ | said. half unconscious of the mean
! ing of my words.
! She looked at me with a strangely