Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1895-09-19

reason, sui, any pidCe NOulu De DtlleI
thar Kenmore, she thought, for the
ti1ne Icing: and this letter was to tell
them when they might expect her. 1t
was not in time for the early post.
When Mrs. AthertOn came knocking
for it, she had to go away again
empty-handed.
TT is not quite finished Lefty call
ed out to her from within: but she did
not open the door lest her pale face
and red eyes should tell too plainly
why the letter was not finished.
1T might have been written twice
over thought Mrs Asherton, as she
sailed leisurely downstairs, but she
said nothing.
When the letter was finished, it was
such a scrawl that Lefty was ashamed
to send it. so she tore it up and be-
| gan to write another. Her head was
| thrObbing. her hand burning and I'M
| steady; writing at all was positive
pain to her; but she persevered. and
managed at length to write a letter
| that was not all blots and scratches.
1t was now noon, and the children
| We're trOOping by to their dinners from
out the one school Of Kenmore. The
narrow lane was echOing again to their
calls and cries: and as Lettie stood
quietly watching them as they went
tearing and hurrying past one little
fellow saw her and smiled. 1t was
cripple boy, the son Of one of the fish
ermen, and once the plague and terror
of all the children round. He had been
a cripple from his birth. and the mis-
fortune had soured what would, per-
| hapS, under no circumstances. have
been a very sound or sweet temper.
This child, deformed, neglected, saw
age, utterly miserable. soon attracted
Dr. Lennard's notice-his pity and help
also, when he saw the real condition
of the boy. He did what no one had
ever done before but the dead mother
to whom this little weakling had been
| far dearer than the other seven brown
legged, sturdy urchins all put together.
He spoke kindly to him; he had him
| up to his own house, and while he
saw that all cure for the body was
hopeless, he set about saving the poor,
Maynard soul.
AS a natural consequence, the lad
poured out all the love of his passion
ate heart on the doctor. For the guer-
don Of a smile, he made himself almost
gentle; for a word of praise, he sub
dued as we'll as he could his fierce
quarrelsome nature, and sat patiently
over his books in the village school
room, without selling. as formerly,
, every chance Of inflicting pain ON his
neXt-dOor neighbOr. Such a change
was too great not to be marveled at:
and when the children found that their
fierce companion was almost tanned,
| they crowded about him and made
much of him, thinking more of a soft
answer from "Cross Johnny than
! they would have thought of a real
sacrifice from any other.
This, then, was the child who, look
ing up, smiled at Lefty; and the sight
of that grave little face, with its visit
! full eyes, once so fierce in their light,
glancing up softly at her, brought Dr.
Lennard and his many kindly, gener-
GUS deeds so forcibly before her that
she looked down on the boy through
binding mist of tears.
She loved DIR. Lennard with all her
heart, and he was gone from her. He
loved her, she hoped, she knew: still
he was gone. What probability was
there that he would ever care to come
back again? The hope of winning his
love openly one day had shone down
upon her like the light of a blessed
noon, that hope was dying out, it had
died. The thought of spending a life
time at Kenmore without his love was
as heavy blackness; and sitting there
in her own little room. looking out
on the shifting gray sky and the pale
shining yellow sands, she felt that
blackness surge and settle round her,
never more to be lifted up.
Hearing the sound of wheels on the
gravel. and looking down she saw the
trap standing before the door, evil
IDENTIFY waiting to carry Mr.. Leigh to
the station. She had forgotten all
about the strange letter and this hasty
journey, and she went hastily down
now, to bid her father goodbye.
He stood in the hall, giving some
parting directions to Mrs. Atherton
the well-pleased smile still on his face.
struggling through thin veil of mys-
FERROUS Importance. He was warmly
mUff1ed already, for the day was chill
and the night would be chilIier stiM
and it would be deep night before he
could reach London; but Lefty, kiss
ing him. drew the high collar of his
coat still closer round his neck.
Don't stay away longer than you
can help, father. I wish you had not
to go at ALL she said. clinging to him
DO you indeed?" said he Then,
like many another, you wish very
foolish thing. 1t is more for your sake
than my own that 1 am going"
ooh. father, if it is only on my &C
count you are going, do stay" cried
Lefty. II would rather have you stay
with me than anything this visit could
: give me. Do stay, father"
He put her arms from about his
!, neck, a little Grossly.
, you know nothing of what you are
, talking about he said. getting into
the trap, and settling the rug across
his knees. Il shall send the trap back
with Mrs. Halls boy. Good-morning
ladies'
: Ho o.aya tho horse q smart 4o11cb