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

times
Il could not lose them, father, in
asmuch as l never had any TO lose,
she replied smilingly.
Tut, tut, child. 4 yellow veil can
transform a fright into Venus any
day." said her father, and he laughed
a little hard. meaning laugh, not par
ticularIy pleasant to listen to. Mr..
Leigh was emphatically a man of the
world. and the laugh of such men is
not beautiful.
Il do not understand you,' said
Lefty. What yellow veil do you
mean?"
Never mind,' said he; you will
know some day. But what is the
matter with you? Are you i'll, or only
fretting?"
A bright blush rose to her face at
the thought that perhaps her father
had guessed about whom she was fret
ting, but the HeAt instant she saw it
was impossible, and answered, half
smiling:
NO, a little tired, that is ALL
Tired of this place, l suppose said
her father, and 10 wonder; but don't
than you expect.
He went out of the room as he
spoke, and Lefty looked after him
wondering. Then she rose, and kneel-
;ng in the window seat pressed her
:ace against the low glass, and
looked out YEARLY. 1t was November
now, and the sea had hanging over it
a dull, gray mist that would thicken,
most likely, into a fog later ON in the
day; the lane looked bare and dreary,
and there was not a creature to be
seen in it's whole length. Presently,
however, while Lefty knelt there, some
one appeared-a woman carrying a
casket, and followed by a large black
and tan greyhound. 1t was Judith.
Lefty went to the door to speak to
her.
Always pleasant was Lefty; a kind
word for every one, and kinder than
usual for Judith.
AS soon as the dog saw Lefty, it
bounded forward to be noticed, and
seemed, she bent down and kissed
with her soft red lips its cold, pointed
nose. Judith, almost too tired to
laugh, smiled at her.
You're almost as fond as master"
said she. 1T was only last night that
he laid his arms about its neck, as
it stood with its paws on his chest,
1n tho,
one tear on its coat when he put it
from him"
"Why, what was Jepp doing to get
so much noticed?' asked Lefty, as she
led the way into the parlor, the dog,
following close behind, whining and
shifting every step he went, as though
seeking something.
"Oh! nothing in particular. miss, -
replied Judith, only 1 suppose master
felt sad at parting; he was always
main fond of Jepp-always."
sudden faintness came over Lefty,
and she turned the handle of the door
round once or twice before she could
manage to open it.
AT parting, Judith she said. Did
L
night"
Yes, Miss Lefty, and ia made sure
you knew" replied Judith. He went
late in the evening, and he would not
as much as let John drive him to the
station; he walked off by himself in
the dusk, just as any poor lone man
might have done"
Doing her best to appear calm,
Lefty sat down to the table, and
poured out a cup of coffee and while
that was being drunk by tie Tired
woman, for Judith had walked a long
distance that morning, she went back
to tie window and knelt there, look
ing out as she had before Judith's
Nming, with one hand resting on
Jep.>'s glossy neck.
And didn't the doctor call here,
Miss Lefty" asked Judith.
No" replied LCHty, ''he has not been
here since Monday last, and he did not
stay then, for my father was out"
well, now, l wonder at that" said
Judith; but l suppose he is too IL
to mind"
"Illr' cried Lefty, with, unknown tC
herself, a ring of terror in her low
clear voice. WAS Doctor Lennard i'll
when he went away from home last
night?"
Indeed and he was, miss" replied
Judith-'mOre worn and i'll than ever
1 thought to see him-Such a fine man
as he was. and his father before him
as fine a man as you could see in g
long days ride. And he's a youns
man, Miss Letty-he'S quite a youns
man still, though he's aged and grave
for his years mayhap, but he's hat
sore trouble to make him.
Yes, yes; l know he has" said Let
ty. But l wonder he should 81
away and be ILL.,
well, miss" spoke up the goot
woman, boldly, her honest, motherl.
face all aglow, and one brown, sinew.
hand Smoothed her lap vigorously, .
think, if I may make so bold as t
judge, that it is not his body so mucl
as his mind that is i'll and ailing. Las
that, carrying his own bag, which wa
not right and refusing, in his quiet
mournful way, all help from John an.
me, as though he couldn't bear t
trouble us, my very heart felt fit t
break; and I put on my bonnet ans