Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1896-10-22


Her companion looked at her timidly.
Yes" she answered: but am sorry
l must hurry. You will not like to
walk as fast as I have to. l always run
home for dinner"
Let me come, do. I'll leave you
whenever you'like. What l want is air
and exercise.
Aren't you hungry, them"
Not bit. l can get along on very
little
L try to, but
But what?"
1T makes me feel so faint But
Rose turned on her companion-'twhy
do you care to walk with me-"
Only, because l like you, dear
There were the beginnings of tears in
Roses blue eyes as she again looked
Gladys full in the face. She said moth
ing, however; only walked the faster.
Presently they came to a side street.
This is where l live" said Rose, and
stopped.
I'll walk on to the end said
Gladys.
There was no help for it, and so,
much against her will, Rose continued
with her new friend to the house door.
Hadn't you better get something to
eat?" she asked, blushing. Pm sorry,
but it would be no use inviting you in
Gladys guessed why, smiled and nod
ded Goodbye" She had noticed the
apartments card in the window 1t
suggested quite new line of action.
From the street she hurried into a
neighboring coffee-house, and called
for ink and paper. Then she wrote
these words:
"a friend has discovered to what
cruel straits you have been driven.
Please never, never do such a thing
again. Hope for the best
She sealed the envelope and ran back
to the house into which Rose Evans
had entered.
This poor girl found the letter ad-
dressed to her inside the door ten min
utes later. She read it and all but
dropped where she stood. The strik-
ing of half-past one recalled her to her
self
Mechanically she put the letter into
her pocket, and made her way back to
the trimming-shop.
Miss Evans, fined three-pence for be
:pg two minutes late she heard Mr..
Jones say to the cashier. But she cared
not for that. She was watching for
Gladys Dawes.
When half AN hour passed and no
Gladys reappeared, Rose knew who
the friend was who had discovered
her.
Somewhat later in the day Gladys
again presented herself at Rose Evans
house. She was made Up as a pleasant
looking lady of about five-and thirty,
specialized.
"YoU have, l think, rooms to let
here?" she asked.
The girl who answered the bell was
the young lady who had purchased the
passementerie at Beauchamp & Rays.
Gladys was not bit surprised
ooh, yesr' was the eager reply
please step in"
1t was soon arranged. Mrs. Evans
was a delicate elderly woman There
was also a soma cripple-the sight of
whom made a strange impression on
Gladys.
Have you no servant?" she asked
Roses sister.
mo. 1 manage to do the work. I'm
til year ago 1 was lady's maid to the
Hon. Mrs. Grey, but I left to look after
them at home"
Your brother looks very ciever?"
said Gladys.
Clever? l should think he is, Miss
Major" (''Major' was Gladys new
name.) 1--WE hope soon to convince the
world of it,
How, my dear?"
The girl colored deeply.
"He has written the most lovely
poemsr' she replied. when we have
saved enough money we shall get them
published. They are so SWEET
And that, thought Gladys, explains
everything.
In less than a week she had become
very intimate with the Evanses, all ex-
cept Rose, whom she had scarcely seen
at all.
The other sister, Milly, was appar-
emily simple ingenious little creature,
who would do anything (even steaD
for her brother Harold and her invalid
mother.
But it was the cripple himself, who
most interested Gladys
Harold Evans was about 26, by no
means sickly of aspect, though laid up
with hip disease. He had the eyes
of a poet as well as the tongue of one.
And even Gladys, who was no mean
judge of verse, was bound to confess
that his poems were worthy of his
face. He used, at her request, to read
them to her. The wonder was that she
did not then declare in her eyes that she
was ten years younger than she as
sumed to be.
'You do poor Harold such deal of
good, Miss Major" said Milly one even
ing. HE said this morning that your
being here was heavenly"
Did he say that?" gasped Gladys.
Her hearts agitation at that moment
told her something else. And how are
you getting on with the savings?"
mot quite so WELL" was the reply,
as the girl lowered her eyes before
Gladys.
Then Gladys spoke out her wishes.
! 81 have been thinking have so