Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1896-11-26

being on a slightly different social
platform to the ordinary government
clerk
And where are your rooms, Mr..
Graham?''
The interest she was taking in him
was gratifying, but he could have
wished that it would not lead her TO
question him about his local habita-
ton.
ent."
'Oh, the Paddington nd of the park
end ?" she asked.
The Paddington end. 1 am going
to leave them in a week or two. It's
too far out of town altogether for a
fellow who does press work.
DO you write for any of the big
dailies? For the Times or Telegraph?
Or do you only write for the week
lies?"
Only for the weeklies! That's a
very disparaging way of putting it,
The first journalists of the day are
proud to be on the staff of the World
other high-class weekly papers"
Yes, yes, but are you on the staff OF
the World or Truth, or any of the
or Truth or other high-class weeklies."
Not at present. he answered curt
ly
DO forgive me for being curious
about it, but you're the only literary
man I've ever met, and l should like to
know what you write in so that might
read what you say and have the de-
lightful feeling of knowing the writer
of the article"
Il throw off little things by the dozen
and hardly know where they CO." he
said carelessly. They get absorbed
in a dozen directions; they are not
read. Mere ephemeral things, you
really worth your taking the trouble to
read. Merely ephemeral things, not
know, that die with the day with whose
dOings they deal"
you must work very hard? All
day at your war office and half the
night writing for the press, suppose?"
she said, admiringly.
"Oh, it's nothing when you're used
to it, he said, airily disclaiming any
special merit for his industry The
official work is poisonously dull; turn
ing out the other stuff is a refreshing
change from it,
MY father has been reading some
thing of yours; he is quite enthusiastic
about your writing. He says you hold
pen that could strengthen a dynasty
Or shatter a ministry"
Il can only wish, as he holds these
fiattering views, that he was either an
editor or publisher" he laughed out,
but though he laughed and seemed to
lightly regard Capt. Kelly's fiattering
tribute, he liked the aid gentleman bet
ter than he had ever liked him before
Il suppose, as papa says that of your
writings, that you deal mostly with
politics?"
l don't care a hang about them" he
confessed, candidly. 81 take much
more interest in new play or show of
of any kind than l do in the fate CT
nations. Do you often go to the thea
ter?"
She shook her head dolefully $50
seldom that [ feel terribly out of it
when we're dining out sometimes and
new plays and popular actors and &C
tresses are being talked about. Papa
doesn't care to turn out after dinner,
and as he always goes to sleep before
the first act is over it is cruel to drag
him to a theater
"That's hard luck on YOU" he said
compassionately. Have you no one
else to take yoH-no aunts Or cousins?"
II have very few relatives, and none
of them live in London. My own
people-my own fathers family
are all in Ireland; they knwo little of
and care less for me-"
eff they knew anything of you they
could not help caring a great deal for
you," he said, warmly, and from his
position of repose against the mantle
piece he looked down with eager ad-
miratiOn into her upturned, sensitive
face. 1t occurred to them simultan-
the other was He was tall, well-built,
strong and 1.-THE as a greyhound; she
| fair and feminine, lissome and grace
! full, with such a look of earnest in the
depths of her deep gray eyes as he had
never seen in any woman's eyes be-
fore
when I move into my new quarters
I am going to get my sister to stay
with me, and then you must let me
introduce her to you, and We'll do some
theaters together. Will you?"
Il should like it immensely, if your
sister agrees to the plan
MY sister agrees to most things that
I propose. She's not half bad girl
Where does she live? Is she like
you? Have you only one sister,"
only one. She lives in Edinburgh
with an uncle. She's not half bad
girl, not bit like me; she's a regular
yellow haired Scotch lassie.'
'Pretty?"
"Um-a-it's hard for fellow tc
say, or indeed to know, whether his
sister is pretty or not. At any rate
nobody of any importance has come
wooing her yet. | hope she is no
going to turn out an old maid on my
hands"
Are you fond of herr"
"Oh. yes; she's a very nice girl
thinks an awful lot Of me, Away
bothering me to strain every nerve Il