Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1896-11-05

of these things. And it was young
Mr.. Eaves who first brought US any
news. He came into the orchard L
remember, one bright March morning,
while l was gathering danydowndillies
there. A tall, handsome figure Of a
man he was, with honest blue eyes and
a smile that would have turned the
heart of a girl who did not look above
a farmer in very small way. Now,
Nicholas fettifer was short and stout,
and his eyes were small and his ways
were secret, as, indeed, became enc Of
his profession, for he was an attorney s
clerk, and likely to be an attorney him
self some day. And as it was duty
| owed to my family to marry into a
good position. l had almost decided
On which Of my two lcVers-for they
were-to bestow my hand.
Hist, hist! Miss Mary" cries young
Mr.. Eayes, blushmy RED as any school:
girl as turned and locked at HIM
with proper pride.
"Dou't you know my family name,
Mr.. Eavcs7"
why, in course ! do. Miss Mary,
that is, Miss Barncs, and no offense in
tended. have news: for you or for
Miss Vaughan abOut-what shall l
call III ?--about Pierre Armand"
| starteu, for that was the name I'M
Ger which M de Rosny had enlisted,
and / thought that melody knew it ex-
cept ny young mistress, the squire and
myself, and Mr.. Pettifer, who had a
way Of making me tell him things that
wild horses should not have made me
tell any one else.
II OW did you come to know that
name" l asked, and 1 don't think it
was very genteel of me to be so short
with him.
How do [ know? Why, didn't he
writa to tell me? Don't he allus treat
me like the friend Of his bosom, and he
a 1Ohleman born? EFTenchy' they call
un l wish there were more English
mer like him. Not that there's much
Frenchy about IN, for he do speak
English, he do, all thu same as l do.
Think of that now. ="
Certainly, Mr.. Eaves, l will think
of it. But did you intrude here only
to tell me that?"
NO, no, Miss Mary which l mean
to say Miss Barnes. He's in trouble.
| seed Bells messenger at the Hare
and Billet last night and read all about
it. ne was taken prisoner at sea- Il
clasped my hands in fear OF what was
com4ng), 'and they brought up to Dew
onport" q smiled, reEeveO, land to
have broke out Of prison" q gave a
lly,le scream of delight say
and a murrain on him for a rebel
traitor!' q stamped my foot i'm
PATIENTLY and one Of them killed a
sentinel, and the hue and cry is after
them; ay, and there be a reward on
each of they heads-a reward of so
guineas it be!'
Mr.. Eaves," I said, with conviction,
hell come here. Mark my words,
he'll come here"
That | be certain sure of. And
! what l came to tell you besides the
news was that you II want help maybe
to hide or to get I'm away, and if SO be
as you do, I'll go through fire and
water for I'm, will; and you can count
on me for that, Miss Mary, meaning
Miss Barnes, begging your pardon"
Mr.. Eaves, [ said, taking his hand,
you are a true friend, and l am very
grateful to you"
| oh, Miss Mary and he blushed
redder than ever, you make me that
proud and happy. You-you are as
! good as you are beautiful, and l love
you true"
Hush, Mr.. Eaves! You must not
say such things"
! No, no; [ know you bean't for the
likes of me. And bitter hard it is to
bear sometimes"
! He looked so miserable as he said
this that out of pity [ felt L must say
something TO comfort him, though L
toId myself that he was nothing to me.
well, at any rate, Mr.. Eaves, it will
/ be some solace to you to know that
have full trust in you, and l am certain
| NJ de Rosny's secret is safe with you"
THAT it be, and main good it be OF
you to say So AS he spoke he
looked at me so tenderly and stood
here such d handsome picture Of a
true lover that I began to wonder
whether after ALL had not made a
mistake in preferring MI Pettifer to
him. Then, with all mans perverse
stupidity, he turned me against him.
81 am that thankful to you for trust
! ing me that I'll give you a hint, and a
hint Of true friend il be-don't trust
summun else"
And who may that some one else
| be. Mr.. Eaves?" | asked, Us naughty
and as stiff as you please.
why. that hackney writing law
yer's clerk, Mr. Pettifer."
1t was most unreasonable of me, but
it made me all the angrier with him
that | had trusted Mr.. Pettifer.
Keep your breath to cool your own
porridge, Mr.. Eaves,'' l said. Mines
to my liking"
Then ran away and left him stand
ing stock still, like a gate-oost, while
I hurried to Miss Valerie to tell her the
news.
The three weeks that followed were,
l think, the most anxious through
which l ever passed, and they were
made all the more anxious because
heard that on several occasions Mr..
Pettifer was seen by one or the other
of the servants hanging about the hall
at night time. 1t was assumed by
every one that he was merely there on
chance of getting a hurried word with