Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1896-12-10

golden head to the tip of ner weu-shod
feet, with the eyes of a hawk who has
been accustomed TO note the toilets of
the smartest women in Park and Bond
streets. Everything about her was
faultless. Yet he found himself wish
ing that she could be the old Maggie OF
her homespun and cotton blouse days
for an hour or two.
Until she had left him TO return to
Mrs. Cumberland and the packing, il
did not occur to him to feel yeyed thai
she had made no inquiry for Patrice,
no remark about his engagement. She
was going to be such a powerful factor
in the family life that he would not
permit himself to think that she had
grown a tTifle selfish since the wheel
OF fortune had taken such a favorable
turn for her. He treasured himself
with the reaction that she had never
seen Patrice, and therefore under the
circumstances could hardly be ex-
pected to grasp the latter's existence.
Then he thought rather vindictivelv OF
Mrs. Conference.-The woman he Did
now know and whom his sister eulo-
gized so absurdly. 1t was rough on
Patrice" and on himself. that one of
Sir Andrew Gwenap's faction should
usurp that place of first friend to Mag
gle which he had designed for the girl
ne meant to marry. He made I'D his
mind to dislike and hold aloof from
Mrs. Cumberland, as he installed
Patrice's photograph in place of
honor on his bedroom mantelpiece and
prepared to dress for dinner.
Meantime his sister Margaret had
gone back to the room where Wilson.
the maid, was actively and deity pack
ing, while Mrs. Cumberland looked
on and made suggestions.
"Sholto has come; he's handsome
and dearer than ever; he made me
some very pretty speeches, and did not
allude in the most distant way to the
girl he got entangled with the other
day" Miss Graham said, rapidly, as
she flung herself into the depths CT an
armchair opposite to the one occupied
by her friend.
"Entangled! When you told me
about it at first you said your bro her
was engaged to her" Mrs. Cumber-
land replied, as she lifted a pair of
lovely arms from which rich lace fell
becomingly, and elapsed her hands
above her head. At the same moment
she stretched her daintily slippered
feet out on the fender-stool, for
though it was May the atmosphere was
chilly in the north. Maggie Graham
felt momentary pang as she recog-
nized the fact that her friends fee
were nearly if not quite, as tiny as her
own. It annoyed her that any one
should presume to rival her ii points
of whose value she was rapidly becom-
ing cognizant.
# it were proper, well-author-
lied engagement and he felt proud of
it he would have spoken about it to
ne naturally. Probably she is what
Gu suggested when first I spoke 20
you about Sholto-a 'Westbourne
Grove young girl whose dreadful
people asked his intentions after some
slight attention on his part. At any
rate. he has evidently come here my
dear, unfettered brother Sholto still"
You are to be congratulated ON hav
ing such talented brother"
81 hope you will like him, Lena. My
brother and my dearest friend don't
get on together"
perhaps he won't like me!' the
dearest friend laughed out. Hlockingly,
"and if he does not shall reciprocate
by hating him
"Sholto and 7 have very similar
tastes. He will adore you, mo st
likely"
Pardon me, Maggie, bu. l think il
extremely improbable that a man who
admires the type of girl who takes to
the warpath in WestbouTne Grove will
find anything attractive in me. am
the reverse of barbarous."
For an instant Maggie Graham's
eyes emitted sparks as Mrs. Cumber-
land gave utterance to the welded
sheer. Then a recollection Of how use
full a guide, philosopher and friend the
practical woman of the world might
be in fashions gay mart flashed across
the future Lady Gwenap and she said,
with good imitation of Mrs. Cum er-
lands cutting GOODNESS:
If you were not I should not dare
TO indulge in the hope that ShJlto and
YOU will get on together for he is
fastidious to a fault. Wilson, put cut
that pale-blue MORE. I must plea e
Sholto By wearing his favcrite colors
tonight" she added to Mrs. Cumber-
land
Whose favorite coloTs? Sir An
drews?" Mrs. Cumberland asked, COM
ing apparently out of a deep fl of alb
straction. But this little bit cf bus
mess did not deceive Maggie for a mo-
ment. She knew that her dearest
friend had heard and comprehended
everything. So she merely smiled as
she surrendered herself into Wilson's
hands, and Mrs. Cumberland, who was
already dressed, rose languidly, sayi1'
she would go down to the drawing
room"
The old physician and his wife were
there already, and in minute or two
Sholto came sauntering in, almost
wishing that he had deferred his ar
rival till the following day, as the pros
poets of family dinner and domes-
tic evening did not appeal 10 him. But
as his aunt introduced him to our
good fri Mrs. Cumberland who has
kindly tahen much trouble of prepare
ton for he Wedding off my hands," he