Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1897-01-28

family and fine friends. At the same
time she never permitted herself 20
disparage Lady Gwenap by the slight
est word, not even to May Thorburn,
who had a fine contempt for the bril-
liant butterfly who presumed to slight
girl whom May deemed good enough
for her own brother and far too good
for Lady Gwenap's
For continual meetings and intimate
association with Mr.. Graham mad not
raised May ThorbHn's opinion Of him
She admitted 10 herself and to her
mother and brother that Mr.. Graham
was well-grown and good looking, and
that he had a specifically affcctionate
manner, and an equally superficial air
OF refinement. But she would add 70
her brother, The will be cruel TO any
one who ever thwarts him seriously,
and spiteful to any one who annoys
him. pray that Patrice will never
do either-unless, if she does il, she
makes clean cut through all the links
that bind them together"
an unlikely contingency that we need
not contemplate it,
unlikely things are constantly hap
pening. Six months ago it was very
unlikely that Sholto Graham's good
looking weak head would be turned by
a brilliant marriage Of convenience in
his family At the same time it was
very unlikely that you should step
into fame and competency through
filling the place he vacated 81 gladly
directly he heard of the possibility.
Remembering these things I still live
in hopes of seeing Patrice make the
clean cut l spoke Of
When a girl like Miss Laugherne
uses the knife, she cuts deeper into her
own heart than into anything else.
Poor child! she wouldn't wound a fly
If she is ever driven to hurt a fellow
creature she will hurt herself to death
nearly Ned Thorburn said, p.tifully;
but May, who was perfectly heart
whole herself, laughed in her superior
strength and told him:
Don't let your sympathie ssap your
judgment, Ned. Patrice is made of
tougher stuff than you think. She will
outgrow this delusion; some day the
scales will fall from her eyes; she will
see him as he is
And them"
well, she'll be cut up for time l
suppose no one actually rejoices IN
finding out an ideal to be very COM
monplace and contemplate But
she will set UP higher standard and
love a higher type of man."
Poor fellow; he will be most pro-
foundry to be pitied. Don't you ever
try to help him to his fate, May"
He will need no help when the time
comes" May said, gravely; "but if he
does he will have it from me, Ned"
x
There was a grand review at Alder
shot, a march past the prince and prin-
cess and the Daily Electrifyer was
specially represented by Mr.. Thorburn.
It CHANGED that hospitality was offered
him by some army-service corps men,
among them Mr. Guy Vereker, with
whom he fraternized and to whom he
took a liking
you were lucky to get that post"
Veraker said, speaking of Thorburn's
experience during the late war. tits
made your name, and your fortune, too,
I hope. Was the appointment offered
to you or did you apply for it?''
Il applied for it on finding that
a 9TH on, foIIo,x- who Ala Jo~,,1+o,1- ,ro,,1v
on the D. E. had Withdrawn his appli-
cation; he had just got engaged and
suppose the lady didn't like the idea of
his running any risks. At any rate,
I have good reason to be thankful for
any case that prevented ShoIto
Graham going"
''Sholto Graham, a man in the war
Officer
The same"
"a brother of Lady Gwenap's, old
Sir Andrews wife?"
I'VE mean the same man undoubt-
edly," Thorburn laughed. Every
one who knows Sholto Graham knows
that he is Lady Gwenap's brother
"And you say he's engaged to be
Vereker questioned.
'He is, to one of the incest and most
charming girls that ever lived" Ned
Thorburn said, warmly. l am glad
you have told me; what is the lady's
is that a secret?''
Not at all; she is Miss Laugherne,
a stepdaughter of Capt Kelly. They
are friends and neighbors Of my people
at Bayswater You seem interested
in Graham. What is it?'
''It is that he's a humbug" Guy
Vereker said, emphatically; "he's not
playing fair either to Miss Laugherne
or to lady know. I'm with fellow
as far as changing his mind about a
girl goes, but he should have done
with her like a gentleman, straight
forwardly, not continue to deceive her
and throw dirt in her eyes like
bounder." He's a weak, vacillating
kind of fellow, Pm afraid" Ned
Thorburn said, more temporarily than
he felt, "but I don't think he can be
playing fast and loose with Miss
LaugherDe, Ned Thorburn was say
ing, when some others Joined them,
and the matter dropped.
For many months Capt. Kelly's cor
respondenoe had been increasing in a
way that was inexplicable to Patrice.
At the same time his moods had been
more variable than the girl had ever
known them before. On some days he
would be jovial and exultant without
apparently sufficient cause, would