Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1897-01-21


which was now their home indeedr
Mrs. Thorburn said, proudly. This
being the case it was no wonder that
both mother and daughter looked fol
more marks of appreciation from their
usually appreciative young friend OF
their new surroundings than she
offered. Indeed, it was only when
Mr.. Thorburn said to her, Ny mother
tells me that we are indebted to you
for all the best suggestions as to the
papering and painting of the house.
| can't thank you enough; the coloring
is simply perfect" it was only when
he said this that she looked round the
| dining-room and smiled approval
1T is very pre- ty," she said. "but
some better taste than mine has been
supplementing my original ideas.
Very good things have come out of
| Egypt, [ see," she aided, glancing
round at the quaint metal and pottery
/ vessels and dishes which decorated
! the room
Il came in for a fair share of loot,
[ must admit, during my brief cam
pa1gn. There arr very CHASTITY memo
| ries attached TO some CT the things, and
very pleasant ones to others. Ny
poor mother would have a fit if she
knew that the sword with the jeweled
nilt hanging up behind her 1 took from
an Arab sheik-such a splendid hand
some fellow who had to die before
| could get it from him.
you didn't do any actual fighting,
did your she asked, incredulously.
IF | hadn't, | shouldn't be here to
tell the tale now, Miss Laugherne."
She looked at him and felt a sudden
glow Of admiration for his gallant and
soldier-like appearance, and that
straightforward manliness of manner
and speech which she was beginning to
think are some of the best gifts with
which man can be endowed. Stimuli
taneously she thought of Sholto and
felt sickening fear for a moment that
perhaps he had grasped the dangers of
the career when he had been 50 ready
to resign it. She strangled this dread
in its infancy, and Loyalty reinstated
him on the pedestal of her heart as
OAchNESI DIS we'll as pest With I'M
questioning promptitude.
Mr.. Graham wanted to go out, but
his sisters marriage obliged him to
alter his plans. You know him, |
find" she said, with the overpowering
desire a girl in love has to speak of
her lover urging her to make the
remark.
I'VE meet at the club sometimes.
l suppose Mr.. Graham will be cutting
it now? The majority of us are bohe-
mians, who either don't possess any
dress clothes or have a deadly dislike
to putting them on"
u don't know why he should cut the
club or whether his love of dress
clothes has developed since his sisters
marriage, for I suppose you mean it's
that that will alter him." Patrice
said, merrily. But I know this
that the literary and bohemian side of
his life will be the one l shall always
like best"
Il hear that his sister, Lar7y Gwenap,
is very charming and pretty person,
and that she is expected to take her
piece as one of the leading london
hCstesses'- least that is what my
fashionable papers tell me-" he said.
laughingly. Are they right as to her
being charming and pretty?"
IT don't know. I have not seen her"
He checked the exclamation that
was on the point of escaping from
between his lips and changing the sub
iect adroit1y.
''My mother is riding her pet hobby
at full speed for Capt. Kelly's benefit
Trst listen. She wants me to have a
smoking-room that shall be quite
feature in the house, and she is actual
" trying to make him promise that
YOU will paint me a picture to adore
its wallis"
''Then I feel quite sure that he has
promised I will Paint several. He
always does. There is no limit 10
dear dads generosity with regard to
my sketches. He once gave nice
little chap-a crossing Sweeper-my
original sketch Of himself and brother,
Fl to get it we'll framed and a new pair
IF boots, because the boy cried when
he looked at the picture and said
the broom was like life"
"Patrice said Capt Kelly at this
moment, Mrs. 'Thorburn is saying
that she wants you to help her'about
fitting up the smoking room I tell
her that you will paint the walls in
some bold and appropriate design
and-" When I had done it neither
Mrs. ThCrburn nor the smoking rooms
master would thank me for my anna
flourish srrawling bulTushes and big
~ecked swans and stiff-Iegged storks.
Don't be deceived, Mrs. Thorburn.
papa would propose me as a painter
for a fresco in st. Paul's If he had the
chance: but really 7 should only dis
figure your walls If I daubed at them"
It was something, surely, to Ned
Thorburn's account that he did not
antreat her then and there "to daub at
them" Instead of doing this he
mentally swore to ask May mot to
invite her friend Patrice into the house
again until the latter was Mrs Sholto
Graham"
The following day was Sunday, and
as it was an unwritten law in Sir
Andrew Gwenaps establishment that
there should be no visitors on the sab
bath. no late dinner, no sign of litera-
ture in the shape either of books that
amused or newspapers that were UP to
date, ShoIto Graham spent the day
with Patrice
He went early enough to accompany