Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1897-05-20

had temporarily laid aside. you
must remember Sir Humphrey is with
them, and will not allow them to run
any risks in returning. Before you
, know they will be home again safe
and sound, laughing at your fears
Il trust so" replied Mrs. lie Baron
with, however, much of distrust dis
cernible in her voice. She said no
more, however, but taking up a piece
OF embroidery seated herself on the
vine-covered piazza, where she pro-
ceeded to occupy her hands, letting
her mind loose from its anxieties as
she listened to her husband read aloud
for the remainder Of the afternoon.
Meanwhile Priscilla, quickly over
taking the children, discovered as she
did so, her fathers English mastiff
Caesar following her. Upon seeing him
she exclaimed: oh, Caesar, how droll
that you should want to come. You
would be far better off at home; why
didn't you stay with papa? l believe
you really are jealous Of Frolic, who
ately tired, but never mind, you may
this trip; for he always gets desper-
come along and she gave his head
a friendly stroke to make amends for
her reprimand. She loved the "old
soldier" as she often called him, and
it hurt her quite as much if not more
than it did Caesar to wound his feel
ings.
The children stopped frequently to
| gather wild flowers. They were a
merry party, from 12-year-old John
t. little Rosamond, who could count
| but six summers. When they reached
Re bins's shanty they were delighted
beyond measure at the novel sight Of
yard full of animals, who shifted,
grunted, barked and butted according
to their different natures, showing
pleasure, Robins explained, at receiv-
! ing visitors. 4 much longer time
vas spent there than Priscilla had
! planned, for it was difficult she found,
to induce the children to leave so in
teresting a place, and it was only by
promising them they should come
again that she succeeded in dragging
them away.
| Upon reaching the cove, Priscilla
glanced about in search of Sir Hum
phrey and his companion. She soon
discovered them some distance out
upon the water in an old fishing boat,
which the tide was slowly bringing
shOreward. What a delightfully."-
sentimental time they must have had,
she thought, as she seated herself upon
a rock, while the children ran eagerly
about in search of the malloWs they
were impatient to find.
Sir Humphrey did not seem inclined
to use the oars, and Priscilla had
ample time, while she awaited their
return, to take from her pocket pen
Gil and paper and make, as was her
wont, a sketch, in which the boat and
its occupants was not omitted. Her
imagination suggested many things
while her pencil with rapid touches
drew in the scene before her. She
was giving few finishing touches as
Sir Humphrey pulled the boat ashore.
You see,' remarked the English
man, Miss Andry and l have been
amusing ourselves while waiting for
you. We began to think that you had
given us the slip, or that something
unexpectedly detained you"
Priscilla thereupon gave graphic
account Of her visit to Robins, which
so Interested Sir Humphrey and Miss
Andry that they decided they would
return by the highway and make the
Old man call
Thus, after an hour had passed, il !
which the children had busted them |
selves as children will, in playing in !
the sand and gathering shells and flow.
ers, as the dusk fell the party again |
separated, Priscilla and her followers !
this time taking the beach, while Sir |
Humphrey and his supposed fianancee
we're left to wander through the |
woods, where the twilight's deepening
shadows seemed to breathe of love and /!
solitude.
Mrs. LIE Baron's fears in regard to |
her daughters discretion were not |
OveTdrawn, for had Priscilla given the |
subject moments consideration she !
would have realized the tide Was too |
@
but childhood and youth are irrespon-
sible, so also is a man with an at |
tractive woman by his side.
Priscilla had been the chosen guide /
and Sir Humphrey, unconscious of !
danger, saw no reason to question her !
returning by the beach, as he had IN
til a short time since intended doing !
And Priscilla, thoughtless as her |
mother knew her to be, completely |
forgot the warning. The thought |
crossed her mind upon noticing as
she started that Caesar remained be-
hind with Miss Andry, while Sir Hum
phrey searched for a particular speci-
men OF seaweed she admired), THE
old soldier has some object in not
coming with me. l fancy he thinks
Miss Apdry needs his protection, as
undoubtedly he supposes she is left
alone. What a wise old heads he has, !
bless him." and she smiled at his do
ing what he considered his duty,
rather than follow his inclinations,
which she knew would be to come with
her
The children were racing ahead with
their arms full OF marshmallows, and
not until Priscilla had overtaken them
and gene some distance did she be
come aware it was growing unaccount-
ably dark. Upon looking at the hea-
vens she discovered huge masses of
clouds bowling up which bIackened