Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1897-03-25
AXE care of her as # she were my own

! and you take the birdie trip together?
Lady Gwenap asked.
They might DO so very well, only
| their memories both happen to be bad
they would forget tleir tonics and their
| beef teas AMI lots Of things that they
! ought to rem alnber. On the other hand
| they might reuen Ter that they were
! very fond Of each ether long ago, and
| forget how very long ago it is. To Mrs
| rhorburn M father is always the
handsome young ran in lieutenant
uniform, with whom she danced at ne1
| first ball, and Ned's Voice always re-
minds the dai Of the voice of his first
love- They would dream over those
| days and forget the tcnics and beef teas
Of the present"
My dear Patrice. it seems to me
these are idle excuses for deferring
the day. It's not fair to Mr. ThOrburr
to put punctuality about tonics and
beef tea before ais happiness-ln other
words, his settlement. 1t can't be that
you still think"
Hush Patrioe Interrupted; he
looks too i'll and unhappy to be spoken
about either lightly or slightlngly 0y
either of US Ned is worth thousand
Of him | know that, but Ned will
never need help from any woman and
l can't help feeling that poor ShoIto
does want it from one OF us-from you
or from me. There was such a deseret-
ed, stray, lonely look about him that
day came in with Ned and found him
here It nurt me thai he should see me
looking 50 safe and Sound and happy.
Poor Sholto!''
Lady Gwenap sighed impatiently.
1t will always b. Poor SholtoT 10
the end of the CHARTER" she said, de-
jeCtedly; he lever can take the goods
the gods give and be thankful. He
had love once and he outraged it. Now
he has money and freedom from all
worldly cares. and he is eating his
foolish heart OH because he can't be
proud of his wife into the bargain. She
is not a bad woman. either, by any
means. She is very generous 20 him
She lets him spend as much as he
pleases and never reminds him that he
married her for her money"
Perhaps it's as well to be married
for that as for some fancied personal
attraction which ceases to attract a
man as soon as you become his wife, ]"
Patlice suggested. Poor ShOltO! He
will never be satisfied for himself"
And YOU would never have been
satisfied with any woman, whoever he
ha1 married. Lady Gwenap put in
quickly. "Don'q distress and wrong
yourself by thinking that you have
married Sh0lto's life. His seltiShnesS
has done that for him as effectu8lIy as
his bitterest foe could have done.
Thank heaven he hasn't married your
life, too, Patrice; at one time | was
afraid he had"
He has marked, rot 'marred' it.
| would not give IL into Ned's keeping
If it were damaged" Patrice said, and
then she went on to tell her friend
how daily and hourl-- Ned Tired fresh
gratitude in her heart by his care and
IOreIh0GghI cor her steptather.
Lady Gwenap RETAINED from asking
if it was gratitude for the consideration
Me- h2l invariably shown for her step
father which had finally melted her re-
solve to remain Patrice Laugherne to
The enc o. he chapter. The shrewd
little woman of the world had an I'M
asy 5oub o. this point and she shran
from verifying it
About q fortnight before the day
fixed for her wedding Patrice was sit
ting with her stepfatker and Ned Ihor-
burn one evening. They had dnad
later than usual, for Ned had taken
them for trip on enc of the river
boats, and they had landed at Black
wall and had real briny fish luncheon
there. 1t so happened, therefore. that
the mOrnig papers were not opened by
any of them Iptil the lamps were Hg1t-
ed and the growing darkness shut OUT.
and Capt Kely's thoughts were fondly
turning bedward.
But before you go, dad, dear. vi
will read us the news. / know you want
to hear whether the Britannia mas
has beaten the Eigilant or not"
The Britannia belongs to a man VINO
is rightly called The first gentleman in
Europe" tae old sailor said, proudly
Il attended the first levee his majesty
held when he became George the
Fourth. He was not so keen on yacht
ing then, if I remember rightly, but my
memory is a little touched. L may De
mistaken" nc addeo wistfully.
The Britannia was declared winner
of =
out, hurri9dly. Then Patrice saw that
he went on reading eagerly, without at
tending to the comm ents she and her
father made on the event.
Let the captain go to bed, Patrice
dear" Ned said, presently. 'EHe must
be tired and I want to speak to you,
my darling, for a minute or two alone
I go"
All right, Ned" she said, blightly.
She was feeling very happy, very much
refreshed by the strong sea breeze and
the compantonshtp OF her strong, true
lover.
She lighted a candle and saw her
step-father to his room, and then, with
a promise to come back to him in half
an hour. she ran to Ned.
He was standing by the mantelpiece,
reading still in an absorbed manner,
but he put the paper down and moved
toward her as she came in.
There is news that will distress you
in the Standard" he said, Poor Ora
ham seems doomed to misfortune as
the sparks fly upward"