Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1897-02-04

CAC AAc~h DOtA painting LII 49, - q
hours this day, finishing a picture
which Sholto had admired and advised
her to finish the day before. Mr.
Graham was not endowed with a very
rapturous sense CT art, but he con
cealed any trifing deficiency under
which he labored il this direction Ey
a free use of technical terms, and Pa
trice accepted his criticism and praise
as gladly as if she did not know much
more about the matter herself
Various things had conspired to
make her feel happy this day and to
paint out of the fullness Of a bright
heart In the first place, Sholto had
sent her little note in the morning be
fore going off with another fellow
| for a day on the river telling her that
he was very hopeful about the appoint
ment which Sir Andrew was interest
ing himself about and which would
give Sholto f1,0U0 year.
"On that, together with what you
| have and occasional lifts from your
father, we may rub along JOLLY
! enough" he said, and Patrice thought
! SO, too, and was very happy. She did
/ not often waste time in day-dreaming
! as she worked She did allow herself to
! picture a perfectly appointed home in
which she should reign as mistress
with SholtO Illuminating it constantly
out of officia7 hours and she made up
her mind That "papa's first present
should be a pretty pony and carriage
in which she would meet ShOlto at the
railway station every day when he
came down to their home, which, for
the sake of a garden, must be some
miles from London.
Into this lovely bit of fancy there
came the sound of wheels stopping at
their door; a quick, impatient ring, then
! Mr.. Thorburns voice, and her own
| hand. She rose up, overcome for one
instant by startling premonition of
evil The next she had almost leaped
| down the stairs and was standing by
Ned Thorburn in the passage.
Tell met she said, briefly, and
! looking at her he said:
He has had a shock-lOss Of money.
No! No accident, no fit Nothing Of
that kind" he said, hurriedly: and he
saw her look of relief as she cried:
ooh, only money! Thank God"
She held her fathers hand as they
supported him into the house and up
to his bedroom, Thorburn helping her
a3 tenderly as if Capt. Kelly had been
his father as well as hers.
Presently when the doctor had come
and the dear old man had been got into
bed and given a draught-Which hap
PLY rendered him unconscious Of his
misery for a time-the young people
went down into the draWing-rOQm anG
then Patrice poured out her thanks
and gratitude to him with such warm.
3tfectiCnate since Tity that ThOrburn
had to fight bitterly hard battle in
order to restrain himself from praying
her to let him BE- indeed u SON. to her
father and suffer him TO take care Of
them both for the rest of his life
The battle was bitter, but his honor
won it against his impulse and the deep
feeling he had that Patrice was wasting
herself by remaining faithful to a mere
chimera. The words Vereker had
used about ShOltO Graham, with re
gard to that other lady, came back and
lung mOckingiy in his ears, and he
found himself respising and retesting
the superficial fiutterer who could al
low his name to be coupled with any
Patrice had so honored him above all
other womans than Patrice's Wien
other men.
Il shall go home now and send MAJ
to you, he said, when Patrice h-d
crept up to look at Cap. Kelly, and l2d
come back with the news that the
dear old dad was sill sleeping sound
Iy"
You mustn't be alone here" he
went on May shall come and stay to-
night with YOU
Il can't let her do that; cant take
her away from Mrs. Thorburn."
But he detected a lack of decision in
her refusal, and SO merely told her:
YO& must let May stay tonight. I
can look after my mother all the
evening, and the old servant sleeps in
her dressing-room at night To-
morrow, if Capt. Kelly is not much
better, we must get a nurse to help
you, but for tonight May will do"
Don't you think he will be much
better? You don't think he IS going
to be like this long?" she asked.
Il hope no." he said, heartily, "Dut
he has had a hard shock. But he's a
grand plucky old fellow, and will soon
pull himself together again. he said,
hopefully.
And after all it's only money that
he has lost, and I have enough for him
and" shall have plenty more" she
was on the brink of saying, when she
remembered that there was another
besides herself to be consulted about
this last matter
There was a pause, She looked at
Thorburn with little thoughtful
froWn puckering her brow, but it clear
ed away. and lively, happy smile
succeeded it, as she said:
"Sholto Graham will be here this
evening. He had to go on the river
to-day with another man, but he pro-
missed to come in to dinner. He is
so fond Of dad; he will gladly help to
look after him till tomorrow. I know;
and | shall De te.y, very glad TO have
| May"
| IF he comes as he has promised and
/ takes the burden of this nights work
off this dear girl I'll say he's a better
fellow than I think him now Ned
/ !, l,