The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1897-02-02

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TIE AUTHOR.
when she had done. Mr.. McGregor
could not speak. He put his arms about
his child and answered her with rain
of kisses.
''Can you read, reallyY" he asked aft.
er awhile. ''It seems too good to be true.
How did You Learnt"
81 don't know-only that much. Jack
Talbot is teaching me. He comes Sun
days when you are asleep. most know
the letters now, but they are hard, and
did not want you to wait so long for
your Bible, so he read this over and over
till knew it all. am glad you like it.
But, oh, pappy, don't cryi Rob will
take care of you until-until we both
can go to the green pastures and the still
waters.
"My darling, my precious childp" the
father groaned, burying his face in her
silken hair. 81 think'it would be "a sig
nal mercy Of God if we might go to him
now.
The mood passed, as such moods do.
/ III tilC VI IsOO pftctlIt
father learned 10 half forget his blind
ness. She grew and strengthened and
became wise beyond her years. With
love as the incentive nothing came hard.
Though she still forswore school, once
the letter learning was over she grew so
fond of books that by housing in the
library she got a sufficient if unusual
education. Then, too, ne could sew,
knit and look after housewifely affairs,
TO say nothing of riding, dancing and
shooting to equal perfection.
Naturally the good folk whose ideal
of young womanly perfection was Miss
Winfield looked half askance at poor
Rob. 1t was the shooting which most
condemned her, albeit the root of her
reprehensible proficiency was the wish
to keep her father supplied with game
when he craved it. There were frequent
intervals when he relished nothing else.
Mrs. Winfield in such case would have
appealed successfully TO the chivalry of
her neighbors. Rob took up her fathers
gun, as she had taken his other burdens,
without whining or moaning over the
necessity which laid them upon her
shoulders
Long before she came to 10 she was
parsonage noted, gossiped over-if the
truth must be told often belied-
throughout the length and breadth of
Walnut Greek. She was so bravely, so
unconventionallyt truthful at all points
save one-it was not strange the air was
filled with tales of her social daring.
For example, she said openly she loved
to dance. best of all to waltz, "when
she had Jack Talbot for partner. "
Mrs. Winfield found that speech simply
shameless. Dear Alice never went be-
You'd the basket cotillon and had scru-
pies even as to that. Waltz Not she!
She had been TOO well brought up and
knew too entirely what modest girl
owed TO herself and society.
Yei-such is the depravity of the hu.
man mind, even in Walnut Creek
there were not wanting people who said
that Miss Winfold's scruples were fine
thing for her possible partners. She was
so springless and wooden they must
needs have carried her. Then, too, con-
tAh'b " ANh ANOD tNOhb lO
rutfle even her amiability. Things were
best as they were. Jack and Rob might
dance their fill together and be none the
worse Of it when he was safely married
to Alice Winfield.
Rob went to much less than half the
merrymakings. Though she was GER
tainly more in need of friendly counte-
nance than was Walnut Creeks para
gon, in some way nobody took account
of the fact. The reason was perhaps
that she was too fine Of fiber to bewail
her nprotectedness in the right quar-
ter. Her few outings were all in the
shadow Of Nam Liza's ample person.
Perhaps their very rarity gave Rob's
pleasure a keener edge
Usually upon such occasions she |
danced the night away with Jack-Jack,
whose height and step suited hers to q
nicely; who was, after her father, her
very best friend. OF course she liked
him more than any other Of the boys,
more than all Of them indeed, and why
should she not say so, especially when
1t made Mrs Winfield look 30 angry and
Mortified? 1t was the highest possible
tribute to her undeniable charm that, in
the face Of frankness so desperate, she
never lacked partner for the numbers
that Jack was constrained to share with
Miss Winfield.
1t set the dullest tingling to have her
floating beside him, her eyes starry, her
cheeks the clearest rose, her 1.-THE slen-
derness vital, vibrant, swaying respon-
sive to the music. as the wind harp to
The wind. Besides, there was distinc-
ton in taking her out. She had the
courage of her antipathies no less than
ner convictions. Quick and full of ready
courtesy as she was, there were times
when subterfuge was vain. Then, sooner
than take hands with one who repealed
her fine, subtle instincts, she lifted her
eyes and said clearly, with no trace of
shy confusion: Excuse me, please. 1
think INV father xr-o,, III not lilo 20 hove