Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1897-03-04
aLOYER 0f The DAY.
OH XIV
Sir Andrew is Late

On the night of this day on Whlcf
Patrice had offered Sholto Graham nj:
release the latter dined again VIII
Mrs. Cumberland. He went into thf
temptation with the most fixed deter
mination his mind was capable OF
forming of remaining stanch both IL
spirit and in letter to Patrice. But
when he had dined and smoked a few
cigarettes and watched Mrs. Cumber-
lands thousand and one graceful atti-
ordinations as she moved about the
room, the determil alton which had
been muscular at starting grew faced
DO you know she said, coming
back from an artfuIly artless progress
round the room, during which her
round white arms had frequently been
litter above her sleek dark head to
straighten pictures and other wall
decorations, "do yoU know, SholtO,
have had a real serious quarrel with
Guy Vereker to-day or your account
He says you ought to marry Miss
Laugherne at once, now that yOu are
so well off, ana not let her bear the
burden Of that old lUnatic step-father
alone, and I-deferdeG you"
= wish Vereker would mind his own
business. | am no. going to be driven
into matrimoney By him or any one
else before / feel inclined for it." he
said cautiously.
Naturally you are not. I told him
So I told aim that any one who
thought you were made of soft, yield
ing, easily nodded material would find
out that he or she was very much mis-
taken"
Her implied con1 lotion that he had
an iron Will gratified him intensely.
you understand me-" he said. 80
few people have the brains to do it.
You can tell Mr.. Guy Vereker if he has
the cheek to canvass my affairs again
that | am under no more obligation 10
marry Miss Laugherne than he is.
claimed and rcgained my freedom to-
day! | found that I had no vocation
for the post of keeper of a lunatic. Miss
Laugherne and | are engaged NO lon
ger"
utll6ISuGuIN
startled and distressed.
But, Sholto," she said, Sir Andrew
will be furious.
Not when lie hears the ms and outs
OF the case he said. with an assrtmD-
ton OF ease ne was very far from feel
ing. Then gong wildly off at a tan
gent, he asked.
What on earth has Vereker to do
with it?'
L think en- not sure-but | think
he has fallen a victim to the blond and
massive charms of a certain Miss May
Thorburn, who is thc bosom friend of
your fiancee."
She is not that any longer. I tell
you. Everything hctween us is defin-
itely at an end. II is not for me 10
say which was the one who broke it
off. | am not the nan to boast of hay
ing thrown a woman over. All will
say is that thank God | am free"
ooh, Sholto, Sir Andrew will never
forgive you if you have thrown Miss
Laughene over
Il shall explain matters 20 him if Il
is necessary he said loftily. MEAN
while, Lena, you will reward me for
having made stroke for freedom,
won't you? | did it for your sake.
Il dare not believe you" she wills
pered, but she let him take her hand
and presently en- MS saying:
You must believe me and trust me
You must promise to be mine in the
teeth OF all opposition. Whas have
done was for your sake Defy every
one and trust me-
Il will" she said, emphatically.
She had scarcely said these words
before a chill fell on them. The sensa-
ton of his not being in earnest enough
to justify her n enCountering unpleas-
antnesses and losses for his sake smote
her, and the reflection that if he had
not been so impetucus he might have
done better for himself smote him
However, there they were now, pri-
yately engaged, and it behooved each
Of them to make the best of it.
eve will not say a word about this
to any one just yet Sholto muttered
to his new berothed. as he was saying
good-by to her that night "Unsuited
as she was to me | have great regard
for that poor girls feelings. She SIM
ply adored me, but it would have been
worse for her if had married her with
my heart in another womans keeping"
Keeping is secret savors of dup
icity," she said, and he replied:
My dear Lena, substitute the words
'delicacy of feeling for 'duplicity' and
you will be nearer the mark"
Sir Andrews rege will know no
bounds Sholto."
"Confound him and his rage. When
I've got my foot little more firmly On
the ladder I can defy both. You trust
to me-"
ct do, implicitly" she said, but her
instinct belied her wor2s
<
Come and dine with us tonight
If YOU can't 10 that. come as soon as
possible. Sir Andrew has heard some.
thing he does not like. Do be careful
Sholto. You're affectionate sister
Maggie"
This note was brought to Sholto
with his early cup of coffee. on thu
mornig after that eventfur day OF
which Patrice had released him and h
had betrothed himself to Mrs. Cumber
land
He read i rapidly. while his servan
hustled about the room, pulling III
blinds, deity arranging wearing aD
paral. opening a window here am