Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1898-09-22


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Aunt Fanny, We really must TAX
you to Aber," said Harry, very be
seechingly, one morning toward tn
end of August.
! Yes, auntie, we were there yester
day after the rain, and the waterfall
! is just splendid. Can't we go toda
| altogether"
! Frances looked across the table a
the invalid, and being treasured by
her looks, thought that it might. per-
haps, be managed. The expedition ha
| long been deferred. for it was impos
sible to drive along the last mile
the glen, and Esperance had not o
! course been able TO walk so far. She
was so much better now, however
the scheme began to seem NOR
feasible, and this day she was
eager to go that Frances, after som
consideration, gave consent.
They started early ia the afternoon
a very merry party, Frances driving
side her, and the boys in the back seat
4 The day was most glorious. and tn
richly wooded glen looked so beauti
ful that Frances was obliged to driv
slowly in order to give her full SYM
pathy to the eager entreaties to look
at some especially lovely view, either
of the sea or the river, or the moun-
tains. Leaving the carriage at tn
rest-house, thev walked slowly
toward the falls, and whether it was
due to the beauty and novelty of the
way, or to the fresh mountain air, Es-
perance was not at all over-tired when
at length they reached the end of the
glen, and sat down on the GREAT
gray powders at the foot Of the
waterfall.
She gazed in wonder az the down.
rushing torrent, as it came foaming
over the brown rocks, here, white a
snow, there, separating itself into
little silvery streamlets, but all ming
ling in the pool below, and hurrying
away down the rocky bed o. the river.
Frances was amused and charmed by
her naive expressions of rapture and
amazement, and watched with pleas
ure the healthful glow of color in he
cheeks, and the happy brightness o
her eyes. She looked delightfully."- a
her ease, leaning back among tn
rocks, in her shady straw hat and
blue cambria pOlonaise, and Frances
was just wondering what constituted
that happy French faculty of perfec
enjoyment, and contrasting it wit
the heavy, bored looks of a party
tourists who were finding fault with
everything, when a sudden cry and
splash made her look round in terror
to see if the children were all safe
To her relief they were all three in
sight, scrambling about the rocks on
the other side Of the river, but Esper-
ance had quilted her easy posture, and
was bending over the powders down
to the water, and just as Frances hur-
ried to the spot. she had helped to
drag up a terrified little girl of above
seven years old, who had slipped into
the river.
There, do not cry, you are quite
safe" said Esperance, painting a little
with her eXertions.
But before Frances could speak. a
little, dark, middle-aged lady, hustled
up, her round, brown eyes all anx-
iety.
marguerite, ma chere! what is i
then? Ciel! you have really been
the water! ali! what pity, with your
new bco.s, too. Aud this lady ha
kindly helped you? hope Marguerite
has thanked you, mademoiselle?n
Esperance was on her feet now; her
color came and went. and she waited
impatiently till the lady had finished
speaking. then bending toward she
said in a half-choked voice, Madame
Madame Lemercier! DO you not know
me?"
Nine. Lemercier looked, threw up
her little hands. and then with many
eXclamations, embraced Esperance with
fervor, quite regardless of the tourist
eyes around.
mon t!-Esperanc bu
this is a happiness. We meet in
strange land. my child! ah! who
would have thought ~"
Dear Nadine! how Ing i. seems
since we parted! how r0uch has har-
pened!" Then turning to Frances
"T must introduce you to Madame
Lemercier, a very dear friend of ours,
who took care Of me IN the siege
Miss Neville knows you well by name
madame 7 have told her how good
you were TO me hen
To be Continued.