Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1899-10-26
Continued.

ner's verdict was that she died from
disease of the heart, increased by
over fatigue and privation. We buried
her-all the neighbors were kind
and, looking at the beautiful dead
face, no one could suggest a work
house funeral for her. We buried her
and then my husband said he would
never part with the child. She was
so like her mother, that the resem-
blance startled me. We buried the
mother and kept the child. Ny hus-
band almost worshipped her, and she
has been called Ismay Hope ever
since
"You never discovered anything
about her mother?" asked Paul.
No; our vicar, Mr.. Kirdell, inserted
some advertisements in the papers,
and made some inquiries. but all was
In vain. The poor mother had round
her neck a little gold lOcket containing
the portrait of a gentleman, and besides
her wedidng-ring she wore one with a
motto inside it. The vicar took them
all away with him. l fear we shall
never know who that poor dead wo-
man was"
and the-the child-has been as a
daughter to you ever since? ques-
toned Paul Waldron. eff I can per-
suade her to love me, Mrs. Hope, will
you give her to me?"
And the coy, blushing beauty came
in and Paul Waldron was more en-
chanted than ever. He was not long
before he had told her how dearly he
loved her, and had asked her to be his
wife. There were times when she
puzzled him. There was something
about her quite different from other
girls she was so refined, so gentle,
her very beauty was of an unusual
kind-dainty, exquisite, unlike the
rosy beauty of the country girls. He
found, too, that her head was filled
with romance. Who her mother was.
formed an endless subject of thought
for her.
81 am sure" she said one day to
her handsome young lover, "that my
mother was a lady, even though she
was wandering through the streets
with me alone"
What makes you think SOP" he
asked.
II cannot tell. I feel sure of it..
And feel sure of another thing, Paul;
and that, that though I have been
brought up in this homely fashion, I
am a lady myself. You may laugh at
me, but | feel like one-or rather how
| imagine a lady should feel. I love
all things bright and beautiful; I de-
test everything mean, sordid, and lit
tie. | feel as though | had tastes
which could never be gratified long
ings which can never be realized. l
have strange sensations always of not
being in my right place
They were sitting under the spread
ing shade of a large Oak-tree, the
evening sun in it's full splendor MAX
ing everything bright. The next mo-
ment he was kneeling at her feet.
"You are not in your right place,
darling Your place is my pretty cot
tage-that must be your home. You
shall be my queen, and I will work for
you as no man ever worked before, be-
cause | love you as no man eve
loved"
He wooed her as women are seldom
woeod. with such eloquence and truth
such love, such tenderness, that sh
could not resist him His handsome
face. his musical voice, his devotion
all touched her heart as nothing els
could have done. She was too beauti
full not to have many admirers, bu
none of them had pleased her. Thi
handsome. young keeper, with his darl
eyes and thrilling voice, was quit
different. His great passionate low
touched her-his utter and entire de
votion flattered her; beside which, h
talked of one day being rich, an
that was the one great wish of he
heart. She knew that she was beauti
full. To have her beauty adorned b,
costly dresses and rich jewels, to liv
in grand house, to have servants t.
wait upon her, seemed to Ismay Hop
the very acme of bliss.
She aid not stop to consider how
visionary after all was Pauls idea o
growing rich. He would show he
occasionally models of steam-engine
or of looms, and tell her that paten
for This invention and that improve
ment would make him a wealthy man
He painted the future for her in glow
ing colors, and after many months o
chivalrous wooing he persuaded her t,
be his wife.
Did she love him then? Many time
in the dark after years Ismay Walton
asked herself that question. She be
lieved she did; his devotion, the fiat
terry of his great love, was as needfu
to her as the air she breathed. 1t wa
a grand thing, too, to win the love o
the handsome game keeper: all the girl
envied her She did not dislike tn,
idea of being her own mistress. Mrs
Hope had always been very strict will
her: the cottage, moreover, was {;
pretty home; and then Paul loved he
so-oh how dearly he loved her! Sh,
was very young to marry, but Mrs
Hope seemd to think that did not mat
ter.
Il shall die easier, child, when m.
turn comes,'' she said, IF l have lef
you in the charge of a good man.
Would she ever have chance of do
ing better? 1t did not seem probable
The inhabitants of Ashburnham wer
quiet, prosaic people, they Admire
her bright beauty, but they were no
of the kind who, looking in a fai
face, forgot the whole world" TIL
young squires anu farmers, with mos
laudab 1a Intentions aJwayc tO lis