Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1899-12-14
Two Letters.

Two Letters.
The picture was decidedly pretty
one-there was a sloping lawn leading
down to the river Thames. An old
fashioned house with gabled roof and
French windows stood in the back
ground. The windows were all open,
for the day was a hot one in july. By
one of them a girl stood in a white
dress, with a crimson rose fastened
into her belt. She was a pretty girl,
with ripping black hair, rich COM
plexion, and fine sparkling eyes She
stood leaning against the window sill.
She was impervious to the beauty of
landscape at the moment. Her eyes
were lowered; she was reading letter.
The letter was on thick paper. The
handwriting was large. Four sides of
the paper were covered but four sides
of that paper in that special handwrit-
ing need not contain a great deal. The
girl, however, found a deeper color
coming into her face as she read. She
was scarcely an instant devouring the
words, then the letter fell from her
hands to the grass at her feet. A little
terrier came up and began to worry it.
She did not notice him; she was look
ing intently out over the summer
scene; her eyes had a troubled, visit
full, puzzled expression in them.
It's awful to think of the two letters
coming the same day. she said to
herself "Of course, know what this
down at an unopened envelope which
she was holding firmly clasped in her
right hand She hesitated as she
glanced at it, and with an effort she
took the second letter out of it's cover
and read the following words:
Dear Margot: For Gods sake don't
give yourself to that other fellow be-
cause he is rich. You know perfectly
we'll that I love you to distraction.
Yours, Robert Cecil"
'Margot, Margot," shouted a gay
voice. Some little steps were heard on
the gravel, and girl of II or II years
of age, with quantity Of hair falling
OfGl uSI ldu lOuuu IuS
house and up to Margot's side.
"Sir Peter Ansell is coming down the
avenue, Margot-he is driving his mail
phaeton tandem, and it's perfectly
splendid to see him. Why, how funny
you look, and what is that letter which
Clip is worrying! Oh, Margot, it's in
Sir Peters handwriting"
Pick up all the bits, Polly, do, do"
exclaimed the elder girl. ooh, you
wicked Clip, what nuisance you are.
Why, I had scarcely read the letter,
and-and-'
WAS it very Important" asked
Polly, who was down on her knees
helping to collect the scattered frag-
ments.
ooh, I suppose so; well, it does not
matter. Is Sir Peter coming round
here, Polly? Do look all right?'
''You look splendid" said Polly, with
emphasis. Of course he's coming round
here. It's you he has come to visit
VEAL know what he wants Oh Margot,
do say yes to him. l do want to drive
a tandem so dreadfully, and Bob said
this morning he was going to get a
pony first thing out of that old beggar
of an Ansell, see if he wasn't. You
have got to say yes, and see that you
do. Oh, what letter is that you are
crushing up in your hand?"
Nothing nobody's letter." said
Margot, incoherently. How do you do,
Sir Peter?" She held out her hand to
a stout, f1orid-looking man who now
approached.
We'll, l thought I'd come over to
make sure of seeing you early" he
said. l knew you'd be about reading
my letter now, and l thought I'd strike
while the iron was hot
And here he looked significantly at
Polly, who thought it best to make
herself scarce.
All the color had fed from Margot' s
face. 1t was perfectly white-her
taught in a trap.
Sir Peter Anseli, however, was not a
keen observer of human nature. If
he noticed anything in Margot Forces
ter's face, he set her emotion. down to
the delight with which she had re-
ceived his offer of marriage.
well, Margot," he said, you have
read my letter, and of course it's to
be yes isn't it-you do love me little
bit, don't your"
Yes, like you," said Margot, max
ing desperate effort.
We'll that's pleasant to hear-you
can easily change like into love now
can't your"
Margot thought of Bob, who wanted
good schooling; of Polly, who was
running wild, without any chance of
growing up as young lady should; OF
| her father, who was over head and
ears in debt, and of her mother, who
had been worried straight out of this
world by money cares.
She shut away the picture of the
man who had sent her the other letter.
after ALL she said to herself, what
does one girls life matter? Sir Peter is
a millionaire, and he can save us ALL
Yes, I'll marry him.
| She turned her face toward the burly
countenance of her lover, and said
bravely: