Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1899-10-19

at West Dene Manor for many years;
his mother was an amiable, gentle
woman, whose very life was conferred
in that of her boy. They had given
Paul fair Notwithstanding
above his station. The boy was nat
urally quick and clever, but his chief
delight lay in mechanics. He liked all
kinds Of machinery; he enjoyed find
ing out how he could improve upon
anything he saw made; he longed to
learn some practical trade, but his
parents were not willing. The Squire
had always promised" they said, that
their son should have the charge of the
! West Dene woods. and it was not kind
Of him even to wish for anything
else" So, to please them, he accepted
the SQuire's offer, and before he
reached his twentieth year he was
master Of the keepers cottage.
81 can study" he thought; Il shall
have long hours to myself, and l can
work out the ideas that have lain so
long in my BRAIN
But in a short time a change came
over him. He went one day to pretty
little town called Ashburnham, and
there he met his fate. There he saw
Ismay Hope and, from that moment
until the hour of his death he loved
her with a deep, true, lasting love, and
gave no thought to another.
He was walking down the principal
street of the town when he met her
Her lovely face, her light graceful
figure, her wealth Of waving brown
hair, the pretty blue cloak-he re-
membered the picture while he lived.
He looked earnestly at her as she
passed, and a faint smile rippled over
her lips. That long, lingering gaze
amused her. AS a sudden glow of
warm sunshine will bring to life
some late-blossomipg flower, so that
half-smile, that one look at her seemed |
to bring Paul's whole soul to life; a |
new world opened to him-a great |
golden blaze of light seemed to have |
fallen at his feet, and he walked on,
dazed, giddy, and confused.
Then he turned back to see where |
she went. She entered small house
that stood by itself at the end of the |
street.
Il must know who she is he said to |
himself. Il feel that l must win her"
His soul seemed on fire; there was to |
be no more peace, no more rest for |
him until he had won her. He did not |
leave Ashburnham that day until he
had been introduced to Mrs. Hope and
the beautiful girl who had so COM
pletely stolen his heart Mrs Hope |
was a widow; her husband had been in
the Civil Service, and she was left |
with barely sufficient to live upon.
Paul told her frankly that he had
seen her daughter, and had fallen in
love with her.
Many people do that" was the
quiet reply. But I must tell you al
though we call her Ismay Hope she is
not my daughter"
Won by Paul's manner, his hand
some face and eloquent words, she told
him Ismay's story.
f|She is no child, not even relative,
Of NINE" said Mrs. Hope; nor have
| the least idea where she comes
FROM or who her parents are One
night-it was very warm, and
| was standing at the open window,
watching the passers-by-I saw a wo-
man lettering near my house-in my
own mind I called her then a lady, and
| am inclined to call her so now; she
had a pale, beautiful face, with wavy
brown hair; she was poorly dressed,
and held by the hand little child. I
saw her turn aside and drop a letter
into the post-office; then, when she
walked on again, her face grew paler,
and her eyes had in them an agony of
entreaty when they had met mine. I
saw that she could hardly walk, and
that in a few minutes more she must
fall, so I spoke t. her, and she looking
at me- said
"'Oh, if you would but let me rest
for one half hour in your house! Will
you, for the love of Heaven?'
q could not refuse such a request
She entered my house never to leave it
alive.
My very heart seems chilled she
said, when I had placed a chair for
her
"She sat down, and called to her
child.
To be Continued.
TELEPHOTOGRAPH