Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1899-04-13

the first who had fallen in love with
voice. He wondered what the
face was like that went with it. He
stepped forward gently; and there
just lit up by slanting sunbeam,
he saw fair sweet face, with gentle
modest eyes and smiling lips; a face
1 to love and to trust; face without
passion, but full Of tenderness; with
out genius, but full of thought; man
would never rave about, but would
4 love until death took it from him. He
saw the golden brown hair that was
i like his own; and then he knew that
the reader of the poem was his cousin,
Agatha Lynne. He had not recog-
nized her voice. He had never heard
her read before, and the charm of it
was new to him. He mad not seen
Agatha Lynne since she was child
of fifteen. The last time he was at
Lynnewold she was away, visiting
some friends. He could hardly be-
lieve that the graceful girl before him
was the same little cousin with whom
he had played, and who had kissed
| him years ago, and said she would
| be his little wife. How sweet, and
gentle, and serious she looked!
stop, Agatha" cried another voice,
more musical still, but with a strange
ring of passion in its tone, Il feel
half angry with Enid; after all, she
a.
she did, would you?''
Yes was the reply. When my
Geraint comes, if he ever does appear,
1 would do all that Enid did, ana
more"
so would not l." cried Inez.
Lord Lynne hardly noticed her.
His heart went with Agatha's answer,
and something like wish shaped it
self in his mind that he might be
Geraint and win her love- His eyes
seemed to drink in the fair beauty of
her face. He hardly looked at the
beautiful Adalusian by her side.
He came forward then, and then
both sisters rose at his approach 1t
was an embarrassing moment for
them all; but no chevalier of the olden
times ever exceeded Lord Lynne in
grace and courtesy. Inez had self
possession enough to have met-well, |
it is difficult to say what would have
daunted her Certainly Lori Lynne
did not. She received his condolences
and apologies with the same languid |
grace and dignity with which she had |
received her fathers caresses and |
her sisters demonstrations of affec-
ton. She might have been an empress
receiving an ambassador. She |
looked everything that was beautiful |
and majestic, but not at all like girl
who would be glad to be Lord Lynne's
wife, if he asked her
Agathas greeting of her cousin was
characteristic of herself If Inez for
got for moment, or appeared to for
get, the strange will that linked them
together, her sister did not A crimson
flush covered her face, and her shy
eyes fell when her cousin took her
hand and clasped it warmly in his
own.
L have disturbed you, fear" said
Lord Lynne. Il have been hurrying
through my days work I expect my
mother, Mrs. Lynne, this afternoon.
and l am going to the station to meet
her. Shall l read a little for your"
mo, thank you," said Inez. L am
out of patience with Enid; she is just
a model for Agatha, but she is too
patient and good for me. | like peo-
pie to be more faulty and human"
You must often have found your
liking gratifed," said Philip, with a
smile, for I DO not know any one
who is anything like faultless. Most
of my acquaintance err on the oppo-
site side
Il do not know said Inez. 81 have
been with Agatha more than six
months, and l have not seen any
fault in her. She is insipidly good,
are you not, cara mia?"
Good, but not insipid," replied
Philip; while Agatha laughed at her
sisters Impotence.
So they fingered that morning I'M
der the cedar tree. Death and sorrow
were for time forgotten; the sis
ters forgot that the stately home up
on which they gazed was no longer
their own; that they were but visitors
where they had been mistresses and
rulers; they forgot the strange bequest
that had startled them. They were
happy as the young and beautiful are
when the sun shines and the flowers
bloom.
To be Continued.