Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1900-07-05

down to Richmond with Lord st. Nor
man.
Ethel looked more beautiful THAI
usual; the fresh, fragrant air brought
a soft flush to her face, and frightened
the lovely eyes. Her dress, too, was
perfection-a pretty blue and white
and she wore one of the most
couuettish of bonnets. The beautiful
ly-curved lips were parted with smile
such as had not fingered there since
she had been mistress of Fountayne.
She did not know why she felt So
happy. so light of heart, unless it was
that she had made a friend. She
smiled to herself as they drove along
the sunny road.
'Friendship is supposed to be one Of
the great joys of life she said, land 1
have completely overlooked it. l can
never have a lover, but thank Heaven
that I have found friend
The evening, when dinner was oVar
and the elders of the party were dis
cussing some excellent wine, Ethel
went out on the balcony. The purple
cleaning lay over the land, the Sky
was growing more darlIly blue, and The
stars were beginning to CLEAN. The
river ran lightly and swiftly by; the
pleasure-boats were Fastening down
the stream; the trees were all
luxuriantly green; the perfume Of
flowers reached her.
That balcony was favorite resort OF
hers. They had been twice to Rich
mOnd, and each time she had spent the
soft, sweet twilight hours in watching
the beautiful panorama Of earth and
sky which could be so pleasantly seen
! from there.
A beautiful, holy calm seemed to
pervade the whole Of nature, and Ethel
felt that she could enjoy it. Hitherto
| she had been a prey to her own bitter
thoughts, her own despair; now she
had found a friend Heaven and earth
seemed fairer for this, that she had
| found a friend.
Her beautiful face was softened into
tenderness as she sat there in the star
light. Was there really any bright
! ness, any music left on earth for her?
Yes, for she had found a friend.
Ethel was pure Of heart and guile
| less of soul as a little child sleeping n
it's mothers arms. There was not the
faintest idea of wrong in her mind;
and, even as once before she had mis-
taken fancy for love, so she now mis-
took the dawn of love for friendship.
1t was no surprise to her when Sill
| ho boT Criv1 + at
screened the windows, came out to her
He stood in silence by her side for a
few minutes, and, in some vague way
that she could not understand, ii
seemed as though his presence made
the beauty of the scene complete
You are looking brighter and better
today, Miss st. Norman" he said. q
am so pleased. | think TOT have been
following my advice.
Il have" she aCknOw e1gel. freely
q have read the book you melJCned
to me, and it has done me good"
81 knew it would | shall never be
able to understand, Miss St. Norman
what it is that has given you, in tbs
brightest part of your youth, such
| gloomy ideas of life
He saw her beautiful face grow pale;
he saw in the starlight how suddenly
the shadow came into her beautiful
eyes, and he hastened to add:
L am so glad that you permitted me
to advise you. To use a figure OF
speech, you seemed to be drifting down
a stream. My hands are strong; let
them pull you back"
Il was drifting" she confessed
slowlt
And now that is checked; you are
learning to take pleasure where you
can find it, he pursued.
Yes she assented, with a little low
laugh that fell like soft music on his
ear. Il find pleasure here tonight"
He watched her in silence, thinking to
himself that earth had nothing one
half so fair as this beautiful, graceful
girl. Rousing himself from the
glamour that seemed to be falling over
him, Sir Oscar began to talk to her e
poetry of the hour seemed to animate
him
Il wonder" said Oscar, slowly, chow
many people have sat in this bacony,
happy as we are, and what has become
of them?"
THAT is rather a wide field for
speculation" she said.
Yes; but think the place is rather
| celebrated. You have heard of Lord
! Draybrook who murdered his wife in
a fit of jealousy, and afterwards killed
| himself?"
Il have heard of him." replied Ethel.
ct is said that he made the unhappy
Lady an offer Of marriage on this very
bacOny. Think of the tragical end of
that love-story! Then I have heard Of
two young lovers whose parents were
not willing for them to marry, and they
met here to bid farewell. Think Of the
hope, the despair the love, and the
sorrow that have been experienced
here!"
She was looking intentIy at the
cleaning stars.
Il can imagine it all, she responded,
but it gives me strange thoughts.
Those who loved each other so well
are dead and gone; murder and cuicide
took the place Of happiness. Mems
lives and fortunes are full of change;
nature never changes. The lovers who
sat here then are dead, but the stars
are shining with the same soft light,
the river is ripping with the same