Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1900-09-27
299S OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES;
Continued.

Of sweetness in Alice AthertOn's life
had changed to bitterness now. In
that happy long ago, when she had
been young and beautiful, and had
waited patiently for her happiness, she
had loved poetry, music, romance-aIl
that was fair and bright on earth;
now, because they had been part and
parcel Of the old time she hated them.
As her niece grew more lovely, more
imaginative every day, she grew more
grim and stern; yet she taught Violet
to speak French, and she trained the
magnificent cOntraltO voice to per-
lection.
Miss Atherton had other peculiari-
ties. She had lived many years in
France, and had her own opinion Of
the terrible revolution there. Her
sympathies by no means went with the
fair-haired aristocrats, who mounted
the scaffold with a smile, and so de-
feated the last would-be triumph Of
their foes; they were rather with the
people who groaned and suffered and
toiled and died. She mad a most ap-
palling collection Of stories, Of which
y
villains Of the most atrOcious kind
Violet was young and very i'm
pressibIe. On this, the one subject on
which Miss Anterior was eloquent,
she felt most deeply, and agreed with
her.
There was singular dearth Of
young people at ST. Bynos; the place
was so small. What Violet said was
true-she had never talked to a young
man The doctor who had succeeded
to her fathers practice was old; he had
young son. whom Violet had seen,
but to whom she had never spoken.
He was the only young man belonging
to what Miss Atherson called their
class; Of the class below her she never
thought There had been no break in
the monotony of Violet's life. She had
had no holidays, had paid no visits,
had made no friends The hour she
had spent in the bonny woods of ST
Bvno's was the happiest in her life
She had a feeling that she ought to tell
her aunt Of the new acquaintance she
had made; but she knew perfectly wei
that, if she did so, she would never be
allowed to see the young artist or his
picture again, So she decided upon
not saying anything to her aunt about
it. lie would be gone in a few days
and there the matter would end
violet" broke in the stern voice of
Miss AthertOn. "lOok where you are
going; you almost fell over the stones
You are in dreamland; and as that is
very bad habit of yours, l should like
to know what you are thinking"
The knowledge that for the first time
in her life she was thinking of. a man
who was both young and handsome
brought a hot flush to the girls face.
Miss Anterior saw it and stood be
fore her, an accusing Judge.
You have some kind of nonsense in
your mind, child" she declared
Il fear that is often the case, auntie,
her niece replied, calmly
.Remember" said Miss Atherton,
raising her rorefnger, there are five
pairs OF stockings to mend, six kitchen
towels to make and mark and a ham
per Of fruit to pack for Warwick; now
ask, have you any time for non
sense?"
Not one moment, aunt" she an
swered, with a merry laugh; but the
laugh died away when she entered
the house and found the work ready
for her.
They must dfue first. The clock
was striking one, and at the precise
moment the little maid appeared, car
rying in the dinner; and, when the
meal was over, Miss Atherton pointed
to a pile of work on a side-table.
THAT will occupy you until five
O'Clock. Violet" she said; then in the
cool Of the evening you can gather the
goosebeITies."
So saying Miss Atherton retired, for,
as she had often declared her constitu-
ton required an hours rest after din
ner.
Violet took her work to her favorite
spot-the baywindow-where she could
see the bride and the river
1t was struggle to remain within
DOORS The river had never looked
more beautiful She could see the
sunlit gIades of St. Byno's woods
How she longed to be out and away.
Later on in the afternoon when Miss
Anterior slept, and the little maid had
gone to a neighboring farmhouse, vi
olet thought she heard footsteps in the
front garden. She listened but all
was silent; and, coming to the conclu-
sion that she must be mistaken, she
resumed her work Again she heard
the unmistakable sound of footsteps
and the click of the little gate near the
acaCia-trees This time she went to
the door. There was no one there;
but on the rustic seat of the porch lay
a bouquet Of flowers and a basket OF
fine peaches. On a slip of paper was
written. Sweets to the sweet, flowers
to the fair"
Her first impulse was to thank Hea.
ven that her aunt had not seen them
OF course it must have been the youns
artist who had placed them there
What a terrible risk to run! She mus
hide them. and tell him not to repea
the imprUdence.
But the same evening the maid cam
to her with a letter.
IF You please, MISS" she said. 8"
gentleman asked me to give you this
He gave me a shilling to bring you tn
letter, and two shillings not to tel
your aunt"
The note contained a few hurriedl