Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1900-02-01
Ethel turned 1t was no part of her

/ Ethel turnedI 1t was no part of he
duty as yet, she thought, to listen t
Miss Digby. The beautiful, mutinou
face was a study as she half turne
round, the better to hear what he
companion had to say.
Ethel" repeated Miss Digby, .
wish you woulf learn to know me AM
to like me-"
You think the one would be the Sc
quel to the other" replied Ethel; g
do not. have no doubht that in TIM
l may know you; but liking you is 4;
dlnerent matter"
She spoke so frankly, so fearlessly
that it was impossible not to admire
| her.
IF I study your wishes, Ethel-if
| do all that l can to make you happy
surely you will like me then"
Not then, or ever, 1 think" replied
Ethel. In the first place, Miss Digby
you take my dead mothers. Lady An
gela's place; and you will pardon me
if I say that, in my opinion, no one on
| Ccl1 III 10 1IICu " IdhC I1CI p1dCS.
1T is only natural, Ethel, that you
should think So I admire you for it.
I loved my own mother after that
fashion"
Then interrupted Ethel, quickly,
you would not have liked to see any
one in your mothers placer"
Perhaps not" admitted Miss Digby.
But you love your father too, Ethel.
Now, if | can contribute to his happi-
ness, surely you would love me all the
better for it,"
Ethel looked up at her with clear,
dauntless eyes.
Il do not think that I should" she
replied. Nov that my mother is dead,
my fathers love belongs by right to
me alone"
THAT is a selfish view of the mat
ter said Miss Digby, gently. Sir
Leonard has right to be happy in his
own way, as you have to be in yours"
''It is a question that we need not
argue" interrupted Ethel, proudly. eff
my father links you will add to his
happiness, have no more to say; but
there is a second reason which makes
the contemplation of such marriage
very displeasing to me. I have been
accustomed to rule in my fathers
house; no one ever has disputed my
sway. The servants have been accus-
toned to obey my orders, and, frankly
speaking, it will seem very hard for me
to yield my authority to stranger"
Miss Digby looked compassionately
on the beautiful, imperious face, with
it's flashes Of tenderness and defiance
''It is hard for you," she said, with
grave gentleness; ''but it will most GER
tainly be for your ultimate good"
"All disagreeable things are for our
good" remarked Ethel, brusquely.
will you explain Miss Digby, why
you say SOP"
The lady smiled at the petulant
words.
q shall be in greater disgrace than
ever" she said; "but since you ask me
frankly, I will answer you frankly. 1t
will be for your benefit, because you
are too young to have SO heavy a
charge upon you as the care and di-
rection of Fountayne Hall. If you do
it, and do it we'll, then your own edu-
cation and culture must suffer. You
cannot attend to both"
MY education is finished" said
Ethel, with great dignity.
boC
mean the truest, brightest part of
your misunderstanding to control
and govern ourselves; that is it's true
end Ethel"
Il have fulfilled my duties" argued
the girl; mo one can do more"
Miss Digby looked at her sadly.
Then you will not promise even to
try to like me?'
NO" was the lingering reply. II
am very frank, Miss Digby, and it
would be cruelty false to say Yes I
cannot like you. If I possibly can, I
shall persuade papa even now to aban-
don both his prospects, If I cannot,
then I shall never like you, and I shall
even love him less"
She looked up with such scorn, with
such conviction that no punishment
could be greater for Sir Leonard than
the loss of her love, that Miss Digby
felt touched.
you are so frank, Miss Gordon"
she said, that l cannot help admiring
when l ought really to blame you. I
must trust to him to win for me some
share of what I value very much-your
good opinion. Will you believe one
thing-that while you are with me
will do my very best to make you
happy?"
II believe that you will try to do SO,
and I know that you will fall was
the ungracious answer, after which
Miss Digby said no more.
To Be Continued.