Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1901-09-26

was school girl, long before Co
Sylvester's dark blue eyes had locke
the devotion their owner seldom e,
pressed in any other way for Con wa
a f1irt and the knowledge of this ado
ed not little to his grief. He neve
doubted that Con was serious but h
did doubt his suitability as husban
for any girl.
Grace looked surprised, certainly
that evening, when he told her tina
he was going.
But you will be back again, direct
ly," she said airily; anyway 70,
can't go tomorrow because the coacl
has had an accident, and has beer
taken to Clifton for repairs. The mai
will be day late, so you simply can
go. Turn that light down a little
like a dear boy. 1 think I've co
| something into my eyes this after
noon-willow dust probably-at an,
rate, it hurts
You are looking very bonnie this
evening, Grace" he said as he turned
down the lamp.
Thank you, have been doing my
hair in the new way Mr.. Sylvester
showed me photo of his sister-the
one who was presented the other day
and I copied my hair from hers
Con Sylvester, you bring every
thing round to his name,'' said Donald
irately. "You care nothing that I am
going-nothing whatever"
'You arc so horribly bad tempered
that I shall be distinctly relieved"
said Miss Durie.
''You really mean that?"
Il really mean it."
Then I shall not see you again. -
and for the second time in one day
Donald Rennie lost his temper and
spoiled his cause.
Con Sylvester covered his retreat
for his with a request for Miss Durie
to play an accompaniment. He sang
well and was highly vexed because
for some reason or. other the girl
stumbled over the notes and played
several wrong ones.
Il cannot think what is the matter
with me-" she said, "all the notes look
blurred
'Tears,-idle tears" suggested Con,
with a provoking look towards the
doorway and Rennie's broad shoulder
ed figure.
mo, I am afraid not Look! and
she opened her big grey eyes widely.
There were certainly no tears in
them.
"They are worth looking at" said
Con admiringly, eff you will forgive
me for so bald a compliment"
There's something the matter with
them, all the same" said the girl
anXiously 81 think l should go to
bed and rest them, but they have al
ways been so strong before
'You will not mind if I ask Mrs.
Lance to play my next song for me?
| have promised to sing If Love Were
ALL"
90, dear no. said Grace, but it was
all the same.
Mrs. Lance was always trying to
attach herself to Con, with the I'M
object of attaching him to
her. In fact, she had more than once
limited to Grace that before her mar
riage to Mr.. Lance, Con Sylvester had
been something dearer than "a friend
to her. She had been spending a
month with the Duries, and was a
bright-faced, rather plain featured
little woman, with an intense love of
and a slightly fast reputa-
tion that went a good way towards
gaining her desire.
The next morning Miss Durie's eyes
were bad indeed, and she felt too i'll
to see any one-the dreaded word
sandy blight had been whispered
been confirmed, and the girl was
ordered to a darkened room, feeling
as thoroughly miserable as person
well could. Grace was an orphan
from childhood, and lived with an
only brother at Underbrae Station,
and for the first time in her petted
life felt the real need of tender,
motherly hands to battle her smarting
eyes and find the hundred and one
things she needed in dressing herself,
or in the daily round of occupation.
Her brother Harry was Unfortun-
ately away at district court meeting
giving evidence against horse stealers
and the two servants were raw,
-well-Mrs. Lance offered to do her
hair for her when, after a week of
total isolation and darkness, Grace
decided to come to dinner with ban
daged eyes. She knew just how Con
would fuss over her, and how he
would delight in leading her about
and guiding her steps across the mar
row bridge if they went for a stroll
after tea. And now that the worst of
the pain was over and there was only
the darkness" left, she felt quite ex-
cited at the idea
Mrs. Lance was most sympathetic
of course, but Grace had an uneasy
Feeling that she had given her a
tumbled fichu to wear and was not
sincere in her declaration that the
satin bows of her evening shoes did
not need renewal.
Il will do your hair in quite the
/ latest fashion," she said, and in spite
of Grace's protestations, she worked
her will, and the girl knew from the
feel of her hair that the couture