Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1901-12-12

| O0HnlISIy lOf TWO months. She hat
written her other people off. The few
months of summer were her onl,
| harvest, and so on, till Johr
felt like pitching something at he1
head to relieve the intensity of his
overcharged nervous system.
MY good woman" he said, did !
not tell you I was coming here IL
work? Work is my bread and butter
I'll pay you
He was going to pay the two
months board in full But, alack
aday, like so many rising young
geniuses, his pockets were empty.
! Before he had time to make any
| further remark, Mrs Sparkes' 13-year.
old daughter came bounding into tie
room.
Please, mother. Mrs. Higgins
| sends her love, and says don't set
frightened Miss Norman. the old
| lady with the cats and birds and
! things, has only taken the rooms for 4
| week"
John packed his bag and went back
H.
| Miss NCrman's week. When he re-
turned he sought Mrs. Sparkes.
She's gone, of course?" said he.
Mrs. Sparkes shook her head.
Not yet, sir. She's caught a cold
and cannot travel today
John only groaned. He had reach,
ed the final heights of grim respair.
He walked till his legs nearly
dropped Off When he got back he
found two black cats lOlling in a
leisurely manner on the scattered
pages of his play, and through his
window came the screeching of the
parrot.
He didn't shy anything at the cats.
A man who has reached Johns state
of mind is past shying things. He
Of their necks and threw them over
the garden wall. AS they alighted on
the other side he was quite sure he
heard a merry, girlish laugh some
where. Mrs. Sparkes' little daughter
was the only young thing for two
miles round, and the laugh did not
belong to her.
Ali next day he. watched for the de-
parture which did not take place
Evening found him trying to make
friends with the white kitten.
81 see her game perfectly, Mrs
Sparkes," he said, when she came in
to lay his dinner. She's staying on
to spite me because I pitched her
blessed cats over the wall. She
thinks she'll force me to leave first
But she won't. Mrs. Sparkes, I've never
been bested by an elderly spinster in
my life; l swear I'm not going to be
bested. If she stays in there six
months, I'll stay in here six months.
I'll never bulge to give her the laugh.
Mark, you Mrs. Sparkes, l shall most
likely. have to rob church to pay
you, but you shall have your money"
Mrs. Sparkes closed the door some
| what sharply behind her. Next time
she entered she was singing hymn.
John, irraverent brute, noticed moth,
ing!
Hang work, Mrs. Sparkes!" was
all he said. I'll show her if she can
drive me away in hurry.
He put his precious play under lock
and key, and settled down TO enjoy
the tussle He ate we'll, slept well,
lazied well, and grew as fat as hog.
He lost his overweight, lantern
| iawed appearance completely, turning
| out to be quite a decent looking chap.
! He led the cats and dogs an awful
| life of it, When he fancied all was
sac, he even SHE'D things at the
parrot as he hung On his nail in the
! latticed window. How that parrot
| talked!
One evening there was a note from
Miss Norman asking him why he still
persisted in behaving like a bad.
wicked schoolboy. John laughed
| heartily, and wrote back to know if he
might have the extreme felicity Of
| taking her on the river.
Heavens, She took him seriously.
/ Yes. She would be most pleased 10
| go with her bold, bad neighbor.
! Would Mr.. Mercer please let her
know what time?
! TIC his surprise he found his con-
parion rather fascinating than other
wise. She had only brought one OF
her pugs. This told greatly in her
| favor
81 fear you do not like my pussie,
/ Mr.. Mercer" she said, as she watched
him lazily sculling.
John had put his foot in it nicely.
Il fear l do not, madam he Al,
swered truthfully. You see, 1 came
here to be quiet and to work.
Dear, dear!" she sighed. And
! have I prevented your working?"
mo, madam, your menagerie has.
! But pray don't let it distress you.
| Doesn't matter in the least, | can as
| sure YOU. The holiday has done me .
world of good; though, Of course, it
means that [ shall have to starve for
| a time later on to make up"
"Starve!"
| Miss Norman's voice literally
thrilled with horror and concern.
| Evidently she was ignorant of the
! woes of struggling young geniuses.
"Starve," she repeated 'EBut food
/ is SO frightfully cheap, Mr.. Mercer
"DoubtIess it was, madam. Every
thing has gone up now, you know
She was pensive for the rest of the
! excursion. merely signing in answer
/ when he addressed her. She was Sc