Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1902-08-21

died.
"Well?"
cat t beginnin' one had rheumatic
fever and t'other a broken rib They
amt t same thing, sir, are they?"
No; very different indeed
'Well, it seemed odd, so folks
thowt, when by-and-by they was both
took same way. 1t was so odd that it
got about, and people talked
"And what did they say?"
why, that t. young fellow d. got a
bit careless-like, and was a little too
fond of the same drug in his prescrip-
tons"
"And what drug was that?"
"Laudanum, think twas"
People said something more than
that, suppose?"
"a deuced sight more. They said
But here be a-tittle-tattling like ne'er
an old woman"
well, WELL it's talk for a winters
night, nothing more. For I know no
one in this part of the world but Dr.
Peele, I've never been here before, and
I'm not likely to come here again: so
the gossip can't do any harm, especial
ly as l don't even know the names of
the people you speak Of"
"Ay, that's true, and so I won't tell
zee their names. The gossips say this
young spark had had his head turned
by Teddy, and a fine Teddy too. but
who had husband already, and that his
head was runnin' on something that 'ud
do away with himself | don't sup
pose there was much truth in it. but
it's always fine soil for a story where
a handsome woman's planted, as |
dare say you know, sir
What, is this handsome woman a
local beauty, them"
'She lives hereabouts, sir, if that's
what you mean: But she's a Lon'on
beauty too, so I'm told; and well she
mebbe, for there isn't an eye, young
or old, gentle-folk or village-folk, that
can look at her bonny face once and
not care to look twice. She's worth
walking a good mile to see, is Lady
Kildonan."
Lady Kildonan; oh, she is the wife
Of the principal landowner about here,
them"
The old man evidently regretted
that he had let slip the name of the
subject of his talk. He answered
rather reluctantly, and in a more
cautious manner;
"Ay."
'"They are popular in the district
T oIx
''She makes him popular. bless her
He's always porin' over s books, is
his lordship, but she's all over t. place
like a sunbeam, on her horse, or in
her carriage, or her little sleigh, leav-
n pound O. tea here a can o. jelly
there, with word for every woman
and a smile for every man, and a kiss
cen, she is"
us she young?"
Let me see; she was born t. year
my girl Janet was married. that's
twenty-four year ago"
"And Lord Kildonan, what sort of
an age is he?"
Well there's a matter of thirty
wife"
"And his heart is bound up in his
library?"
$50 they say. Indeed, I think he'll
turn into a book himself some day.
for he's as dry as parchment, and
has ne'er a word to give of his own
accord, though they do say he's chock
full O. learning. But he's a kind gentle
man, and the poor have no more to
greet about now than they had in the
time of her ladyship's father, Mr..
Dighton."
"Oh, then the property came through
her?"
'Ay His lordship hadn't much but
his title and his books, they say"
Surely she might have found a bet
ter mate than an old Scotch book
worm"
We'll. she was a bit Of madcap, as
lass, and they say old Mr.. Dighton
was glad to get her off his hands, and
married to honest man. And she
don't fret for him and his books: she
has too much life in her for that" the
old man added with evident admira-
ton.
The young doctor was rather sur
prised at the wide latitude which this
old peasant, who by all precedent
should have been a rigid censor of the
manners and morals of his juniors and
superiors, allowed to a lady whose
! conduct seemed, by his own showing,
to be open to severe criticism. He
was about to put a question to the old
man with the view of getting an
explanation of this singular in
diligence, when certain faint sounds
which seemed to come from some dis
lance behind them, broke upon his
ears, and caused him again to start
as he had done at sight of the light
on the road in front of them.
you've no such strong nerves fol-
a doctor, sir" said his companion
jocularly. You started at sight O
light in John Barlows cottage yondeI
and now at t sound o'-why of hel
ladyship's sleigh-bells,' he ended
after listening moment to the rapid
Is approaching sounds
Il dare say you don't believe me, bu
7 don't remember such thing ever /.
have happened TO me before: and
can swear l never before made such
fool of myself as | have done tomgt {
in getting out of the right train to sc
into the wrong one, and then conIins
through the snow on wild-gooS,
chase to see a person who is not ave,