Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1902-09-18
Continued.

that ArmatnWalto cOuld only DOW III:
thanks and follow her as she turned
and moved slowly on, and await hi!
introduction to Mr.. CrosmOnt with
curiosity and inter est only exceeded
by that which he felt concerning the
lady herself. He had read-or, ex
cited by the romantic circumstances
OF his meeting with her, he had
fancied he read in her soft eyes a
helpless, hopeless unrest which be
lied the idea that she could be a happy
woman; attractive and unhappy
where can the fault be in the eye OF
man of seven-and-twenty, but in the
brutal Or unsympathetic husband
Frank Armathwaite felt with perfect
loyalty that he already hated Mr..
CrosmOnt, that he did not want to see
Mr. Crosmont except to satisfy him
self in what fieshy guise that sou1less
creature walked the earth. Just
where the hall narrowed suddenly to
half its first width there was a door
on the left which the lady opened,
and Armathwaite followed her into
one of those rooms which, having &C.
quired, partly through harbouring
generations of gentle owners, and
partly by the mellowing lapse of
years, a physiognomy distinct and
eloquent as noble human face, once
seen are never forgotten.
1t was an oblong, rectangular apart
ment, Of fair size and lofty, with two
large windows, one at the end OF the
room overlooking the garden, with a
wide, cushioned windoW-seat; the
other at the side facing the road. Be
fore this latter window, which
reached to the floor, was built a little
conservatory, which afforded a narrow
and draughty but at any rate covered
walk with a glimpse of the lake and
view of the hills on the other side
There was no prevailing color in the
room; time and wear and the sun had
mellowed every tint to a harmonious
and restful shabbiness working their
gentle will on loud-toned, large-pat-
termed cretOnne, decided wallpaper
and striking carpet, until the taste of
past generations was indicated, and
blue roses and orange dahlias as large
as saucers blended into that harmony
which more modern upholstery vainly
seeks in broWnish yellows and bilious
green's. The mantelpiece, of red
marble with lighter veins, was low
and broad; it was hung with a val
ance of faded needlework, and upon it
stood no clock, but Dresden group
nf CHI oh do
trees, mounted on a red velvet stand
and enclosed reVerently under a glass
shade. On each side of this treasure
stood tall silver branched candle
stick, and about the feet of these
principal objects was a cluster of
fOrtuitOuS atoms: tiny bronze
statuette of a Roman warrior, with
wonderful amount of fierceness for
size; Venetian gondola, which had
evidently suffered AT the hands of adj
miring children; Swiss cottage, two
small empty fioWer-vases, a handsome
chased gold snuff-boX, and a quantity
of bits of quartz and spar. To each
corner was fastened a movable ban
nerscreen III worn tapestry needle
work. To Londoner the absence of
a clock gave a pleasant, soothing
sense of time being no object with the
occupants of this quiet room. And
the small sheet of looking-glass in an
old-fashioned gilt frame, which stood
at the back of the mantelpiece, was
only just high enough to renect the
light of the candles and to show the
back view of the trees and the shep-
herds and shepherdesSes, and not i'm
posing enough to suggest the pomps
and vanities of the far-off world. In
the corner opposite to the door, and
close to the conservatory window,
stood. well away from the wall, an
ar"ient semi-grand piano, of only six
octaves' compass. No other object in
the room was striking enough to ar
rest the attention except a pretty
little modern workable, evidently a
recent present, which stood by the
sofa near the fireplice, and bore q
dainty freight of bright-colored silks
volume of Shelley bound in Russia
leather, a tiny old-fashioned time
piece in the shape of a brass figure
of Atlas bending beneath the weight
of the globe. and a Venetian glass
vase containing a single rose.
In an armchair by the fire, with his
back to the door. sat a middle-aget
man. the top of whose head was com
pletely bald; he was reading by the
light of a candle fixed to his chair
As the door opened, he said in kline
voice, 'Well, little one. and what hav,
you been up to now?" and held on
his hand without turning round O.
putting down his book Armathwait,
was much struck by this circum
stance There was a warm. lovin,
sympathy in voice, action. and man
ner which charged the whole atmos
phere of the old room with the fra
GRANGE of home. His first impression
that this must be the lady's lathe
was STRENGTHENED by her RESPONSE t
his greeting. She took his ou
stretched hand in one of hers. an
kissed his forehead as she said:
Tive brought gentleman to Sc
you. daddy"
The book was put down at one,
with a start of surprise. The new
conner came forward, and the lad
said. simnly:
CDR. Armathwaite-Mr Crosmont
'Not her husband, surely" though
Frank.
Mr.. Crosmont rose. taking off h
reading-snectacles hastily, and he
out his hand. He was a man of IL
middle HEIGHT with a. beard and