Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1903-01-15
q Woman' S F ace
FLORENCE WARDEN
Continued.

Tie WdS uISdppOIuLeu, however, DIT d
quarter past one, having gobbled down
a cruelty hasty dinner, they were all
in the pOny-carriage, driving towards
the meeting-place, which was the
Mereside end of the lake, on the OPP
pOSite shore, close underneath the hill
on which The Crags stood. The wind
had gone down; the sky was still
heavy and threatening, and a feathery
flake or two fell softly in a weak and
Wavering way as an earnest of what
might be expected before many hours
were over. A small marquee had been
erected en- the shore Of the lake, close
by the boathouse and landing-stage
belonging to The Crags; under this
shelter a couple Of bright maid-serv-
ants, delighted with this tiny break in
life's monotOny, were making tea and
coffee, and unpacking cOnsignments Of
cake and sandwiches. On the shore
outside Lord and Lady Kildonan were
receiving their friends as they drove
up, while on the ice a long row of
chairs were already filled with rosy
checked, smiling girls, having their
skates rut on. Ned Crosmont drove
up with his wife just as the doctors
pony-carIiage discharged its load. Mrs
Peele shook the husband by both
hands, calling him sympathetically
My POOR boy!" with a sidelong
glance ct his wife, whose wicked Lon
don-Iady ways had brought such lines
of i,,to
did not refuse to shake hands with
Alma, but she presented her fingers
coldly, Tightening her lips as she
glanced at the tailOrmade, fu--trimmed
dress o. dark-green cloth which the
agents wife wore. AS Alma passed on,
Mrs. Peele said to her daughter, in a
far-carrying undertone:
Il Cisapprove of those mannish
things. The doctor should have let
me choose her trOusseau. [ wonder
at a man of his age allowing her to
buy things he would certainly not let
his wife or his daughter be seen in.
Fancy either of us prancing about in
a dress like that"
We'll, mamma, you see those things
only look well on a slim figure. And
as for me, it's throwing money away
to dress me we'll; it would be like
painting freScOes on a barn"
alma, you forget yourself. In my
young days it was a maxim that a
welldressed woman was one whose
dress could excite no kind of remark.
It is a good maxim still. Therefore
you are we'll dressed"
very well, mamma said Mile.
good-humoredly. Here comes Leonard
to ask me to skate"
Leonard was an awkward-looking
hobblede-hoy of seventeen. one Of a
large circle of lads of a similar age
who fought shy of the ordinary young
lady, but who "cOuld get on all right, -
as they expressed it, with Millie Peele.
But the doctors wife looked stern,
and rolled her eyes about in quest of
worthier mate.
You don't want to slide about with
that boy she said in deep tones.
Where is DR. Armathwaite? 1t is his
duty to help you along"
No 10, mamma. Don't you see he
is talking to Alma Crosmont? [ think
he is going to skate with her" said
Mile, holding back her mother, as
that lady was preparing to stride off
and seize the desirable partner.
At her daughters words, however,
she turned, and contemplated the girl
with a Nedusa-like gaze.
Going to skate with a married
woman!' she Numbered slowly, with
Rhadamanthine austerity Il will at
least prevent that"
To Miles inexpressible relief
Frank Armathwaite was called away
from Alma by Lady Kildonan, and her
mothers wrath was stayed; but she
found an opportunity, as she skated
away with Leonard, to whisper to the
young doctor to keep we'll on the ice,
where Mrs. Peele could not follow him.
Down st the bottom of her heart
Mile cherished the belief that Frank
and Alma were beautifully suited to
each other, being in her opinion the
two incest people in the world. And
she cOmfOrted herself with a vague
hope that a beneticent Providence
would see matters in the same light.
and would by some kind and gentle
means make things pleasant for NOR
ose Ned CrosmOnt elsewhere. and SO
leave the field clear for kinder help.
mate than he had been to his sweet
wife
Franz, Armathwaite, in the mean
time, had been graciously commanded
by Lady Kildonan to put on heI
skates for her and to be her first part
ner. She had told off Ned rosmont
to do duty at the feet of the Grey don
girls, much to the disgust of theil
mothers, who loathed him and never
spoke to him without affecting to have
forgotten his name
I'VE POOR women shall be dread
fully short of partners today, so
mustn't nonOpolize you long" she said
as she held out a slim foot in a laced
boot that fitted like a glove 81 have
had lot of disappointments. and Svd.
ney Mason won't come out of doors
today at all. He fancies he has lost
some money, and he is sitting IN in
his room to count it over and weer
over the missing shillings. or half
crowns or whatever it is. Thank YOU
very much. Now put on your OWL
skates, while I take a preliminary
canter and feel my feet
She wheeled about gracefully for g
few moments, until he was ready tc
join her: then. giving him her hand
She 2lided AWAY with him down the