Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1905-01-24

1ou are very good, | don't know
how to thank YOU He evidently has
seen better days, she thinks. His
voice and manner, as we'll as his appear
ance, are Enthusiastically those of a
looks quite young. He must be tired
after his run, and sitting down her
self she thoughtfully requests him to do
the same They have both lowered
their voices to almost whisper. is
this the first time you have been guilty?"
Mildred asks. AS he sadly confesses it
is not he lowers his head to hide the
absurd CLEAN that comes again into his
eyes. Absurd, indeed, for what is there
to BE amused at?
Mildred feels rather Mortified, evil
IDENTIFY hardened criminal of the worst
type and quite used to prison. Have
you never thought of reforming? Has
no one ever tried to turn you from your
evil ways or read to you in the peniten-
tiary?" she whispered.
only once; a bounder with long hair
and glasses" he whispered back, turn
for invention he hadn't suspected COM
ing to the surface. Mildred feels quite
stern at the levity of the tone.
You shouldn't criticise anyone that
meant kindly. | dare say he was very
good man What started you on your
downward path?"
Il was in love and the girl most cruel
ly Tilted me- lies now coming quite
glibly to his lips.
Poor mani Mildred signs.
She was a beautiful girl he goes on
enthusiastically, "and seemed as good
as she was beautiful. She had large
brown eyes and chestnut hair"
We'll, if l were you | would just try
and forget her." Mildred breaks in, a
strong feeling of resentment rising up
against the unknown brunette 4
wouldn't let any woman ruin my life
but should just make up my mind to
begin over again-wOrking for an hon
est living and looking forward to that
better, brighter life to come" Her
voice has grown very sweet and earnest,
and he really feels ashamed and thinks
what a darling she is.
oh! if | could only persuade you
could only help YOU" she goes on.
What do you do-when you, when
you?" She hesitates. Calamity he
comes to her assistance.
When out of a job, oh! nothing. |
just sleep anywhere, and help myself
to food and clothes-being used to it
you see it comes natural and is quite
easy" She notices that his clothes, al
though old, are of good style and cut
quite the same kind as her brother and
his friends wear She wishes she dare
steal up to her brothers room now to
get a suit of his clothes to give this
man--but what if it should awaken him
better not risk it. Instead she pulls
off ring she is wearing and gives it
to him-he is most reluctant to take it,
but she presses it on him, saying it is
one she doesn't care for at all and that
she has many others. She says if he
accepts it she will take it as a sign and
promise that he will try to do better
in the future.
1t will give him some meals and a
place to lodge for little while. She
urges him to find some honest employ
ment-and then looking out and seeing
no sign of the policeman now-she
opens the French window again and
bids him good night.
On the varsity lawn Saturday after
noon Mildred is one of large crowd of
spectators watching a most exciting
match of football between the II.
Tigers and the home team In a scrim-
mage near where she stands one of the
varsity men with the ball in his arms
rolls almost to her feet. In an awful
flash of recognition she knows at once
her burglar, and he the face of his
dreams, the owner of the ring he must
send back. The game continues. but
one of the team is not playing in his
usual splendid form, but makes several
stupid muffs.
Mildred in hot resentment sees 1t all.
Hallowe en- students, old clothes, pranks.
policeman, flight. Well, if she ever
meets him he will see! She does meet
him and receives in cold disdain her
ring
Months later, thoroughly repentent,
he gets it back again, and in it's place
Mildred wears half loop of diamonds.
bright stones that pave the short and
pleasant way to plain little gold one.
No