Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1907-02-28


Outside, the leaves rustled beneath
the starlit, frosty sky, and the wind
noaned fitfully around the solitary old
gray house. l knew that the sky was
cold and star-gemmed, because | could
peep up at 1t through the unshuttered
window from my resting place on the
little table. Inside, the freight danced
on the oak-paneled wall of the low
celed room, and Joyce, from the coy
depths of her chair, watched the play
of the Pickering shadows among the
cleaning old silver on the tea table be-
fore her
Her lovely face. framed in It's halo of
dead-gold hair, was very sad and visit
full | could read her thoughts, for l
possessed certain occult powers, owing
TO my eastern origin. She was living
over again the sad events of the last
two weeks
She seemed still half dazed from the
suddenness of 1t all. Perhaps she could
scarcely realize even yet that her dear
mother, her loving lifelong companion,
had been taken from her forever.
II cannot go on like this any longer"
her thoughts ran; 1.-The loneliness would
drive me mad Was any girl ever in
such a sorry plight. | wonder? OF
course, l always knew that mothers
income was only for her lifetime but
then l never thought of her dying, nor
did She except in the dim future.
"And now here | am, after the fu-
neral expenses and the doctors bill
have been settled and the servants paid
off, with exactly a ten-pound note be-
tween myself and ENTHUSIASTICALLY
starvation! The house is my own,
truly, and I have clothes to last me
twelvemonth or more" glancing down
ruefully at her plain but dainty mourn
ing.
There's all of granny's lovely old
silver, too. That Is mine now. of
course; but even II sold 1t 1 should
only be staving off the evil day. And
II would be almost a crime. l must be-
stir myself and think Of something tan
gible If only jack If only" And
she broke off with a sigh
At this point in her musings my eyes
caught hers In a flash of sympathy,
and. stretching out her little white
hand. she took me up caressingly.
| was the first love Offering he had
made her, and in my way was consld-
cred rare curio of intrinsic worth and
great beauty.
Well, l have said that Joyce took
me up caressingly. She did, and press
ed me moment against her pretty lips.
She was thinking more of Jack than
of me. l knew. But where was the use
OF looking back? 1t was all nearly
two wears ago now. and the mystery
was still unsolved. She had never been
10 another dance since that fateful
night: consequently neither had 1.
That fatal night of the Hunt ball was
our last glimpse of gaiety. And he was
he had carefully avoided meeting her
eyes whenever the mazes of the dance
had brought him into her vicinity. Her
pride had forbidden her TO make the
slightest sign. and she had borne up
bravely until We were back IN her pref
ty bedroom, quite alone. And we'll 1
knew then how much she had really
cared!
A few weeks later she heard he had
gone abroad-gone without a word or a
sign.
A few days later Joyce journeyed of
to the smart little country town some
three miles distant. and the next morn
ing the following advertisement appear
ed in the county paper. for heard her
read it out to our one faithful maid
of-all-work:
Lady desiring residence In beauti-
fully situated country home can be re
ceived ON moderate terms. Apply The
Cottage, Mereton."
And week later, after the usual
formalities had been exchanged, the
lady arrived, and was duly installed
an exceedingly prim old lady of quaint
and digniied demeanor. with gray curls
down each side Of her face and her eyes