Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1908-08-27

sweet tempered, honest fellow, with plen-
fty of good in him, though hardly up to
Miss Carrington's idea of thorough - in
deed, he was a favorite with most people
but it was droll and at the same time
almost touching to see Mr.. Moore's i'm
plicit faith in his grandson, who was ver-
lily the old mans Benoni and Benjamin
the son of his sorrow''-as we'll as the
''son of his right hand"
CHAPTER III.
People said Miss Carringtons Wednes-
days were always fine, that she had bet
ter fortune in that respect than other
folk, and certainly the weather favored
her on this occasion, for it was the very
perfection of June afternoon, with plen-
ty of sunshine and freshness to mitigate
the heat.
These Wednesdays were very popular
in the neighborhood. Miss Darlington
was a charming hostess she had just
the right knack of entertaining people !;
she welcomed them heartily, put them
at their ease with themselves and other
people, then left them to be as free as
her own butterflies. The little wicket gate
between Moss-side and Fernleigh was al
ways set open on these occasions; Miss
Carrington's lawn was devoted to lawn
tennis; when they had finished their game
the young people were welcome to stroll
through Mr.. Moore's garden, and make
themselves at home in the cozy hooks and
shady seats with which it abounded.
AS a general rule, Mr.. Moore seldom
mingled with the guests; his habits were
Of hN g l. =
friends who were sure of their welcome.
and one or two of his younger favorites,
would sometimes cross the threshold and
keep him company in the cool shaded
room.
To these he would speak of his boy,
recounting endless anecdotes of his Prov
ess and courage, and often making men
ton of his pupil Alison, or as he called
her, Sunny, for the young girl had been
a veritable sunbeam to her old tutor max
ing his darkened hours pass more quick
ly by her ready sympathy and aptitude
for learning.
On this afternoon he was not alone
\ young man in light gray summer suit,
swith a sunburnt, handsome face, was
standing by the window looking at the
knots of people already gathering on
Miss Carrington's lawn, with humor-
Gus, half-vexed expression in his wide
open blue eyes
What q lot of people, he grumbled
II believe all Riverston is there; there
are three boats full, and two sets of
lawn tennis forming, and | do not know
how many more; there goes Miss Merle
Miss Alison, | mean. What a bore, grand
father, that forgot all about Miss Car
rington's Wednesday, and l shall have to
go up to London tomorrow"
why, the more the merrier Is not
that the opinion of young folk like you ?''
returned Mr.. Moore, smiling. Now, if
| said that l wanted you all to myself
for this one day you have spared me that
would only be an old mans selfishness,
and ] should be ashamed of myself for
giving it utterance. But you are not
generally so unsociable Greville."
There is regular crowd" returned
the young fellow, still more pettishly.
Il shall not be able to speak to Miss
Darlington, or to Miss Alison either: and
you forgot, grandfather, that l shall be
off to Keswick the day after tomorrow
for six weeks at least"
"
Well, it is a pity if you are not pleased,
for they are going to keep it up unusu-
ally late; there is to be music on the
lawn. Sunny has been telling me all
about it. The moonlight is so clear that
Miss Diana las given in to the notion
and young Hepworth has brought his
cornet. If / were you, lad, l would just
make the best of it, and join in merrily
with the rest
And leave you sitting here alone
grandfather? And l thought we should
have just one of our old evenings on the
river, and l should row you and Miss
Darlington, and her niece to the Long
Island"
NAY. lad. l am not likely to be Ions
alone; the vicar will be in by and BY
for chat. and most likely Mrs Hendricl
and one or two others. Miss Diana viii
drop in, just to tell me how things pro
gress, and Sunny, too; she never neglect.
me. Come, come. it is not like you t.
sulk, boy; want TO hear you laugh Will
the others: it will make me feel youn,
myself. And, Greville." with a sudder
tenderness in his voice, I'VE have shaker
hands, but until l feel you l shall no
The young mans cloudy face cleare,
in a moment, he left his place at once
and dropped down on one knee beside hi
grandfather's chair, and a sort of laugh
ing light came in his eyes.
You foolish old granddad," he said
You have not grown a bit wiser" AM
then he knelt patiently while the thin
wrinkled hand passed softly over tn
merry face, and felt the broad, stalwar
shoulders and then rested lingeringly Of
his head.
Heaven bless you, lad, you are stron
and broad-shouldered like Gerard; yo
are every inch as fine a man as you
father. Grow like him, my boy. Thong
he was my own son, 1 will always Sa
there are not many like him; there,
must not keep YOU from the young folk
90 listen to an old mans maunderings
Nell Sunny that she is to be good to YOU
Us you have not many hours at home
Oh, there's Mrs. Hendricks step on tn
gravel: she has stolen march on th