Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1908-05-21

Of just such moral stimulus. The sorry
part, Miss Stansbury, is that don't
bring you admirably invested talents even
now"
She glanced at him quickly Il believe
l understand better some of the difficult
ties you have had to contend with she
said. I'VE all read how you kidnapped
the entire New York newsboys' associa-
tion-how you fed the grimy title chaps
oceans of charlotte russo ana mountains
of plum-duff, giving them a Sunday af-
ternoon at sea, and presents to remem-
ber.s That was fine"
81 forgot to tell Breen about that, "
he remarked, smiling at the recollection.
'Breen is a friend of mine, who was
good enough to come along. He's a rare
fellow, and you'll like him"
You make people find out by them
selves so much about you," she observed.
Think how you let me believe you were
absolutely without interests or ambitions
even last year, while you were making
daily visits to the jaws of Pelee. 1t was
months afterward that l learned what
those journeys meant-and then through
the press. We all read the paper you
delivered before the geological society on
Artillean formations. Think how 1 felt
while recalling some of my lectures on
your careless attitude toward life. You
might have told me"
81 failed to discover the secret. Miss
Stansbury," he said quickly. ''Old Pc
lee has a big story for the right man,
but 1 was unable to drag it forth. l had
nothing to be proud of to tell you"
The ponies had gained the eminence of
the Morne d'Orange. Ahead was the
broad, white plantation house, where the
Stansburys and Constabes uncle lived.
To the right was the dazzling, sapphire
bay, where the Madame was moored
among the shipping; behind and below,
the red-tiled roofs of Saint Pierre, and
behind the city, back of all, La Montague
Pelee, hung like an emperor of the Rom
ans, paled in the intarse light of morn
ing, and wearing a delicate white ruching
of cloud about his crown,
at is different with, most people," she
replied. They have SO much to tell of
little things. The silent men who are
dreaming of big things all the time
think of conversation like this when the
island is glowing like brazier !"
What is the meaning of this terrific
sultriness and the white scum in the gut
ters?' he asked suddenly.
why, | supposed you understood
Understood what, Miss Stansbury?"
why, old Pelee has been showering us
with ash from time to time during the
h. -
that spoils the air. The city would have
been white now, except for the heavy rain
that washed the ashes away just before
dawn"
Constable turned approximately to-
ward the volcano. He had come into an
inheritance of winged thoughts in the
presence of the woman, but the news of
Pelee's activity disordered the very root
of things. Mrs. Stansbury was standing
on the porch of the great house, whose
walls, verandas and portcullises were
cooled and perfumed by embroidering
vines. The driveway was bordered by
Rose of Sharon hedges, and the gardens
famed with poisettias and roses There
was cool grove of mango and India
trees at the end of the lawn, edged with
moon-howerets and oleanders. Back of
the plantation house waved the sloping
seas of cane; in front, the Caribbean
On the south up-reared the peaks of Car
bet; on the north, the Monster.
Constable advanced eagerly to give his
hand to Mrs. Stansbury, who received
his greeting with cooling repression. He
would have been dismayed, o had he not
fol IL
from this source. STILL he paid her
unquestioning homage. 1t was enough
for him that Mr.. Stansbury, an admirable
American gentleman. honored her with
a life of one-pointed devotion that his
uncle, Joseph Wall, of sound mental bal
ance and heart vastnesses, cherished her
goodwill. 1t was enough for Consta-
BILE, indeed, that Mrs. Stansbury mothered
a daughter. He was by no means above
conceiving that another should dislike
him; although Mrs. Stansbury was in
other respects an Isis yelled too darkly
for his perception. The years had not
touched the elder woman. She had the
same tendril-like delicacy of figure and
refinement of face. Her eyes had often
startled him with their world-weariness
and world-knowledge. They were always
wonderful-the eyes of mystic and vb-
rant with the suggestion of undiscovered
continents in their depths. The cool,
gracilent fingers slipped quickly from his
hand
Il have always remembered your gra-
cious hospitality" Constable said
Il remember too" Mrs. Stansbury re-
piled, with scarcely a trace of a smile
Who could forget the dentist-the dent
list to La Montague Pelee? Have you
come again to look into the mouth of the
mountain?"