Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1908-12-31

The fOllleS or our youth, Nell, Smlte us
sharply as we grow old. We shall have
to end our days in some cheap CONT
mental town"
CHAPTER VII.
Very sad was Maude when she heard
the evil tidings, and that she had but
short time left to look upon the grand
old chestnuts, the groves of laurel and
the soft, pleasant, turfy vistas amid which
she had been born. Bitterly she thought
how the loss of all the accustomed sur
roundings would be felt by the gentle
mother she adored and we'll she OWNED
what would be her fathers sensations
when, having left the home of his ances-
tors. he should find himself exposed to the
monotonous existence of some watering
place or dull continental town. How he
would brood over the extinction of the
Denisons of Glinn none realized more
fully than Maude. She knew her father
thoroughly; she was a clever girl and
fully recognized his foibles and weak
nesses. She cOmprehended the shock il
would be to his family pride-what the
loss of country pursuits would be to him
what it would be to find himself a mere
Mr.. DeniSon on straitened means in some
quiet place where gossip was rife and
your social status was pretty nearly
gagged by the bills incurred at the butch
er's and the wine merchants. And then.
the girl thought, sorrowfully, how little
she could do to alleviate all this. To
her mother-ah! yes, she could do much
to tighten her troubles. and be a comfort
to her; but for her father nothing-and
the tears trickled through Maude's long
Iashes as she thought how little she could
be to him.
Such, so far, were the results of the
Vaccinations of that experienced fisher
of men, Mr.. Pearman, on the unfortu-
nate family at Glinn.
| have told the ingenious process of
reasoning by which Harold Denison had,
at last, not only soothed his conscience
but arrived at the conclusion that like
the grim old Grecian, his duty required
him to sacrifice his daughter | often
think that old story a grand allegory.
Agamemnon sacrifices Iphigenia, even
yet, pretty constantly at St. Georges,
Hanover Square We substitute the ring
for the knife, and the wedding breakfast
for the smoking sacrifice: and we wreath
ourselves with flowers and silken raiment
as we offer up our maidens at the shrine
of Plutus. Who shall say that, after
all. that was not the meaning of the
fable!
But Harold Denison was conscious of
an inward feeling that the newly formed
idea was an extremely awkward subject
to breach either to his wife or daughter
That he had never even alluded to Pear
mans proposal | need scarcely observe.
and that it looked still less pleasant to
touch upon now he had made up his mind
to be an active supporter thereof, must
be equally obvious. Still the clouds were
gathering so thick over the house of Glinn
that no time was TO be lost; and at last
the squire nerved himself to the task.
and sought his wife's boudoir having pre-
viously ascertained that his daughter was
out of the house.
Il want to talk something over with
YOU. Nellie" he observed. as he entered
Il don't think that it will be quite pleas
ant to hear, but, at all events. it can't
distress you, as you will have the power
of deciding as you like about it."
Mrs. Denison raised her face anxously
to her husbands. Decision. on any point.
was painful TO her, and she was too well
aware. from former experience, that this
was but the prelude to some scheme in
which her concurrence had already been
practically marked out by her lord and
master. Harold Denison's consultations.
at such times, generally comprised a mere
synopsis of his intentions, revealing some
minor unpleasantness which he looked to
her TO carry out. Poor Mrs. Denison
might we'll be diffident about such conf
dences; a rule. they had borne but
bitter fruit.
What should you say" continued the
squire. IF l tell you that it is possible to
save Glinn to us yet?'
oh Harold, can it be 500" cried Mrs.
Denison with clssped hands and beating
heart mo. you don't look like it: l see
in your face there is more TO follow. 1t
is some bare chance, and your sanguine
nature has led you astray concerning it."
Nellie. don't be foolish. There is
way of arranging all these miserable
money matters that has been submitted to
me. and which. should we consent to,
there is no doubt will prove perfectly
satisfactory. | have turned it all well
over in my mind, and though l have. as
yet come to no determination concerning
it. yet l don't deem it altogether imprac
ticable. Will you hear me patiently?"
Yes, Harold" was the meek response
We'll, what l want TO talk to you
about is this. OF course you must be
aware that Maude is not only grown up
and handsome. but has arrived at an age
when wooers may be expected
What do you mean? asked the moth
er. her pale face flushing and a half
anxious, half-frightened expression visible
in her blue eyes.
I'VE will come TO that presently. You
know her admirers at the minister ball
were numerous. A man of good property
in this county solicits permission to pay
his addresses TO Maude. He can give her
a good home and everything she can want
now, while at the death of his father he
will be the possessor of large landed es-
tates in the county, besides considerable
sums invested elsewhere"
The poor mothers heart beat quick. 10
whom was she to be asked to yield her
darling? Who in all the county side was
worthy of her peerless Maude? She
knew of none; yet she spoke not, but
gazed eagerly into her husbands face,
and waited with high-strung nerves till
be should speak again.