Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1908-09-24


she said, very prettily, in her childish
way, "Oh, ain glad to see you. too, but
| never thought Of telling you so. viii
you ring, Mr.. Roger? and then Morton
will bring us some tea. Please take that
easy chair by the window, Miss Merle
it is Eva's favorite seat. because there
is such a pretty view of the garden"
NO, indeed, l am going to help you"
returned Alison. laying her hat aside, and
pulling off her long gloves. "Oh. you
poor child, what a task - as she inspected
Annals work. She was trimming an In
dian muslin gown with coffee-colored lace.
Yes, is it not pretty?" returned Anna,
innocentiy. Eva means to wear it At our
garden party on Thursday. You and Mr..
Roger are both coming, are you not|
I'VE are not invited" returned Alison.
a little graveIy, as she took a thimble
from her pocket, and helped herself I'M
asked to a needle and thread. Il am go
ing on with that founce," she continued
quietly, so you have nothing to do but
to talk to me and Roger"
"Oh, how kind you are.'' returned
Anna. gratefully. THE thunder always
been working all the afternoon, and il
was so hot; indeed" interrupting herself
Eva was writing out your notes of in
vitation to-day. | think she gave them
to Mabel. | am sorry" flushing a little
as she spoke, that you should have them
so late, but Eva is always so busy"
80 is some one else always busy"
observed Roger, with a plying glance at
the girls tired face. Both he and Alison
thought she looked thinner and paler
than when they saw her last: her blue
eyes looked large and heavy, and the veins
of the forehead were marked too clearly ;
her fair hair was strained from her face
and coiled somewhat untidy, and her gray
linen dress looked tumbled and far from
fresh.
Il am afraid you will have to house US
for a good hour or MORE" Roger observed,
"for the weather means mischief, and in
this climate it never rains but it pours,
so while Allie does your work you may
as we'll make yourself comfortable. | sup
pose you will not mind my going into the
library for a book, for l am not much
of a hand at talk? You may summon
me Wlen Tea Is ready. Anu hOSeF
marched off, muttering to himself: Two
is company, three is none; she shall not
be bothered with making company talk
for me, poor little girl %
How good he is" whispered Anna
almost before the door had closed be-
hind him; ''he thinks ! want to talk to
you alone, and so l do. Oh, how quick
ly you work . your needle seems to fly.
My head was aching SO with STOPPING
over the muslin that | could hardly see
but when | told Eva so she said | was
always full of fancies, and that l was
so dreadfully idle. But l don't. think l
really am idle, do you?"
No. indeed" returned Alison, with
something of Aunt Diana's abruptness II
am sure you have been working too hard,
you look so thin and unsubstantial. Tell
me, Anna, why have you never come to
see me again, as you promisedT'
Eva does not want me to come; at
least, | think so; she always raises diff
culties When | ask to accompany her ;
and-and" eyes filling with tears
''she was so angry that afternoon when
you and Mr.. Roger were so kind to me |;
she said | was so forward that people
could not help noticing me, and that she
was sure Mr.. Roger thought So"
The girls continued TO chat until the
tea came in and it was time to summon
Roger. He was not sorry to be called.
The library was rather a gloomy apart
ment this wet evening, as it looked on the
darkest part of the shrubbery, the ever
green's coming far too close to the win
dows. But as no one sat in the room,
this was not considered a grievance. He
thought the morning room looked snug
and cozy when he went back to it. The
muslin dress still reposed on the center
table, but smaller one was placed in
the bay window, round which the three
young people were gathered.
Anna quite forgot her headache and
fear of the thunder as she performed her
simple duties of hostess. She looked so
pleased when Roger told her that he had
never tasted better tea, that he laugh
ingly accused her of never having enter
tanned company before. To his surprise
she answered him quite seriously, "Oh,
no l never had tea party before. How
nice it is! Eva has her friends some
girls"
"Or young men," put in Roger mis-
chievously He seemed bent on teasing
her tonight.
well, there is Cousin Anthony, you
know" she replied in her usual naive
fashion; "he is young man, of course
but l don't think he would like to come
to my tea parties. Eva always says that
l am such a child that people don't care
to talk to me. | am afraid l am not very
clever"
Il am glad of that" returned Roger,
promptly. Il detest people who think
themselves clever. You are quite clever
enough for Alison and me. BY the bye,
Miss Anna, how do you get on with your
Latin?"
"Oh, pretty WE'LL she answered, with
one of her varying bushes, which made
her almost pretty. Il have so little time
and you have not given me a lesson for so
long Mr.. Roger"
The rain is over now observed ALI
son, in a regretful voice, land it is grow
ing so dark, Roger, we ought not to stay
any longer"
Never mind. shall see you on Thurs
day." replied Anna. Il am looking for
ward to the day SO much. l have a new
dress, too she continued, as Roger left
the room to find Alison's mantle; ''it is
not so pretty as Eva's dress-such beau
tiful muslin mine is only cream-colored
CLOTH
Il am sure you will look very nice. and
l shall bring you some flowers" returned
Alison, kindly, with vivid recollection
how we'll Anna had looked with the knot
of roses fastened in her gray dress.
Then they joined Roger in the hall.
well, Allie" he observed, as they
walked briskly down the wet road, have
you had a nice time with your new
friend?"
"Yes, indeed, Roger. I am so thankful
for the rain. l am getting quite fond of
Anna. There is so much goodness under
that shy, childish manner"
Il know you would appreciate her." he
returned. heartily. Poor little girl! One
is glad to do ANYTHING to help her. There
iS nor r,,uch O fellow like mo pan do py-