Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1909-02-11

have proved false to your word, except
| under unfair pressure.
Then you don't think so very badly
of me-" asked the girl. shyly.
Il don't know smiled her cousin. as
he bent his head down TO her. I'll hear
what you've got to say. Do you love
| me?"
''Oh. Gren," And Maude dropped her
flushed. tear-stained face on his shoulder,
and submitted TO the abstraction of I'M
limited kisses with the greatest meekness.
The tears were kissed away. and a
smile was on her lips she said. You
whispered last night There is hope for
us yet = what did you mean?"
| Il didn't say that; when you quote
what | say. be good enough to be correct"
But you did say So" said Msude, open
| ing the grey eyes wide as usual when
thing passed her compensation.
NO. Miss Denison I said. Hope for
rs yet, darling"
"Oh, Gren, don't tease me; that's so
like your old aggravating ways. Tell
me-"
Well dearest. l hoped last night to
| find a paper that would have. at all
events, broken off your engagement with
Pearman, and left you free to choose
| again
\ quiet pressure of his arm, and a
soft "Wpll?"
Il didn't find it. Maude. and went to
! bed as miserable as a man can we'll do.
| Your father promised that Pearman
| should receive his dismissal if I could do
what | dreamt | could. l made sure of
! finding that paper in the big oak chest
in the study but though l went steadily
through them all, it wasn't there"
When did you see it, Gren?"
| Don't you remember when | went mad
upon heraldry, and was all for putting
your genealogical tree TO rights? | went
| through those papers then"
stop a moment" said the girl; 'let
me think. Yes" she continued, after a
short pause; "and you used to bring
them up to work at to the school room
don't you recollect? And I'm almost
sure. but didn't you throw a few of them
into a drawer up there saying they were
no use. but you might make up a maya
zine story or two ont Of them some day ?"
BY Jove, Maude, you've hit it
did, and that would be safe to be one OF
them. Come along, sweetheart mine, and
see. NO chance Oh their De!hS disturbed,
! is there?"
Il should think not; but l haven't, l
really believe been in the room for the
last two years. Well soon see, though -
and the cousins tripped rapidly back to
| the house.
Poor old school room it was not often
now that its shutters were thrown open to
the golden light of spring. Very different
were the old times. when Maude fitted
about it daily, making sunshine within,
whatever it might be without; when the
whistle of the blackbird and the song of
the throstle, the twitter of the swallow.
and the scent of the jasmine, with other
creepers, came drifting through the open
easement. Here she had made much of
her doll, fought with her nurse. and risen
in more matured rebellion against her
governeSs. Here Granville had leased,
petted. laughed at her, and embarked in
various studies, genealogical or otherwise.
No wonder they paused on the threshold
it was classic ground to them, at all
| events.
Grenville Rose, however. though he may
pause for a moment, is far too much in
earnest and immersed in the present to
give much thought to old memories. Maude
smiles softly as he throws open the win
dows, and she recalls those long pleasant
afternoons they two have passed there.
She has been so miserable of latc-she is
so quietly happy now. 1t is true this pa
per must be found; but she believes in
Gren, as only young girl can in lover.
1t is the first time he has been with her
in that character. 1t is so sweet to be
told you are loved at eighteen, when that
confession is made by the right person.
| No wonder the girls face looked bright
Now, Maude, quick-which is the draw
er? This, Ell ~. Hurriedly the drawer is
dragged out but alas though all sorts OF
odds and ends, book or two on heraldry,
or a French dictionary, are discovered,
no sign of law papers meets the eye
Mistaken the drawer. pet, l suppose?''
| exclaimed Granville, with a look of dis
appointment he struggled hard to con-
ceal; and then continued his search But
no. every drawer and cupboard of the
school room is ranSacked in vain. Many
a relic of their merry old days there comes
TO light, but nothing in the shape of a
| deed or parchment. Maude stood aloof
| towards the conclusion of the search half
| leaning, half sitting on the table. Her
face was serious enough now, and the
well-marked eyebrows rather knit. She
| felt that the promised smooth water of
the morning was as yet by no means real
lied Since Granville had kissed her, and
personally told his love, she felt endued
with infinite powers of opposition to the
Pearman alliance.
It's no use. Maude the paper l want
| IL
| Il must search elsewhere"
80 you shall, Gren. Ring the bell
l have an idea"
Her cousin did as be was bid, and
when n stray housemaid in considera bic
bewilderment, eventually made her way
to the disused room. Miss Denison said,
sharply. Tell Mrs. Upcroft she's wanted
here directly-directly. mind-and don't
you have BEEN
Now. look here. Gren," continued
| Maude, those papers were there. No
| body but Mrs Upcroft would have dared
move them. But, you see she has known
me as a child, and l am always hard put
TO it to hold my own with her. If she
don't happen quite to recollect what she's
done with them. she'll give me any an
swer, snd won't even try to take the trou-
Bile TO remember. If l can make nothing
of her. then you must chime in and fright
en- her. OF course she don't want 10 con-
ceal them; but she will know she ought
not to have meddled with them, and don't
like what she terms being put OUT
There was a tap at the door as Maude
finished her speech, and her cousin had
but just time to give a nod of intelli-
gence as the housekeeper entered
Sorry TO disturb you. Mrs. Upcroft,
said Miss Denison, blandly. but l want
to know what you have done with the
papers that used to inhabit that drawer?'
I'm sure l don't know nothing about
no papers. You might have been sure of
that, l think, Miss Maude, before you
sent for me- and the butcher just here
for orders an all" and the housekeeper
looked as sulky as she rightly dared. She
had for years done as she pleased with