Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1909-01-14

CIiAPTEn lX.-fContinned. J


fact is broken to Mr.. Pearman that he
Is not my 2estiny's lord. the better"
Stop, caild-lister to me-" and the
nervous trcmor in her mothers voice ar
rested Maude's madcap humor instantly.
She knew every infexion of that dearly
loved voice. and her quick ear detected
coming trouble. much as the sailor fore
sees the storm in that peculiar sobbing
sound the wind sometimes gives forth
shortly before the tempest bursts.
In second she dropped quietly on
her knees by Mrs. Denison's side. and
leaning on the arm of her chair, said.
There's more to come, mother: you
haven't to me all yet
No. my dearest; | had hoped so diff
ferentIE. / mean-I told your father. in
short and here Mrs. Denison fairly
broke down. and wept copiously
Naude pctted. soothed and coaxed. as
she Tad done on many a previous occa-
SION, and between the showers of tears
learned how much they were in the hands
Of the Pearmans; how that their remain
ing at GliEn was an impossibility unless
the Pearmans came TO their assistance
and how her hand was the price they
placed on standing in the breach between
Harold Denison and his creditors. About
the foregoing of their own claims the
poor lady wisely said nothing Better
Maude should think her future husband
stood chivalrousy forward in Ter fat..,rs
support. with the prospect of her fair
self his guerdon. than she should
know that her hand was the sole bride
which induced him to forbear Selling upon
Glinn.
The saucy smile had left the girls lips
by the time she comprehended the sad
story. Il was replaced by pale. anxious
look such as had never been seen before
on Maude Dpnison's face.
You can't mean this, mother" she
said, at length You surely don't wish
that | should marry this man. whom |
can't shy | dislike, for | don't even know
him enough to tell whether | do or no
but that | am to take this man for a hus-
band without any reference TO my own
fcclings-you don't intend that, do you:''
Il don't know what will become of us
if you don't Maude," gasped Mrs. Deni-
son
And is it not possible that we could
live without Glinn?" inquired her daugh-
ter
What would your father do?' moancd
the mother once more, truer to him even
still than TO the child she adored 50.
1t is hard - said Maude, and her
young face grew stern in expression as
she spoke. DO you think it quite fair
that | am to throw my life's happiness
away at eighteen to save Glinn? Mother,
| know nothing of the world, but a man
girls heart who seeks her as Mr.. Pearman
would apparently seek me- | don't think
I'm a romantic fool. but | never thought
to leave your side in this wise OF course
! know girls do marry for money; but
butt had-had hoped | should be diff
ferent," and here Maude was seized with
an hysterical choking in the throat
which though it only drew few tears
from her own eyes, brought forth another
shower from Mrs. Denison's.
/ really am shocked, for the sake OF
my readers, at the amount of tears intro,
duced into this part of my story. I'm
brelas up would have made an appro
pirate heading to this chapter but what
am | to do? You see. Mrs. Denison is
one of those women who naturally dis
solve iuto-may | say. mist ?-on the most
trihing occasions, and come down in tor.
rents when things go hard with them
No use crying about it, MOTHER" said
Maude. gulpng down her agitation brave.
~. Il am going up to my own room tc
think it all over; but come what may
feel at present you will have to let Mr.
pearman know that I'm grateful for tbs
honor he has done me- but respectfully
decline anything further
When Aiaude reached her own room
she sat down and began to muse over al
her mother had told her Had it come tC
this really. that it rested with her to save
her parents? What was she to do?
have said before that she was not like
the young ladies of this world. She was
rather behind the age in many of her
ideas. She was very young. and had
moreover. a ringe of that dear od-fash
Toned romance about her which is at such
4 terrible discount in these utilitariar
DAYS. What can there be to think
about cries Belgravia. Preserve m,
from such an imbecile daughter - shrieks
Tyburna But Maude. after thinking foI
half an hour. with set face and kni
hrows. suddenly rose with a smile rip
ping over her pretty face. and while tn,
midday sun still glinted through her bon
ME brown hair. sat down to write t,
Grenville Rose.
"He always gets me out of scrapes.
she murmured, softly; he must out o.
this. though"--and here she even laughed
I'm afraid Gren will think this wha
he calls big I'M