Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1909-01-21

vile" said that lady. Its too bad of
him, taking advantage of a child like you
in this manner. | like him, always have
liked him, and, under different circum-
stances, would have sooner seen you his
wife than any mans | know. But he
can barely keep himself as yet, and must
know hat his thinking Of a wife at all
is foolish in the extreme, and that think
ing Of you is simply absurd. He's behaved
very badly, and if you don't promise to
write and break it of, you can say, by
my desire, | shall tell your father all
about it."
"Oh. mother, you won't do that" said
Maude.
mot unless you oblige me-" said Mrs
Denison. sternly.
Poor Maude was electrified. That the
mother she had been always accustomed
to pet, and do as she liked with. should
suddenly rise against her like this, was
past her comprehension. Yet to anyone
who has made character his study, moth,
ing can be more in accordance with the
usual law in such cases. Weak, feeble
characters, when, either from caprice or
driven by necessity, they exert such power
as may be in their hands, invariably do il
tyrannically and despotically.
Mrs. Denison has suffered of late from
the stern rule of her lord and master In
spite of all her love for her daughter, she
has become dimly conscious that there
will be no peace at Glinn unless Maude
yields assent to the ukase Harold Deni-
son has promulgated. Women of her
class can suffer, but they cannot resist
Even now she would not urge Maude to
marry Pearman. But that her impecuni-
Gus nephew had dared to entangle her
daughter in an engagement, especially al
this time, reused as much wrath within
her as her nature was capable of. Most
mothers, l imagine, would deem she had
grounds for indignation.
All this while Pearman has not been
idle. Slowly, but surely, the legal notices
and proceedings progress, and Harold
Denison knows full we'll that within three
weeks ten thousand pounds must be found
or Glinn must go to the hammer The
Pearmans conduct the campaign with
scrupulous politeness. 1t is quite in &C.
cordance with the old traditions of the
Battle of Fontenoy. They apologize fo1
every fresh process, and allude to it as a
mere matter of form. They affect to be.
lieve that there can be no doubt Mr.. Den.
ison will easily pay them off at the ex.
piration of the notice of foreclosure The
old gentleman even INDUCES in popularity
on the subject.
Mean to have the very last day out
of us, see, sir; and quite right, too" be
chuckled, upon meeting the squire one
day.
"Yes, Pearman,"' was the grim retort
Il learned the exacting of my pound oil
flesh, to the last pennyweight, in your
hands l have not forgot my lesson. You
burn it into your pupils minds pretty
deeply"
The old lawyer has laid himself open
to another rebuff, and Denison has not
failed to take advantage thereof Why
Sarcasm breaks no bones, few knew bet
ter than that astute fisher of men.
His sentiviness was tolerably blunt, anG
he rocked little what men said to him
or of him, so long as the furtherance Of
the object he had in view was attained
That his son should marry Maude Deni
son was the goal he now aimed at, ant
that that was to be brought about, ht
still thought far from improbable. IL
that end he conceived even while press
ing him for money, it was quite necessary
to keep on easy terms with the squire
None knew better than he how bitter i
is for a proud man to take his words
back, and if what he now played for wa
to be achieved, that was a necessity. Tn.
task must be made as easy as possible
the unpalatable draught sugared as fa
as might be.
"He-he!' he answered; you viii
| have your joke, Mr.. Denison. It's
mighty pity you couldn't make up you
mind to concentrate the property ono
more Beg pardon, Squire" he continued
| deprecating Denisons angry gesture
don't fear my abiding to it again.
was presumption on my part, know, an
| if | said anything to veX you, I'm sur
| I'm heartily sorry. You'll forgive an oil
man, who, not having been brought u
with your views, saw nothing but the con
centration of an estate. Yes, I know
was all in the wrong; it Isn't likely Mis-
Maude could be brought to think of sucl
a thing. I'm sure l nope the calling-i
of the mortgage is no Inconvenience yo
can easily raise it elsewhere. But Sam
cot so deep in the racing now, that W
must get that sum together before tn
Two Thousand. | wish he wasn't; bu
he's clever, Sam is-clever in his way
too great a gentleman for me. No OF
Tense, sir, hope; but I'm plain man.