Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1910-07-14
contained a card of invitation and a

so loved. VIII not you and your daugh-
ter do me the honor of coming to the
garden party l am giving next Thursday
and let me have the pleasure of renewing
an old acquaintance? Faithfully yours,
ELLERSLIE.
When on Thursday afternoon Mrs.
Lincoln and Ethel drove under the
porte-cochere of EllersIie abbey al
ready the lawns and terraces were dot
ted with bright frocks and parasols,
while from gay marquee came the
strains Of military band. Ethel's
spirits rose.
81 feel that l am going to have a
good time" she declared. MY new
gown is becoming. my hat perfect. so
cheer up. mumsie."
Mrs. and Miss Lincoln" shouted
the 1unky. and into the great hall,
paneled to the roof with oak and
hung with the family portraits of three
centuries. they passed. A gentleman
turned from the nearest group of peo-
pie and came forward. Tall, slim,
frock coated. with white flower in
his buttonhole. there was yet no mis-
coin stared: then slow smile curved
her lips.
$50 it was you-you all the time"
she declared. You were the game
keeper" The man looked repentantly
back.
IT really didn't mean to-" he plead
ed. You see. only expected to stop
a moment and pass on. But then that
seemed uncivil, and So
"And so you merely deceived US in
stead" laughed Mrs. Lincoln. Ethel,
dear. this is Ellerslie. bad as ever"
mo. no." he protested, 1T was my
cap that deceived you. not |. At first
I hardly appreciated the situation, and
then-it seemed too late. And l never
hoped to see you again. But when you
spoke of my mother l began to think
who you might be, and of course the
name on the locket settled it. Indeed,
was innocent"
Mrs Lincoln laughed.
Certainly you took the tip badly
enough"
But l still have it." he asserted,
"and always shall. if only as being
the first money l ever earned
AS host Ellerslie's duties kept him
busy through the afternoon. and it was
not until the long shadows lay wide
across the lawn that he was able to
follow the direction in which his eyes
had often strayed and join Ethel where
she stood under huge Japanese UNI
brella.
81 have been talking to chaperons
until l am exhausted he urged. ''Do
take pity on me and let US make an
escape. Oh. no. it is not yet late" as
the girl hesitated. And there is the
view of the mere that you have not
yet SEEM he added mischievously.
Ethel smiled and let him take her
parasol from one of the group of men
about her.
Don't keep her too long, Ellerslie,"
said one in rather an injured tone.
Ellerslie shook his head Il cannot
promise Miss Lincoln and have
much to discuss" he laughed.
But as they paused on little rustic
bridge commanding a view Of lake and
woods stretching away to the red sun
lit sky ElIerslie seemed to have sud-
denly Host his desire to talk. When
finally he turned to her there was an
odd little CLINT in his eye.
We'll" be said, do you like it,"
waving his hand toward the pictur-
esque reach of wood and water.
Indeed do" she answered earnest
ly. The CLINT in his eye deepened.
Then you are prepared to keep your
word?"
my word?' said the girl, startled.
"That you would marry Ellerslie to
get all this" He pulled a coin from
his pocket and gazed meditatively at it.
"This precious coin-I fell in love with
a girl when it was given to me.
Wasn't it an odd thing to do? But
am so delighted with the fact that
am going to have this bit Of gold made
into the best thing know of, and that
is a wedding ring. Shall l? Do you
think she might wear it in time"
Although he spoke jestingly, there
was an undercurrent of seriousness in
his tone which the girl was quick to
catch. For a moment a new, strange
shyness kept her silent; then she spoke.
"Of course l am hardly competent to
advise on such a subject" she began
demurely, but" with a swift upward
glance that suggested bewildering pos
sibilities, there could certainly be no
harm in having the ring made"
1t was several years before Ellerslie
admitted to his wife that as Mrs. Lin
coin had dropped him the coin she had
dropped the locket and that he, will
fully and deliberately, had concealed it.
To his establishment, however, Lady
Ellerslie only laughed.