Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1910-09-15
CHAPTER XXIE


ing to her Uncle Rodney.
Her father was out walking about
the neighborhood. He had not been
down. town since the crisis in his af-
fairs, which had left him much broken
He had been disposed to accept his
brother in laws kind Offices warily a
first, but Zelda had treasured him as
to her uncIe's friendly intentions, and
it was a relief to him to be able TO e-ltit
the responsibility of adjusting his af-
fairs to other shoulders.
To all intents and purposes nothing
had changed, and beyond the short
lived gossip Of business men who knew
him personally, Ezra Ds.neron's losses
passed unnoticed. Olive, who was Eel
da's closest friend. never knew just
what had happened. Zelda merely told
her cousin that her father had gone
through some business trouble, but that
it had all been Strengthened out again
Mrs. Forrest knew even less than this;
there was, Rodney Merriam said, no
manner Of use in discussing the loss OF
Zelda's fortune with his sister, and
talking about family matters was
bore anyhow. Rodney was surprised
at his own amiabIe acceptance OF the
situation; but it had resulted in link
ing him closer to ZeIda's life; she was
dependent on him now as she might
never have been otherwise; and as Ior
Ezra Cameron, he was a pitiful object.
whose punishment was doubtless ade-
quate. 1t was possible for Rodney
Merriam to sit in the paTlor OF the old
house in which he had been born, and
talk to Zelda with an ease and pleas
ure that he had not known since she
came home and went to her father in
stead Of going to live with her aunt or
with himself, which would have been
the sensible thing for her to do.
1 think have begun to live" re
peated Zelda.
Il hope you are happy Zee. To be
happy's the main thing. There is moth
ing else in the wide world that counts;
and 1 say 1t. whose life has been a fall
ure"
You shouldn't talk so! You must
remember that I'm letting you be good
to me. kinder and more helpful than
any one ever was before to anybody,
just because you said you couldn't be
happy any other way"
Yes; I'm going to lead a different
life." he said, ironically 1T doesn't
pay to cherish the viper of enmity in
ones bosom. But l suppose there's a
certain fun in hating people, even
though you never get a chance to even
up with them"
You still have a little lingering pa
ganism in you. But it's disappearing.
Olive tells me that you and Captain
Pollock have quite hit it off. He ought
TO have called you out and made you
fight for the snubbings you gave him.
Bah. I'm a little absent minded,
that's all" But Merriam smiled when
he remembered Pollock. by the way,
I've accepted his invitation for to-mor-
row afternoon to drive out to the post
site with him. l believe you are asked
And Olive and Morris? Which wing
of our family is Pollock trying to break
into, will you kindly tell me? He has
shown you rather marked attention, il
seems to me-"
" GU are quite likely to have a niece
in the army. I fancy that it's all ar
ranged; of course, it's been Olive al
the time. She hasn't told me yet-but
she doesn't have to tell mel"
1t rained the next day and Pollock
telephoned to the members of his part,
that the excursion would be postponed
Zelda hoped that Olive would come III
to the house, and when the bell rams
she thought it was her cousin anf
called 10 the black Angeiine, who Still
acted as Polly's assistant, to bring Mis-,
Merriam directly up stairs But it wa,
Norris Leighton whom the gil an.
nounced
III be down In a moment" she said
, fA I'd ,Et
where she had so often pondered rrea
and little matters during the year, (
troubled look upon her face. consider.
ing many things. The fact that he,
mother and Morris father had ono,
been lovers, as blurted out by her faith.
er in his rage and confirmed bv he
uncle, had impressed her profoundly,
she was not a morbid girl but ther,
seemed something uncanny In the
story, and she had determined tho.
Morris should never again speak word,
of love to her. 1t was all too pitiful,
she had no right to any happiness tha,
Morris might bring her: and her,
again her mothers memory seemed L
follow and lay a burden upon her. sh,
was sorry that she had not asked tn,
maid to excuse her, but it was too lat,
and she went down to the parlor wiz!
foreboding In her heart.
Morris was standing at the windov
watching the rain beat upon tn,
asphalt in the narrow street outside
He turned quickly as he heard he
step.
You are a brave man to venture on
an a storm like this! or course, yo,
knew that our excursion is off? Can
tain Pollock ;elephoned that we'd wal
until a better day"
i understood so. But was keye,
vacation pitch and I thought yor
wouldn't mind If came--if I didn'
stay very long"
"Of. of course-if you don't stay yer,
long; but you needn't stand-au tn
time!"
You wouldn't have had me keep m
office 8 dreary afternoon like this It
rather cherries in our Office on rain
days, / should like you to know"
Her father came to the door and hes
itated.
Wont you come and share our drt
father?" Zelda asked.
mo, oh. no! I'm quite busy. It's
very bad day, Mr.. Leighton" He turn
ed and they presently heard him climb
1AS lis SAaiAS 10 MS room.
1t was very stiu in the parIor. an
the wind outside sobbed through th
Cd cedars in accompaniment to tn
splash of the rain. 1t was very swee
TO her to know that Norris was 9
near; there was in his presence in tn
house at this unwonted hour of the da
q suggestion of something intimate an
new. She was looking away from hi
into the fire when he rose and Dire
close to her.
L have come TO ask you to do som
thing for me-" he said. I want you
sing me the song-nly song-the or
that means-so much-that means ey
erything."
7 can't, can't! Please don't as
me"-and she clenched her hands upc
her knees.
You hurt me once-when you kne
you did, when you wished me to |
hurt when I spoke to you of the sor
of my song-of our songI But wa
You to sing it to me now, Zee, and
you can sing Ii and then tell me tn,