Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1911-08-24
CHAPTER vi

GormIy Announces His Candidacy.
The hall into which Miss Haldane
stepped early the next morning had
been transformed into a perfect bower
of winter beauty. There had been no
time to buy anything; but the most
available pine trees on the place, of
which there were several, had been
Tuthlessly sacrificed, and under CORN.
ly's personal supervision the hall,
magnificent apartment under any cir
cumstances, had been lavishly decor
ated with the fragrant evergreen in
honor of Christmas.
The storm of the night had blown
itself out with the advent Of the day.
1t was a brilliant, sunshiny morning.
The air was clear as a bell and very
crisp and cold. Miss Haldane knew
this; for finding the hall deserted on
her entrance, without more ado she
went out through the vestibule and
stepped on the porch, surveying the
blue waters Of the sound tossing gaily
beyond the ice crust that lined the
shore in front of her The cold and
brisk breeze brought a glorious touch
of red to her cheeks. She incarnated
the very spirit of youth and beauty
and happiness as she re-entered the
hall, and coming face to face with
GormIy wished him again a Merry
Christmas
Gormly had been busy during the
night He actually had not slept a
wink So soon as he had got the
party safely to bed, he had gone to
the stable, and in default of anyone
else who could DO so, he had himself
ridden across the country through the
snow and storm, which was even then
dying out, to notify the people at the
Haldane place of the predicament of
the family and to arrange that maids
and men with proper clothing should
be brought over to his own cottage
early in the morning.
Hence Miss Haldane was under no
necessity of appearing in evening cos
tune at eight o'clock in the morning,
or of making a guy of herself in Mrs.
Bullens extraordinary attire. She had
learned of course, from her maid how
she happened to be there with the
change of apparel
Miss Haldane had not slept very
well; for one reason her thoughts had
dwelt increasingly upon that strange
conversation she had had with her
host She had awakened earlier than
the rest. had dressed Immediately, and
had descended to the hall in hope of
seeing him. Her pleasure and salts
faction sparkled in her eyes as she
extended her hand.
How delightfully."- Christmaslike is
the room; how good 1t smells!" she
said after the first words of greeting.
Il am glad indeed that it pleases
you" answered Gormly, smiling. And
if you will permit me, will repeat my
words of last night or early this morn
ing, and wish you again a very Mer-
ry Christmas and Happy New Year
as we'll"
And l will give you back your wish
with interest" returned Miss Haldane,
as I did last night. I am sure that
we are all intensely grateful to you for
gOul 1O1 SNuOhShI III nav i1IE Tic Alotl0S
and clothes brought over. Felice, my
maid, has told me that you rode over
yourself very early this morning to
carry the news Of our plight, and to
bring them 1t must have been hard
riding"
1T took me back to boyhood days,
Miss Haldane."
az, Al, ,,-0e& o-l-,.1 -, ~
We'll, yes, was the somewhat re
luctant answer, although the greater
part of my boyhood was not spent in
the west"
And this ride in the storm, was il
like the other rides and storms you
have experienced?
This was a very mild affair com
pared to those. l could wish it had
been harder
"Why?"
This time / was riding for another
woman, a different woman
Miss Haldane rather thrilled TO the
direct statement; but womanlike she
changed the subject. She was inter
ested in Gormly, nothing else
D3d you nave tRlS CHRISTMAS ar
rangement of pines made in the hall?"
She asked irrelevantly.
For you-and your party, inter.
posed Gormly with a perceptible break
after the pronoun so as to allow the
fact to permeate thoroughly. L wish,
he added, that circumstances permit
ted me to signalize the season by of
fering you an adequate Christmas
present.
4 have, however, something thai