Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1914-02-12
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appeared in the snow, and I felt lone
lier than ever, and sad. although Ger
tainly he was better than had expect
ed TO find him. He was man. and
not little cub with body hardly big
enough to carry his forefathers' weak
nesses. But he had a cold eve AID a
warm mouth, and that sort of ma7 IS
generally social success and q niatri-
monial failure
1 had hardly closed the door after
them when it opened again and Mr.
Pierce came in. He shut the door and,
going over to one of the tables, put a
package down on it.
Here's the stun you wanted for the
spring, Minnie" he announced. 4
suppose L can't do anything more than
register Z protest against it2"
You needn't bother doing that" I
answered, unless it makes you feel
better. Your authority ends at that
door. Inside the springhouse I'm in
control"
cts hard to believe, with things as
they are, that I once really believed
that. But I did. It was three full
days later that l learned that ID. been
mistakenly
Well, he sat there and looked at
nothing while l heated water in my
brass kettle over the fire and dissolved
the things against ThoDurn's quick
eye the next day, and he didn't say
anything. He had a gift for keeping
quiet, Mr.. Pierce had. 1t got on my
nerves after a while
Things are doing better" I re-
marked stirring up my mixture.
Yes he said, without moving.
'Miss-Miss Jennings and the-von In
valid were here just now, weren't
they? I passed them on the bridge"
Yes"
"What-how do you like him"
Better than l expected and not so
well as l might" l said
Mrs. Hutchins came out to the
springhouse the next morning She
was dressed in black silk with real
lace collar and cuffs, and she was so
pulled up with pride that she forgot to
be nasty to me.
Il thought I'd better come to you,
Minnie" she said Mr.. Carter has
put the-has put Mr.. Won invalid in
the north wing. cannot imagine why
he should have given him the coolest
and most disagreeabie part OF the
house"
| said I'd speak to Mr. Carter and
try to have him moved, and she went
away. but [ made up my mind TO talk
to Mr.. Pierce. The sanatorium bust
ness isn't one where you can put your
own likes and dislikes against the com
fort OF the guests.
| was sick enough OF hearing OF Mr.
Won invalid before the day was over
All morning in the springhouse they
talked Mr.. Won invalid They pretend
ed to play cards, but they were really
playing European royalty. Every time
somebody laid down a queen. he'd say,
die few years ago." And when they
played the knaye, they'd start off about
the prince again
In the afternoon Mr. Won invalid
came out to the springhouse and sat
around. very affable and friendly,
drinking the water. He and the bishop
grew quite chummy. Miss Patty was
not there. but about four o'clock Mr..
Pierce came out He did not sit down
but wandered around the room. not
talking TO anybody. but staring, when
ever he could. at the prince. Once
caught MI Won Inwald's eyes fixed on
him. as if he might have seen him be-
fore.
Senator Blggs was the one who real
ly caused the trouble. What do you
think OF American women, Mr. yon In
wald?" he asked, and every body
stopped playing cards and listened for
the answer. As Mr.. Won invalid repre-
scented the prince, wouldn't he be like
ly to voice the princes opinion Of
American women?
It's my belief Mr.. Won invalid Was
going to say something nice He
smiled as If he meant to, but just theh
he saw Mr.. Pierce in his cornar
sneering behind his pipe. They looked
at each other steadily, and nobody
could mistake the hate in Mr. Pierce's
face or his sneer After minute
the prince looked away and shrugged
his shoulders, but he didn't make his
pretty speech.
American women!" he said. turning
his glass OF spring water around on
the table before him, they are very
lovely, OF course But they are spoiled.
fearfully spoiled. They rule their par
ents and they expect TO rule their hus-
bands In Europe we do things bet
ter; We are n0t-what is the English :?
-hag- ridden"
There was sort OF murmur AMONG
the men, but the women all nodded
as IL they thought Europe was entire
ly right. They'd have agreed with
him il he'd advocated sixteen wives
sitting cross-legged on a mat. like the
Turks Mr.. Pierce was still staring at
the prince.
What l don't quite understand, 4 Mr.
Won invalid" the bishop put In III his
nice way, is your custom OF expsEtiug
a girl to bring her husband a certain
definite sum OF money and to place it
under the husbands control. } Our
wealthy American girls control their
own money" He Was thinking OF Misc
Patty. and everybody knew it.
The prince turned red and glared at
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EXCEPTION THAT WAS FATAL