Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1914-01-29
oRe MAN
7 MARI IL
GaeNoloRT az 81 Esa lHssa

Pierce SAID. with something Ike nope
in his voice. We'll send for Mt Van
Alstyne' That's the thing. of course.
III send for-er-Jim"
Mr.. Van Alstyne's name is Sam, but
nobody noticed
"Mr. Van Alstynei" repeated Miss
Patty in q dazed way
guessed it was about time to make
diversion. so l knocked and walked
in with the tray, and they glared at
me-,
I've brought your supper. Mr.. Car
ter" I began Then / stopped and
stared oh" | said.
Thank you said Mr.. Pierce, very
uncomfortable Just put it down any
where
stalked across the room and put
it on the table. Then I turned. Pm
sorry" 1 said, but it's one Of the rules
OF this house that guests don't come
to these rooms. They're strictly pri-
yate. It isn't my rule. but if you will
step down to the parlcr--'
Mr.. Pierce took a quick step toward
Miss Patty ard looked down at her.
"About-wLat happened downstairs
tonight he stammered, with the I'M
happiest face / ever saw on a man,
live been ready to knock my fool
head OF ever since. 1t was mistake
4"
MY letter, please said Miss Patty,
| looking back at him without q blink.
Please don't look like that" he
begged. i came in suddenly out of
the darkness. and you-'
/ My letter, pleased" she said again,
raising her eyebrows.
He gave up trying then. He held
out the letter and she took it and went
| out with her head up and scoru in
| the very way she trailed her skirt
over the door-sill But In no fool; it
| didn't need the way he touched the
door-llnob where she had been hold
| ing it, when he closed the door after
| her, to tell me what allied him He
| was crazy about her from the minute
he saw her. and he hadn't Il change OF
! linen or cent to his name. And she,
| as you might say, on the ragged edge
| of royalty, with queens and princes
| sending her sto1uachers and tiaras IN,
| til she'd hardly need clothes. Well
cat-iaay look at a king.
| He went over TO the fireplace, where
| I was putting his coffee to keep II
| hot, and looked down at me.
| I've a suspicion, Minnie lie said
that. TO use vulgar expression, I've
| bitten off more than | can chew in
| this little undertaking, and that Pm
in imminent danger of choking to
| death Do you know anybody, a friend
Of Miss-er-Jennings, named Doro
! thy"
| She's got younger sister OF that
name | said, with a sort OF chill
going over me. She's in boarding
school now"
! oh. no. shes mott" he remarked,
picking up the coffee-pot at seems
| that met her on the train somewhere
or other the day before yesterday, and
ran of with her and married her!"
| sat back on the rug speechless.
| Don't tell me the way of the wicked is
hard; the wicked get all the fun there
| is out OF life, and as far as / can see,
! it's the respectable "in at ten O'Clock
and w at seven" part OF the wicked's
! family that has all the trouble and
| does the worrying.
| IF we could only keep it hidden for
a few days." / said. But of course,
| the papers will get il, and just now,
with columns every day about Miss
Patty's clothes"
Her what '
And all the princes of the blood
| sending presents, and the king not ia.
voring it very much"
What are you talking about?''
About Miss Jennings wedding
Don't you read the newspaper"
| He hadn't really known who she was
up TO that minute. He put down the
tray and got up.
| Il hadn't connected her with the
the newspaper, Miss Jennings" he
said. and lighted a cigarette over the
| lamp. Something in his face startled
me. I must say.
! You're not going to give up now? -
| | asked. | got up and put my hand on
his arm, and | think he was shaking.
IF you do, 1ll-I'll go out and drown
| myself, head down, in the spring"
He had been going to run away
saw it then-but he put hand over
mine. Then he looked at the door
where Miss Patty had gone out and
gave himself d shake.
! I'm stay" he said Wen fight il
OUT OH this line il it takes all summer.
Minnie After all. what's blue blood
to good red blood?"
| Which was almost what the bishop
had said!
Mr. Moody took Indigestion that
night-not but that he always had It,
| but this was woree-and Mira. Moody
came to my room about two O'Clock
and knocked at the door
| You'd better come she said
There's no doctor, and he's awful
bad"
We went down to Mr.. Moody's room
aud he was sitting up in bed with his
knees drawn up to his chin and hot
water bottle held to him
Look at your work, woman" he
said to me when I opened the door
TN dying"