Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1914-10-08
CHAPTER VI-continued.

CHAPTER V-continued.
"Oh, it's you, Lanny-CoIone1 Ian
Btron!" he exclaimed thickly. 81 saw
that some one had come in here and
naturally I was alarmed, as nobody
but myself ever enters. And Miss Gal
land!" He removed his hat deferentiaI-
ly and bowed; his stoop returned and
the lines Of his face dropped. Il was
so stupid; it did not occur to me that
you might be showing the tower to
Colonel Lanstron"
We are sorry to have given you q
fright" said Marta very gently.
"Eh? Eli" queried Feller, again
deaf. Fright? Oh, no, no fright. 1t
might have been some boys from the
town marauding"
He was about to withdraw, in keep
ing with his circumspect adherence
10 his part, which he played with a
sincerity that half-ccnyinced even him
self at times that he was really deaf,
when the fire fickered back suddenly
to his eyes and he glanced from Ian
stron to the stairway in desperate in
quiry.
Wait, FeIler! Three of US share
the secret now. These are Miss Gal
lands premises. thought best that
she should know everything" said Ian
stron.
"Everything!" exclaimed Teller.
Everything" the word caught in his
throat You mean my story, too?" He
was neither young nor old now. she
knows who / amp he asked.
His story" exclaimed Marta, with
a puzzled look to Lanstron before she
turned to Feller with a look of warm
sympathy. why, there is no story!
You came with excellent recommends
tions. You are our very efficient gar
dener. That is all we need to know.
Isn't that the way you wish it, Mr..
FeIler?"
Yes, just that" he said softly, rails
ing his eyes to her. Thank you, Miss
Galland!"
He was going after another Thank
you!" and a bow; going with the slow
step and stoop of his part, when Ian
stron, with a masculine roughness of
impulse which may be sublime gentle
ness, swung him around and seized his
hands in firm caress.
Forgive me, Gustave!" he begged
Forgive the most brutal of ali IN,
iuries-that which wounds a friends
sensibilities.
why, there is nothing ! could ever
have to forgive you, Lanny," he said
returning Lanstron's pressure while
for an instant his quickening muscles
gave him a soldierly erectness. Then
his attitude changed to one of doubt
and inquiry And you found out that
] was not deaf when you had that fall
on the terrace?" he asked turning to
Marta THAT is how you happened to
get tho whole story? Tell me, hon,
estly!"
Yes"
You saw so much more Of me than
the others, Miss Galland," he said with
a charming bow. and you are so quick
to observe. I am sorry"-he paused
with head down for an instant-"very
sorry to have deceived you"
But you are still a deaf gardener
to me. said Marta, finding consolation
in pleasing him.
Eth? Eh?" He put his hand to his
ear as he resumed his stoop. Yes
yes" he added, as a deaf man will
when understanding of a remark which
he failed at first to catch comes to him
in an echo. Yes. the gardener has nc
past" he declared in the gentle old
gardeners voice, when all the flow
ers die every year and he thinks only
OF next years blossoms-of the fu
turs,"
Now the air Of the room seemed tc
be sitting him, that of the rootless
world of the garden calling him. The
bent figure disappeared around a turn
in the path and they listened without
moving until ne sound Of his slow
dragging fo;.tfalls had died away.
when he is serving those of his
own social station l can see how il
would be easier for him not to have
me know" said Marta. Sensitive
proud and intense and a look OF
horror appeared in her eyes. As he
cans across the room his face was
transformed I imagine If was like
that Of a man giving no quarter in q
bayoLet charged"
FaGer had won the day for himself
where a friends pleas might have
failed. This was as it should be, Ian
strop thought.
''r'ee right yiew-the view that you
wess bound to take! he said.
'4>pd yet, donE know your plans
fer I'm, Lanny. There is another thing
/. consider" she replied, with an alb
ysPs change of :one. But first let US
Saave Fsuers quarters. We are in
traders here"
A man pl-11}:g deaf; a secret tele
ph0aa insts1rl on our premises with
out our zaent-this is all know Sc
far" sasd Marta, seated opposit,
Lanseron - one end of the circular
seSt n the arbor of Merclry.
"Of course. with cur 5000. 0O(
against their 100000, the Grays vii
take the Offensive he said For US
the defensive ID Iir is in an angle
1t does no r~zlong in the permanent