Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1915-04-08


father urged him forward. He was
only a boy, l know, but his dishkes
meant something, and if it ever hap
pened that he spoke out his whole
mind, you may be sure that some very
bitter words passed"
Was this meant as an innuendo?
Impossible to tell. Such nervous,
fussy little bodies often possess minds
Of unexpected subtlety. Deborah gave
up all hope of understanding her, and,
accepting her statements at their face
value, effusively remarked:
You must have a very superior
mind to draw such conclusions from
the little you have seen. have heard
many explanations given for the
breach you name, but never any so
reasonable"
A fash from the spinster's wary eye,
then a burst Of courage and the quick
retort:
And what explanation does Oliver
himself give? You ought to know.
Mrs. ScoviIle."
4 liz G1ILc|h " % do 5udOCL do II " al
unexpected. Deborah flushed and
trimmed her sails for this new tack,
and insinuating gently, Then you
have heard" waited for the enIght-
eminent these words were likely to
evoke.
1t came quickly enough.
THAT he expected to marry your
daughter? Oh, yes, Mrs. Scoville; it's
common talk here now. l hope you
don't mind my mentioning it."
Deborah's head went up She faced
the other fairly, with the look born of
mother passion. and mother passion
only
"Reuther is blameless in this mat
ter" she protested. "She was brought
up in ignorance of what l felt sure
would prove handicap and misery to
her. She loves Oliver as she will never
love any other man, but when she was
told her real name and understood
fully what that name carries with it,
she declined to saddle him with her
shame. That's her story, Miss Weeks +;
one that hardly fits her appearance
which is very delicate. And, let me
add, having once accepted her father S
name, she refuses to be known by any
other. I have brought her to Shelby
where to our own surprise and Reu
theirs great happiness, we have been
| kindness for which we are very CRATE
full"
Miss Weeks got up, took down one
Of her rarest treasures from an old
etagere standing in one corner and
laid it in Mrs. ScoviIle's hand.
For your daughter" she declared
Noble girl! hope she will be happy
The mother was touched, but not
quite satisfied yet of the giver's real
feelings towards Oliver, and, after
thanking her warmly, remarked:
There is but one thing that viii
ever make Reuther happy, and that
she cannot have unless a miracle oc
ours. Oh, l do not wonder you smile
This is not the day Of miracles. But
| if my belief in my husband could be
| shared; if should be enabled to clear
| his name, might not love and loyalty
be left 70 do the rest? Wouldn't the
judges objections, in that case, be re
moved? What do you think. Miss
Weeks?"
There! we will say no more about
| it." The little woman's attitude anC
voice were almost prayerful "You
/ have Judgment enough for two. Be
sides, the miracle has not happened.
she interjected. with a smile which
seemed to say it never would.
Deborah sighed. Whether or no.
! it was quite an honest expression O.
| her feeling we will not inquire. She
was there for a definite purpose anC
her way to it was, as yet, far from
/ plain. The negative with which she
! followed up this sigh was one of sor
! rowful acceptance. She made haste
/ however, to qualify it.
But have not given up all hope.
know as well as any one how impos
sible the task must prove, unless 1 car
light upon fresh evidence. And where
am to get that? Only from some
new witness"
Miss Weeks polite smile took on al
expression of indulgence. This reused
Deborah's pride and, hesitating Nc
longer, she anxiously remarked:
/ have sometimes thought thai
Oliver Ostrander might be that wit
ness. He certainly was in the ravine
the night Algernon Etheridge wa;
struck down"
Had she been an experienced actress
of years she could not have thrown
into this question a greater lack of al
innuendo. Miss Weeks, already IN
der her fascination, heard the tone bu
never thought to notice the quick rist
and fall of her visitors uneasy bosom
and so unwarned, responded with al
due frankness:
Il know he was. But how will tina
help you? He had no testimony t.
give in relation to this crime, or ht
would have given it."
That is true" The admission feI
mechanically from Deborah's lips
she was not conscious, even of makins
it Then, as her emotion choke6 he,
into silence. she sat with piteous eye.
searching Miss Weeks face, till she
had recovered her voice, when she
| added this vital question: