Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1858-10-20
ADELAIDE: or the Consequence O,
Filtration.
By EDGAR G. SELTON.

"Oh, dear, how L Go wish that II
would be clear once aguin. I'm SO
tired of this dull, rainy weather. It
would be just my luck to have it rain
tomorrow, on purpose to keep me from
the Picnic"
"Why, Adelaide, how you talk 1t
may be that to morrow will be a rainy
day, but [ hardly think for the purpose
which you name. Lite has its bitters
as well rs its sweets.''
"There it goes again-always moral
izing! Why don't you become more
cheelft,i?''
q am cheerful. Perhaps, at times,
q shade of melancholy tlnges my brow;
but / have seen more of trouble than
youy and cannot be expected to appear
as gay"
''Lucy, You are strange being
Bat | have something to tell you; I'm
q going to discard my old beau, Jinl-
my I'LL, and, if you pat your best foot
foremost, You may make q conquest"
'Disc;ud James HILL Why, what
do You mean: ! thought you were
engaged"
'Wcll, what if We are ? Ihayc seen
one ike better, and besides, he is
mach wcAlthier than Jimmy is p
and who, pray, is the favored one:'
"Why, who should it be, Livingston
Durw.rd -
"lAdelaide, "a bird i'll the hand is
worth two in the bush;' and | pray you,
stop and consider before you act rash
ly!'
"Ncver mind foe, assd atserse} to what
concerns you. Jimmy may do for you,
but he won't do for me-
The speakers We're two girls Of near
" the same agc-eomewhere about
eighteen. Adelaide was the prettiest,
but Lucy the nEore not|,Ic looking. Lucy
was an orphan, and depended for a
home upon the kindness of Adelaide's
tathcr-her uncle, on her mothers side.
She was used by him the same as
though she were his own child, and
Adelaide always used her kindly, ex-
ccpt when she stood between her and
a desired object.
For one year, Adelaide had been the
affianccd wife of James Hill, an active
Young merchant in the village, whom
she was now about to discard, for a
young southerner who had lately made
his advent III the neighborhood. True.
she knew little Of the latter, but she had
heard that he was wealthy, and she
thought it would be so nice to be a
southern lady, with a score Of servants
at her command, and she resolved pp-
on her course.
The lowering clouds rolled back,
the morrow dawned far and bright. and
Adelaide went to the picnic. Lucy
did not go. Wild rung the merry laugh
from fifty happy hearts, and the old
woods echoed with their shouts. The
day was happy one to all but one
James Hill saw with wonder and sur,
prise the alteration in her he loves-he
was neglected, and the young southern.
cr courted. "What could 1t mean q
He must seek a private interview.
An hour later, and he is in deep con
verSation with the false and fckled
girl. She tell him that once she ''thought
she loved him, but now she loves hin
not" and that "she loves another"
James was astonished, and his hear
was touched. He had loved her well
when he thought her true; but now his
love was turned. He did not hate
he did not scorn, but he pitied the trifl
ing girl,
is made. Henceforth our path of life
is diverse. Once, ah but one short
hour ago, | thought our hopes, our Joys
and our pleasures were one. But vor
have willed it otherwise. [ wish yor
happiness, and hope that YOU never vii
have cause for regret. But should az
hour come when YOU need a friend
you are free to apply to me. Fare
we'll"
Six months from the above event
another scene presents itself at Mr.. LIE
lands.
1t is evening. Beside window sit.
Lucy. She seems less sorrowfui thar
she was when we first saw her. B,
her side sits James Hill, and within hi:
open, honest palm he holds the lily
white hand of Lucy. Listen: ssonce, a.
you are aware, Miss Merton, 1 lovee
your cousin Adelaide. I thought he,
all that was noble, and deemed no
that she could be false. You know Il.
rest. Ny heart was left blank, ant
I felt that cor1d never lows aza:n.-
Time after time, saw your pscs:v.
face, and felt interested. Cos dsv
by chance, our eyes met, and ehen So