Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1860-08-25
The Luck Prediction.
BY CHAS. Il. PRESTON.

w
ears in love with Annie Grafton an
attachment which she was not unwil-
ling to receive, So far, everything
seemed prosperous and plain sailing,
but-my dear reader, did you ever
know more detestable conjunction
than that "but?" Well, the but in
this particular case was that the widow
Grafton, who sustained the maternal
relation to Annie, had decided OBJ
lection to John as son-in-law. n OF
that she disliked the young man. She
admitted that he was steady, good
looking, of an amiable disposition, and
all that-but he was poor He had
learned the trade Of q carpenter, and
though he made fair wages, had thus
far been called upon to support two
sisters, both of whom are now married,
and off his hands, and consequently he
had not been able to lay up more than
two hundred dollars or so.
Mrs. Grafton, on the contrary, was
the owner Of a valuable farm, and
some money in the bank, altogether
no less than two thousand dollars.
This, in a country town entitled her to
one Of the foremost places among the
village aristocracy, and as Annie was
her only daughter, and would inherit
nil the property eventually, she felt that
it would be decided nais-0ziance for
her to marry any one bat rich man,
or if not rich, q member Of one the
learned professions.
SO when John Wyman ventured to
broach the subject to her, she said,
not unklndly, but still very firmly; =
ono, Mr.. Wyman, l cannot give
my consent"
"Have you heard anything against
my character" asked JOHN III tone
of great disappointment.
"Not at ALL" said Mrs. Grafton. ~
believe you to be very correct and
estimable young man, but Annie is en-
titled to look higher"
That is what Mrs Grafton said, in
substance, in response to every appeal
the young man made, and he was
finally obliged to retire from the con-
ference in despair.
But where mans wisdom fails, wo-
mans wit often steps III and avails
much.
When Annie heard from her lover
the report of his conference, she lean
ed her head on her dimpled hand and
said with a smile:
owe won't give up
'EN hat do YOU rea lily think YOU can
bring your mother round ?" said John
eagerly.
Il have strong hopes. I know my
mother better than you do, John, and
| can arrange some way or other to
manage her.-I don't exactly see vet,
but I'll set myself to thinking, and I
guess something or other will turn up
"But if there shouldn't, Annie, do
you think it right that that should
separate rs? Won't you promise to be
mine at any late 90
"No, John, I won't promise to do
that. ] should't want to leave mother
alone"
"Then | am afraid" said John, des-
pondingly, that there is no hope for
us"
"Fie, John, do you distrust nv
power?" said Annie, shaking her head
at him. If that's the case, I've a great
mind to say | won't marry you, even
if mother does consent"
''Anything but that, Annie, but YOU
know when your mother gets her mind
made up about anything, she isn't apt
to give up very easily"
Il know my mother has some strong
points of character, and it is on one of
these that rely for success. / won't
tell you anything about it just yet, but
I'll let you know before is comes off,
With this agreement the two separ-
ated-John not knowing whether to
hope or deSpond, but he felt that if
ever Annie became his wife it must be
through the result of her stratagem.
It was perhaps, a week after the
conversation detailed above. Annie
had taken her mothers decision quite
calmly, much to the lady's satisfaction,
for she loved her daughter, and would
have been panied to see her grieve.
This particular morning, Annie was
unaccountably careless. She managed
to break pane of glass in the setting
room, without the slightest apparent
necessity for SO doing. AS it was a
cold day IN November, and this was
the room where they Usually sat, it was
a matter that must be attended to at
once.
"There, we shall have to send for
Mr.. Wyman to come and put in new
pane," said her mother.
Il have got an errand down in the