Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1860-06-09
Only A Mechanic.
"Good evening, Milly."
ksEnnl nrnn.n Nnllu,,

"Why, from your sunny looks, Mel
ly, one would judge you were thinking
OF something very pleasant, or, per-
baps, had Just EN- Dyed a chat with
let. Eh?''
Glow you talk, Milly. What do
you mean %
cit is impossible? Really, you talk
as though you never heard Of such a
thing. Come, let me know all about
it. [ came over this afternoon ex-
pressly to have a chat on this very sub
ject?''
"What subject, Milly ?" asked Nelly,
with puzzled look.
"Why, your engagement, Of course" :"
"My engagement p
| "Certain!y."
"Ana pray, who is Madam Rumor's
choice in th2 n1atter?''
"Madam Rumor's choice! Do you
pretend to say that George Ryan ana.
you are not engaged %
'sGeorge Ryan? Me engaged to that
fellow? Why, Milly, he's nothing bit
q mechanic! DO you suppose I would
disgrace myself by marrying meohan-
io p
No, [ do not.'
''Then Why such astonishment ?''
"Because, I heard o,ily tnis morning.
tnat yon we're certainly to be married,
and pretty soon, too"
II would thank vou. Nilly, Il, t!l3
next time YOU hear any one speaking
nboat It you viii u.Icecieve him, for 7
assure you there is nothing in it.''
"3nt you asked me, Nelly, if tho't
you would disgrace yourself by marry
ing mechanic. ! answered, no! for
two reasons. First, by marrying &
mechanic you viii not Disgrace your
self any more than by marrying one Of
the nrmber!ess fops that hang around
you; and secondly, your papa will tel!
you that he was once a mechanic, and
that he does not see where he disgrace
ed the woman whom you call mother,
by marrying her, and that he once 10
bored from morn till night to earn his
bread, and would have been doing SO
yet bad not fortune kindly lifted him
to the position he now occupies. Do
you wonder why [ say it is no disgrace
to marry a mechanic 2"
Inlecd, NIil'y, / was very foolish to
express myself as did, / am really
ashamed Of it. It was not the true
sentiment Of my heart"
II W?s sure of it, Nelly, and I trust
yon viii guard that naughty tongue Of
yours. It NAV do Won harm"
A slight tinge Of sadness passed over
Nelly's face.
Shortly after this conversation be-
tween MiIly Lloyd and Nelly Knowles,
George Ryan aiscomtitted at his refu
sal by Nelly, left town and located in
the city Of B, where. as architect,
his talents were appreciated, and rich
es soon poured in upon him abundant
~. Yet to the wonder Of everybody
Ryan remained the same plain man as
when he left his native town 2 few
years before.'
Odd yon know Mr.. Ryan and Jes-
| sic Brown were to be married next
week, Nelly % said Milly, now Mrs.
Hutchinson, about five years after
George Ryan's departure from the vii
lage
"No, NIilly, / did not, why?"
''Because | thought you would Ike
to know it, as he was oncessa very init
mate friend Of yours.'
Gone OF my most intimate friends,
| Mily, to whom do you allude %
Nobody else but George Ryan,
whom, [ suppose Won recollect as once
being only a mechanic he is now one
of the vealthiest citizens of B"
"George Ryan, Mnly %
eyes, and they are to be married in
church next Thursd ay."
Milv's last words were lost upon
Nelly, for she had tainted. Her hopes
were blasted, hopes she had secretly
cherished for years, that George Ryan
would vet renew his love, for she real
| !y loved him, although too proud to ac
knowledge it.
llilly soon had the satisfaction oe see
ing her restored to consciousness, when
she left her to the care Of = servant,
and returned home, where g stranger
awaited her.
Good morning, Mrs. Hutchinson"
exclaimed George Ryan, the stranger.
Good morning, sir, but I have not
the honor of knowing your name, tho
it seems to me I have seen your face
before"
eyes, I should think you had; I
recollect you very we'll. Here is my
card"
"George Ryan,
The same" said Mr.. Ryan with 3
polite bow.