Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1862-03-08
Aunt Betty's Niece, Or Stage Coach
Condolences.


"Ahem / see a prospect of su-
perabundant mass of enjoyment, if l
am to be the solitary occupant of this
vehicle for the next twenty four hours.
| thought omnibus meant for all, but
if this one don't belle its character |
must be the living representative of
my ccantry's motto, E pluribus unum;"
and the young gentleman indulged in
prolonged whistle, by way of inter-
lude to his soliloquy. 81 wonder what
under the stars and stripes ever led
Aunt Betty to choose such an unreas-
enable place IS a residence, but there's
no accounting for old maids, U'm glad
l amt one) and then there's that niece
Of hers-but Jefferson Davis! what
pretty girl and she's going to get in,
too, q really wouldn't mind if it took
eight hours to get there, ,now);" so run
ming his fingers through his glossy
locks and arranging his cravat in yet
more captivating tie, Mr. Rodolphus
+. Pollywog assisted the young lady
to enter, with his rsost excruciating
boy. A low "Thank yeu," and height
ened color at his admiring glance was
the rejoinder.
But Mademoisele did not seem in
clined to be sociable, but taking book
was soon 30 deeply interested that
there were prospects of her reading
from then till Christmas, unless she
should happen to stop beforehand
At last, after an hours drive, they
reached their first stopping place, and
Mr.. r. x. P. amused himself by gaz-
ing admiringly at the painted hotel
sign and dilapidated piazza, on which
was sitting in a striking attitude red
haired lady, attired in robe of corne-
lian hue, and couple Of marigolds
coquetishly arranged among her tress-
es. But at length he got tired of his
survey, and turned his eyes in another
direction, observing a qnizzical smile
lurking round the mouth at the other
end Of the stage. An answering one
broke the ice, and in few moments
they were Chatting as sociably as if
they dated their acquaintance by
months instead of minutes.
Our friend Rodolphus was Of a COM
munlcatlye turn, SO in little while he
not only informed her who he was and
where he was from, but furthermore
told that he was going on a visit to an
old aunt, and that he had an object in
so inficting himself. "To tell the
truth" said he, confidentially, 'she has
niece who is a ward of hers, and
this young lady has just come into
fine property of ten thousand dollars.
SO Aunt Betty wrote that she wanted
me to come up, as Annie Pearson was
going to leave school, and she did not
want a chit of girl around the house,
and if would 60 up and marry her
she would give us her blessing and
three thousand more, making fifteen
thousand in all, and that's not to be
sneezsd at these times.''
"No, indeed" said his fellow travel
er, "but suppose you find Miss Pearson
is homely and disagreeable."
90, she's not that, for Aunt Betty
wrote that she was very pretty, and /
must hurry up if l wanted to get her.
l ought to have gone up Saturday, as
she went home from school then, but
l couldn't; but couple Of days makes
no difference you know, and / am zoo
sure of my prize to be in any hurry"
cit may be that she will not fancy
you," said the young lady archly.
"There's no doubt of that; baaux
are at toe high premium since the
war began, and In fact Pm not sure I'll
have her yet; if it had not been for
the ten thousand dollars I should not
have given her second thought. If
she's pretty, agreeable, accomplished,
intelligent, and every way unexcep-
tlonable, | will make her Mrs. Polly
wog, and not unless"
"ls Miss Pearson's q think you said
that was the name property SO arrang
ed that You can take immediate pos
session ?''
''That's just it As [ am not very
partial to the mercantile, I will pay off
my debts with part of Aunt Betty's
blessing, buy a little farm which have
bespoken, and with sufficient help, the
proceeds and six hundred a year will
enable us to live very comfortably
that Is it | make up my mind to take
her. Ii the times were not SO con-
foundedly hard, it would be good
while before / would sacrifice myself So"
" You show very commendable
spirit, and | hope Miss Pearson will
prove worthy of you.''
By this time they had reached the
last stopping place but one, and the
stage which had hitherto been vacant
now filed, SO the conversation turned
upon unimportanr topics.