Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1863-01-29

put into all the raff1es, winning at last q
large wax doll, several sizes bigger than
child of six months. AS this last acquisi-
ton embarrassed me a good deal, gave
it back to hel, and afterwards saw her sell
il over again for a considerable sum to a
good -natured old gentleman.
You make capital shopwoman," l
said
"Ah, yes, have some tolerable lodges.
l did good business, before you came, in
faded sixpenny bouquets, which l sold for
five shillings. They were SO worthless
that good many people gave them back
to me. and sold them over again. sold
one nine times, and made forty five shil-
lings by it !" and she gave merry laugh
at the folly Of some people" with sly
glance at me. ventured On tender re-
proach. And nothing whispered to you
to keep bouquet for mel" mo, indeed;
but can get you rosebud, a beauty, if
you like" aud off she danced, waving me
back, when l would have followed; and
reckoning to an elderly, grave.looking
person, who stood by the stall, and who
was to all appearances the father of the
charming coquette.
She soon came running back breathless,
her hands full of lovely rosebuds. On the
! way she attacked that stiDgy Mr. Screw
ker who would not buy the hood, and
whom she now tried to tempt with half
opened Glorie de Dion.
"How much do you want for it2 said
he.
Whatever you please" was the de-
mure reply.
He pulled ont handful of silver, and
was, | suspect, locking for siXpence,
when in moment she bounced on the
whole handful, with an oh ! thank you.
you are too generous )" and swept it into
her pocket. The fellows dismay was de-
licious to behold; but he could only SUBJ
mit tor she was off again directly, and
distributing her floral tavors right and
left, till, when she reached me, there was
only one lett.
Now what will you give for this?'
"Anything, everything, all the money
have left" cried, thrusting my hands
into my pockets. But, alas! they were
empty; nor could all my searching bring
to light more than one miserable four
penny piece. Imagine my disnay.
my dear girl,7' stammered, lyon see
this is all | have LETT"
ooh, you surely can't intend to be so
mean9 when | ran all the way up the gar
den to fetch them, and prcked my finger
and made it bleed - and held out little
white, punctured toreinger, to verify her
words. You have your watch" she adj
ded, and you can redeem it to morrow"
L own felt rather staggered at this. Ny
watch was valuable family relic, set
with brilliants, and on the safety of which
depended the tavors of an aged and grouty
uncle, of Grabbed disposition and enor.
nous wealth. But the blue eyes were
fixed on me, and seemed to wonder at my
delay. All prudential considerations van
lshed. | placed the watch in one out.
stretched hand, and received the rosebud
from the other.
Wear it tonight, and / will dance
with YOU" she whispered, as our eyes met
for moment.
She turned away with faint blush. and
left the field to dine and dress for the
evening. Dine did | say, and dress?
suppose | performed those operations but
| have no recollection of anything of the
sort. | could only dream of the past, and
hope for the future. If it had been for
any one ell in the world, should have
said that | was going TO make fool of
myself. But an intatuation for her, so
far superior to all existing creatures, could
not but elevate and honor any man whom
she might choose to accept So
started for the ball at ten O'Clock,
fully determined to propose at once.
She was late; but at last | saw her
coming up the stairs followed by her three
sisters, with the mamma and the clergy
man | had seen with them in the after
moor. tancied her eyes rested on the
rosebud in my button-hole, and that they
beamed with soft appreciation. Cheered
by this tacit encouragement, | seized hold
of the first steward | met, and begged him
to introduce me to "t1at young lady"
pointing her out. | thought his face wore
au amused emile as he complied with my
request; but | took little heed Of sur
rounding circumstances, so anxious was [
to catch her name. The usual formula
was pronounced : "Captain BraDthwayte
Miss Neville" " as that the name?
could not be sure. had no time to think
about it, for the waltz began at once, and
| seemed to be floating ia a sea Of bliss
with an angel in my arms, keeping time to
the music of serapbs. At last we landed
on an out-of the way sofa, where | resolv-
ed to ask her to be mine forever. | don't
remember how | began; | mast have been
rather unintellgible at first, tor she look
ed puzzled, and seemed trying not to
smile. But when | managed to stammer
out that knew | was "quite unworthy
of her, yet il the devotion of a life tme,''
&c, she said quietly: 81 think you must
mistake me for one of my sisters" | as
sured her such mistake was quite impos.
sible. "Then you cannot have heard my
name"
"Oh yes said, Miss Neville. lis
tened particularly for your name, and
heard it quite WELL"
"My name is Mrs. Needall; you must
have seen my husband standing by my
stall. The bazaar was for the endowment
of our church, and to build US vicarage
OF course, | worked con amore and took
more money than any one; and think
you were my best customer" she added
with triumphant toss OF her little head
that completely maddened me. | rushed
, from the room, took the next train for
: Dover, and here have been ever since
most miserable man | had not the
! heart to redeem my watch so that in ad-
dition to my other troubles, l have incur.
ed the lasting displeasure of my uncle
and lost the chance of thousands year
, All this because | was fool enough to &c
aud be swindled at a fancy fair CHE
, worst is, that l still love her to distrac
tion.)
. X An old Scotch minister was oftef
obliged to avail himself of the aid of pro-
tationers. One day young gentleman
Of IA 4