Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1873-05-15
4 NOVEL SPOILED.
BY KATE w. HAMILTON

BY hATE w. HAMILTON
THE heroine was not beautiful, to begin
with not queenly, not in any wise re
markable. She was juSt plump, Win
some little maiden, and she stood at the
garden gate, that moon-lit Sunday evening
with an air the very reverse of StatelinesS
and composure, pulling leaves from the
rOsc-bush near by with nervous, t1uttering
fingers that did not even know when the
thorns pricked them. Outside the gate
was a tall figure, face bronzed and beard
ed, and low voice uttering words half
pleading half resentful. There was a mo-
ment's pause, then the voice questioned
with dash of bitterness
"Shall | go, Maggie?'
Just as YOU please, Mr. Clifford :"
WhereupOn the Questioner turned suddenly
about and strobe rapidly down the country
road crushing the glittering sand under
his feet, while Maggie sped into the house,
up to her room, and bolted her door as If
afraid Of being pursued. She peeped
through the window, from behind the cur
tain, until the lonely pedestrian on the
quiet road had vanished from sight; then
she assured herself that if Tom chose to
act so-so-she didn't care" and proved
her utter indifference by burying her face
in her pillow with burst of sobS, and en-
tire torgettulness Of the pansies in her
pretty hat.
They had Quarrelcd about nOthing-at
least she couldn't remember what it began
Without, OF course, it was all over be
tween hem now, and lie would 90 away
as lie had said. She wondered, as she lay
with her flushed, fearful face turned to-
ward the stars, how it would seem to die
that night, and 90 away from it all
Wouldn't somebody be sorry then? She
almost wished she could do it-not quite,
because one doesn't like to stop in the
middle of story, even if it is ones own
and, beside, what good would his remOrse
do her if she never could know anything
about it:
Tom, on his homcWard walk, discoursed
fllriously to himself on the fickleness and
perycrsity of all woman-kind. Not one
of the whole race worth breaking a fellow s
heart for" he remarked savagely, though
with queer little CULVER about his lips
the while. One thing was certain he
would not stay moping there The world
was wide, and there was nothing now to
place in the village store, and Join the
party for Arizona Yes, he would take
the first train for the city, and tell Golfer
he would go; there was fortunately time
enough for that vet, and if it left brief
space for preparation, SO much the better
He would not wait for people to change
their opinion, he thought, fancying that
by people" he meant Miss Maggie, but,
III reality, feeling more a faltering of pur-
pose III nearer party.
Let the Sunday night be what it may,
Monday morning follows it all the same.
Maggie was glad that it was Monday
morning, since it left her at liberty to sit
with her sewing it a quiet corner by a
window, unquestioncd and undisturbed,
while busy Aunt Polly, who would allow
no inexperienced fingers to intcrmeddle in
her washing. and lame Aunt Becky, who
always would stay where Polly was, were
in the kitchen adjoining. No ordinary
kitchen was this, steaming, soapy and dis
consolate but large, pleasant, tidy room,
where Aunt Becky could enjoy her arm
chair and her knitting together with Aunt
Poly's discourse. The latter lady was
unusually talkative on wash day Possibly
being surrounded by tubs and piles of
linen suggested, vaguely, a pulpit or
speakers stand, or perhaps, having had all
Sunday to think in, her opinions needed
were laid away for the week. At any
rate Miss Polly had way of doing up the
world and her washing together
Most through, Polly?" qucstiC ed Miss
Becky, as she always did every halfhour.
Cant say | am" responded Miss Polly
with snap that shook out a pair of wet
hose and her words at the same time
mot unless view my washin' the same
way these new style poets do the robe of
Righteousness, and think mighty little is
the whole ont. One clean stOckin' is
enough 'cOrdin to them No matter how
much mud body has gone into, so he's
managed to keep one foot out! l don't
b'lieve no such!'
"Whv, OF course; to be sure!" admitted
Miss Becky, with mild Indebtedness.
Curious what kinds of folks this world
does hold, anyhow" pursued Miss Polly,
gazing meditatively into the depths of her
tub There's them that has health on
the brain, now-not that their brains is so
particular healthy neither, that | know of;
but they're always talkin' about it. You
must do this, and you mustn't do tother,
Tor fear you'll Spite your constitution and
all your bylaws. Some of 'em says it's a
sin to be sick. Pears to me, if that's so,
the slcker you get the wickeder you must
be, and dyin' would seem filter to send
folks to the penitentiarv than to heaven.
1t makes things look considerable mixed
There's the railroad smash-ups, Polly"
suggested Miss Becky, alleviatingly.
"Humph. Wen. I should think there
was. But everybody can't expect to get
killed that way, though the companies
offer great inducements y, muttered Miss
Polly.
Say, Aunt Polly, can't l sail ships in
your tub?" interposed a small voice; and
pair of blue eyes and a head of tangled
yellow curls appeared iii the doorway
But Miss Polly was too busy to notice,
even when the little navigator took silence
for consent, and plunged into her rinse
water with his treasures. In this general
Strengthening up of her mental pantry, she
had just found another article to be labeled
and put away