Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1873-07-03

OF bombshell to her. II am very sorry. ,,
she presently comments with calmest com.
mlSeratiOn
Whereupon he gets bolder "Of course
tor this reason, l seem wholly without the
right, Lillian" knowing to her side throu oh
the daisy punches while he speaks), .soi
saying that | want you for wife You
are really beyond my reach All your
friends will say so. Nearly everybody
Will believe that | covet not you, darling
but your fortunen
"My fortunen She opens upon him
the widest eyes of amazement ''Who on
earth told you that had more than a few
hundreds IA year,"
tie finds voice enough to answer, and no
more than to answer:
''Mrs. Health
He sees strange look cross her face al
this. Then she suddenly turns her back
upon him and walks away with head bent
crOundward.
He does not follow her for some little
time, but remains with eyes fixed in one
straightforward stare, both hands tuggino
industriously at his moustache. After ,
while he moves toward the spot where She
is now standing. He is very close to her
before he speaks her name.
Lillian" =
She half turns He discovers that her
face is set and hard.
"Well?" she responds, neither coldly
nor cordially.
II guess, though | am not sure, that you
and | have both been thinking very much
the same thoughts"
No answer Presently he continues: Il
mean we have both been thinking thai
Mrs Heath ~
Here he pauses.
She faces him then, murmurine
quickly:
well! What about Mrs. Heath?"
"She is good Halter; that is all Dc
you agree with me?"
A rapid and bitter laugh leaves the girls
lips. Yes. She hates me because she
believes | tried to make Archie Heath
break with her and marry me; which is a
false belief, by the way. Why does she
hate your
tie echoes her bitter laugh then.
r or good reasons. | behaved more or
less aDomlnably to her when I was rich
and eligible Rufus Dalgrish, when she was
poor and scheming little Fanny Chiches-
ter
After that there is quite long pause.
She breaks out at last: eve are quite far
from nome, and we must remember what
our estlmable hostess said about getting
back in time for dinner
Somehow their eyes meet Just here, with
strong, mutual regard of each others
faces NO matter what the search pre-
clsely tells each of them. 1t results, as
Tar as Dalgrlsh is concerned, in some
words something after this fashion:
Lillian Martel, you and | both started
with an idea OF marrying each other for
money. We were the merest blind pup
pets in the hands of rather clever and a
very revengeful woman. To-day we have
both been undeceived. Mrs Heath's re,
venge is accomplished, | suppose. She
has fooled you; she has fooled me-"
Lillian Martel has avcrted her eyes from
his face She just bows for answer.
For my own part he presently re-
commences, "it seems as if worldly policy
could only dictate one course to each OF
US"
She shrugs her shoulders. 'Do you
mean go home to dinncr?"
Yes"
VERY well. Suppose we 60"
Their eyes have met again. Rufus Dial
grlsh thrusts forth his hand for her to take
OF strong passion.
we strike an agreement, you and l."
"An agreement" Qaying her hand in
hisl
"Yes. To make Mrs Heath's revenge
perfect. To marry each other. I love YOU
as | have loved no woman before; as
shall love no woman again. | am willing
to take you even if your hundreds yc3l
are titties-are tens-are nothings Will
you take me with the same brilliant pros
pects?"
Her reply is not in words She throws
herself upon his breast and sObS there for
good three minutes Of time When she
at length lifts her face to his, he sees that
it is very April of smiles and tears
''DOn't you think, Rufus, that we deserve
to be called the worst match of the sea
SOM"
Il haven't doubt of it, darling. I don't
see how we are going to live at all except
in Cleveland where there is some slight
chance for me-
She laughs a good, clear, hearty laugh
''That will indeed be across the hills and
far away won't it? What are those
words?
Across the hills and far away,
Beyond their utmost purple rim,
And deep into the dying day
The happy princess followed him
| am the happy princess and you are
him Goodness gracious, Rufus dear!'
We'll, darling; what has happened?"
"1our eye? It's getting awfully black
You don't tell me so! | was half
afraid that it would"
She winds both arms about his neck.
"What a day Of misfortunes this has been
for your
He almost frowns with the earnestness
of his answer, while leaving long, pas
sionate kiss on her uplifted lips. at is a
day of blessings rather. | weigh Mrs.
Heath's hatred and my black eye against
Lillian Martel and years of hard work in
Cleveland. One is a feather; the other is
lump of gold"
After that they begin their stroll home
ward, arm in arm,-Gazary.
A Hindu Doll Marriage.