Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1873-05-29

him to explain" John, L am sorry to say
lost patience, and "snubbed" our little
cousin shamefully.
"Mv dear Miss Floy," he said, very
blandly, eff were not afraid ofotfending
a young lady who has completed her edu
cation | would advise you not to attempt
at present work Of this profound nature
Kate has in her library a book entitled
Short Lessons in Natural History for
Youthful Beginners which, If you really
| desire to learn, you will find both anus
| ing and Instructive"
THANK you, sir" said Floy, colosing
scarlet, and making him a sweeping
courtesy, I'm sorry disturbed your sub
| lime meditations, even for moment"
From that time Floy, throwing aside
her little pedantic mask, resumed her
curls, her petulance, he sarcastic on
slaughts. One day she wrote parody of
his last article-very cleverly done it was,
tures-and left it in plain sight on his study
table Her little sarcastic speeches were
as singing as the wasps' nest she hired
our little Irish boy to deposit in his coat
pocket. The good professor, though
usually indifferent to her attacks, mani
tested at times the irritation of great
dog when a fly tickles his nose too incess-
antly at which time Floy's eXultation was
excessive.
Now, John, I'll take no denial; you
must go to the picnic with u.s.
80, my dear Kate"
You needn't talk if you don't want to
but go you must. It's very bad for you
to cOntine yourself to the society of lies
and cockroaches, and such 'peskv var
mints'-isn't it, Floy, darling-mustn't he
gO?'
Il wouldn't urge him." said Floy, with
naughty shrug, 1.-The flies, the cock
reaches, and the other pretty little crea-
lures would shed more tears over his alb
sence than we are likely to, dare say
John looked really hurt for moment,
as he glanced across the table at his saw
age little opponent. Kate gave her cross
look that appalled, her somewhat.
Come, John, you'll go with u.s."
"Well, yes" John assented at last, with
a sigh of resignation; but to Floy he adj
dressed neither word nor look during the
remainder of the breakfast
Two hours later we were on our way-a
merry party Of thirty or forty at the least
A ride of several miles brought us to
Sylvan Falls, a place whose wild and
romantic beauty rises before me now, like
the memory OF a delightful dream.
Plunging into the woods at once, we fol
lowed the narrow path which led to the
falls, the distant music of which soon re-
sounded in ..ur ears. On We stumbled
often Indian file" over the narrow up
hill and down-hill path that led through
the woods; shouting and screaming as we
clambered over the huge rocks that often
strove to arrest our way. The music OF
the falls grew louder and louder, and at
length a sudden turn in the path brought
them to our view. Down what seemed a
huge stairway heWn in the solid rock they
plunged, bursting into a white fury OF
foam over the detached pieces of rock
which here and there strove to intercept
their mad career.
| Here we paused to rest, admire the
scenery, and eat our luncheon, for which
the most poetic mind was by this time
ravcnOuslv anxious. With two exceptions
we We're all in the best Of spirits. One Ct
| these was John who never much at his
ease in such a gathering, began to feel eX-
cessively "bored," and took the earliest
opportunity to slip off, unperceived. The
other was Floy who, for such a naturally
bright little body, appeared uncommonly
! dull; and after while, she too slipped
away, deserving several youthful admirers
who had been trying to entertain her
! The history Of her subsequent adventures
! [ received from Kate.
! FlOy, when she set out had no intention
of roaming to any distance; but, absorbed
| in her own rather sorroWful reflections
| she wandered on insensibly. Poor little
coquette, She now suspected, | think
that she was becoming entangled in the
| net she mad cast for another, and was by
no means so insensiblc to Johns GOODNESS
as she would have had Us imagine 1t was
not ill she had wandered some distance
| that feeling of loneliness oppressed her
and she turned to retraCe her steps. But
| that was no light matter; it was easy, very
| easy, to lose OnC's-sclf in these old woods
| Amid all the crooks and turns and deyi
| Gus pathways, the poor child soon found
| herself beWildercd, and began to cry in
sad earnest. Then she called for help
! but no voice answered her. Plungino
| desperately at last into a path she had 4;
vague hope might lead her IN the righ
direction, she followed it for some dis
lance, pausing, all at once, with violent
| start as in a little thckct on the side OF
| the hill she saw-JOhn Durham,
| Floy's feeling was one OF intense relief
| the next instant she sprang back into the
shelter of the trees III follow at dis
| lance" she muttercd, ''but not let him see
me for the world-the pompous ole
prig!"
| Still she could not, for the life of her
help putting out her little head to see wha
the "pompous old prig' was doing. Will
his hat lightly extended in his hand, al
expression Of mingled rapture and ankle
| ty on his face, he was stealing cautiously
toward the edge Of the bank. There, evi
| IDENTIFY, in the center of that wild rost
| tapestry, swinging so gracefully from tree
to tree, had settled the prize he was SC
anxious to secure. Floy watched him,
| look Of mingled amusement and contemp
comicaily depicted on her pretty face.
There, now, one would think the whole
world depended on his catching that but
tertly | hope you'll lose her, Mr.. Pom
pOuS. Good. she's t1uttered off. Now hi
| follows her all excitement. Gracious
he's just on the edge of the bank! Shal
| call? Nonsense! He's big enough t.
take care Of himself. He wouldn't thanh
me-Om
With a piercing shrek Floy sprans
| from the thicket where she had concealed
herself. John, in the hurry and excite
ment of the chase, had set his foot upon
rolling stone. The consequences were
disastrous. Over the steep bank he went
clutching vainly at the brambles for sup
port. An appalling silence followed.
| Floy stood one instant, white and almos
stunned with the sudden shock. Ther
she rushed forward gained the bank, anC