Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1873-01-30
WHY

is cnarltaDIe 10 suppose LHdt Sne Olu NOT
remember that she was as con 5picuous as
the other pretty ornaments in the window,
that were displayed for the appreciation
Of the passers-by.
If we may be allowed to borrow a word
from Mr.. Emerson, we ought in justice to
Miss Zuretta Aurelia's beauty to say, that
compared with the other ornaments she
was the '0therest," for she not only posed to
perfection, but she had the rare art of
adapting her costume to her face and fig
ure, and was, therefore, we'll worth gazing
at, as she herself knew.
John and Harry were sauntering along
the street, arm in arm, their heads close
together, as if INDUCING in a confidential
chat. Suddenly John threw up his chin
with a CHEEKY laugh, and as he did so his
eve fell upon the bay-window and the
beautiful face and figure in it.
"Whewr' he calculated, drawing in his
breath and expressing himself by faint
whistle.
"Well ?" asked Harry, stopping short
in an animated description of his last
frolic
"Look, Harry, without seeming to do
so, and tell me if that baywindow yonder
contains mortal or goddess"
Rather ecstatic, you see, but then
John was young, and overlooking by ma
ture.
A bit of crimson came into his cheeks
as Harry glanced toward the young lady.
He raised his hat, smiled and passed on.
"Is it possible that you enjoy the &C
quaintance Of such divinity, and remain
satisfied with only a recognition? You
might, at least, make a call and introduce
me. Don't you see am ready to bow
down and Worship"
The crimson on Harry's checks deep
ened little, as he looked into his COM
panions face.
'Are you in earnest?"
"Never more So"
81 will present you on one condition"
'Name it; anything within reason"
cit is not so very serious. All l ask is
that you shall now and then glance at the
cornice above Miss Wardieu's head"
at the cornice? Why c0rnices VIII
not any other part Of the ceiling do?"
laughed John, wondering what strange
device was to be seen there.
"You are not to question me. Come"
The two young men had passed the
house before the colloquy was finished.
They stood upon the corner a moment,
as if to gain confidence, then sauntered
back past the baywindow, and rang the
bell.
Miss Zuretta Aurelia was quick to per-
ceive the retrograde movement of her
admirers. The moment she saw them re-
turning she retired to her reception nook,
pretty divan in the corner, where the
light fell softly upon her, in an artistic
way, and with just enough of it to OBJ
scure defects, and tone any heightened
color of the cheeks.
John and Harry had glimpse of her
through the open door, before they were
announced.
Harry smiled in a queer way, then en-
tered the parlor.
What with the graceful cordially of
their reception, and the diffidence with
which John was inspired, all recollec.
tons Of his promise to look up were for.
gotten.
The weather was discussed, the sight.
seeing talked over, mutual acquaintance
alluded to by Harry and Miss Wardieu,
until at last in due order routine they
came to music, the reluctant resort OF
most young men.
Miss Warden did not sing simple airs,
she said. She ''doated," poor thing, on
operas. "Doated" is Miss Zuretta's ex.
preston, not mine. I suppose there are
young men in the world with courage
enough to marry an opera singer, but
am thankful 1t is not one of my rights
and privileges!
Can any one tell why pianos are offer
so arranged that the performer must face
the wall and shoulder the audience:
Would it not be an improvement for the
player always to confront the listener?
John was bordering these things when
glancing at Harry, he saw that he was alb
sorbed in an examination of the ceiling
that instantly attracted his own atten
ton, and reminded him of the one condi
ton upon which he had secured the intro
duction.
He looked along the cornice. There
was nothing peculiar about it that ht
could perceive. 1t was plain and not I'm
like many others. He ran his eve over i
again to make sure that there was moth
ing unusual about it, then glanced a
Harry, who bit his lip and looked down
to conceal the merry twinkle in his owl
eyes.
Again John glanced at the cornice
and this time the truth began to dawr
upon him, for just over the piano was al
immense cobweb, the like of which ha(
never before been seen in parlor, a
least by him. 1t was a spiders web
worthy the attention of Agassiz. It wa
woven, and interlaced, and subdivided
ana tlmestained, showing how leisurel,
II mad been constructed, and how Ions
Madam Spider had maintained her resi-
dence there. In the centre of the net
work the long-legged matron was feedin,
OH an unfortunate fly, that buzzed AMI
struggled in it's frantic efforts to free if
self: Very useless efforts they were, too
Tor the struggle grew more and more fee
PIE the buzzing fainter, and John knew
the victim was dead. He drew in hi
breath then, and looked at Harry, VIII,
$50 it was the cobweb Harry wanted
me to look at" unused John. "Now WIS
for?" A a. lila
Just then Miss Wasdieu braced ber
self to achieve musical success. Dow,
came her shoulders, her chest EXPANDED
she Wlggled right, and she wiggled left
ana rolled her eyes up in the musical
frenzy style, that must be seen to he an
preclated. She run the scale dow o ar