Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1873-04-24


her visitor to a seat, wondered how in tn
world he had come to think of pleadin
her cause.
You are very kind, Judge Alden" sh
rejOined, Before coming here, | school
ed myself to do battle with cold rebuffS
and instead, | met with universal kindness
Apart from individual satisfaction, this i
encouraging to a woman who has tn
best Interests OF her sex at heart"
All, my dear lady" was the suave re
ply the entire tendency of your labor
proves the force of your last words. TIL
women of the land have cause to thanl
you for the cOmmOn-sense views YOU hay
disseminated"
Every mite is of avail, | am aware
but hitherto my field of action has beer
so small that the fruit of my efforts can
scarcely have spread very widely through
the land"
You are too modest-too modest
| Why, it would be impossible to estimat,
the good you have done"
| But how do you know anything abou
me? Mr.. Martin has hitherto been m,
only acquaintance here, and with him
~ town possessing the facilities o
ours interrupted the Judge, chucklins
with excessive amusement, while the wis
dom OF an owl settled upon his counte
nance, need scarcely rely upon Mr.
Martin for information. We manage tc
keep up with the current literature of tn,
| day, | assure you"
| Il do not doubt it, yet cannot conceiv,
what you thus learn about me-"
| Truly that is comical remark-yol
must excuse my saying so, Miss Dodge
a most comical remark for lady of YOU
| reputation to make"
Il do not understand YOU" she said, re
| gardlng him with a puzzled air
Why, simply, the author of your writ
| ings-''
My writings-my writings, Why
where have you seen any of my letterS.'
| 1T would be rather absurd to intrudt
upon Miss Dodge's private correspond
ence, when her books and magazine arti
Giles have so large a circulation"
My books? My magazine articles
Judge Alden, | never wrote a line for pub
LEGATION in my life" cried the astonshcC
girl
The little Judge looked seriously of
| Tended, and assumed rather a severe tone
as he replied:
Miss Abigail Dodge forgets that he
! disguise has long since been penetrated
! v,
| the great world, recognizes her identit,
with Gail Hamilton"
Gail Hamilton? /? Oh, Judge Alden
Truly, this explanation of the myster,
never entered my brain. What shall
do? What will the people think of me
| am not Gail Hamilton; my name is no
Abigail. / am simply Annie Dodge, ans
| came here to open a millinery and dress
making establishment in connection Will
! Mr. Martins store Ny reception here
| has astonished me, but | attributed i
To a desire to encourage my industrial
| schemes"
The Judge seemed quite as much iius
tered during this speech as did his pain
fully embarrassed companion. but he wa>
not the man to permit circumstances Ions
to endanger his dignity. Closely ques
tioning Miss Dodge upon the facts Of he
life, he was soon thoroughly convcrsan
with all needful points
My dear Miss Dodge" he then said
you talk well; and if YOU will he guided
by me, You need have no difficulty in ey
Treating yourself from this trif1ing diem
ma"
Hereupon he proposed that she should
consent TO his calling another meeting a
the toWn-hall, and that she should under
take to explain her position as she haC
done to him. Also, he suggested that i
might be as we'll to let it be supposed tina
he and his family had known from til,
first who She was. Without some decisive
step, all her well-matured plans would bt
ruined, and therefore she yielded.
The Judge performed his part Of thu
compact, and after keeping her room al
day, Miss Dodge stood that evening once
more surrounded by an admiring assem-
blage. There was something regal in thu
| girls appearance; her eyes sparklcd witt
an unwonted fire, her complexion wa:
brilliant, and people wondered why they
had never before discovered how hand
some she was. Leaning against her Grim
son-covercd desk, she gazed calmly Owe
the room until hush had fallen upon til,
audience, then she began as follows:
My friends, | learn from Judge Alder
that | have been basking in the SUNSHINE
Of tavors accorded to me under a tota
misapprehension. This deeply mortifie
me; and unaccustomed as | am to speak
ing in public, | cannot rest until | have
explained my position to you. Whel
you hear all, your generosity will, ] trust
eXonerate me from any suspicion Of com
ing among you under false pretenccs."
have found abundant material for invest
cation in that assemblagc when the speak
cr proclaimed that she was not a celc
brated writer, but simply Annie Dodge
| an unknown m0dtste. Some exchanged
chances Of CONSERVATION and surprise
others endeavored to look unconccrncd
as though they had all along been benin,
the scenes; still others, in whom a sens
Of the ludicrous was kcenly developed
seemed heartily to enjoy the discomtitur
Of their neighbors. With one accord
however, all paid breathless attention t.
the musical voice of the noblelOokin
woman before them.
From my earliest Childhood" she SAID
Il have ycarned for independence. d.
not understand that | was imbucd by
QuiXotic desire to wrest from sO-callet
tyrannical man certain vital concessions
| have never found man more tyrannica
than woman, and | hold it for truth tina
as society is at present fashioned, w
women have to great extent in our OWl
hands our veal and our woe. Ever
earnest woman who makes practical us
of the enormous influence she has it il
her power to exert, accomplishes more 10
the good of humanity than hundreds VIII
hlindly pirate about vague rights an
wrongs. Wherever woman turns, WorI
stareS her in the face; and if She strive t
attain tirmncss of purpose and nObl
superiority in the avenues already opene
to her, new ones will present themselye
, when they are needed.