Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1873-07-10

what we should have done without him
.nat summer. 1t was lonely enough at
times as 1t was, for our new neiphbors
were 50 scattered that we saw but little of
them, and even our city friends seldom
came tor more than DAYS stav. so the
young mans visits were doublv welcome
In addition to being an entertaining talker
ne was fine singer, and was always
ready 10 join us in song; he brought the
newest books and revived our love of
botany by constant contributions of wild
| mowers, and regularly on Sunday even
lhgs he escorted us all to church.
90 the summer waned and autumn
came, ana we began to fear that our pleas
ant friend would soon be leaving us for
| coilege. Once Or twice we had preached
the subject, but he seemed inclined to be
llttle reserved about it, and we let it
drop. ~ w 'N' -
~ don't see why he has to 90 at ALL"
said Grace, "he knows enough now"
tie IS certainly very intelligent for a
man OF his age said Arabella, "but of
course he wants to finish his studies. |
wonder what he intends to be- 1t is
strange that he does not tell US more in re.
gard to himself and his plans"
May be Frank can tell u.s." said Oracle
archly
A curious little smile was playing about
Franks mouth.
He left college year ago and is ex-
pecting soon to take partner and begin
business | believe" she said demurelv.
Arabella looked up in surprise. why
thought his uncle spoke as if he We're
still student"
There was some mistake about that I
| Think said Frank. "The farmer was
| or, IL nf l. ID
of Ralph Strong"
| And who is Ralph Strong, t.cn?" ask
ed Arabella in amaZement.
Ralph Strong is farmer Hills hired
man. said Frank, just as if the fact were
something to be proud of
| WHAT cried Arabella sharply.
"He is farmer Hills hired man. re-
peated Frank
"The impudent puppy" exclaimed Ara
bella, completely thrown off her dignity
by this rather startling announcement.
| "Wouldn't base impostor' be a more
appropriate term?" suggested Frank tor
mentingly
lie certainly can not expect US to re
ceive him any longer as a guest" Arabella
went on, Ignoring the amendment.
ave might possibly receive him as one
Of the family, though" said Frank, turn
ing to the window to hide her bushes
a dim perception of the truth began to
dawn on Arabella.
1t is not possible that he has had the
assurance to ask you to marry him?" she
said freezingly.
him. said Frank bravely.
This was a little too much. No words
| could adequately express our consterna-
| all cot nd Of ,or
in silence.
at is just too bad" sighed Grace at
last, with tears in her eyes. It's going to
| spoil all our nice times"
at is ID very pleasant mistake from be-
| ginning to end" said Arabella, with an
effort to compose herself; "but it proves
| cOnclusively that Ralph Strong whatever
else he may be, is no gentleman"
You are wrong theret" cried Frank,
with flashing eyes; and then, like the true
woman she is, she bravely took up the alb
| sent ones defense. 1t seems that the
nephew, Ralph Hill, whom the farmer
went to call on that memorable evening,
was absent at the time. So Ralph Strong
| was sent in his place. Accepting our
cordial invitation to visit us, without the
least suspicion that we were taking him
for other than he was, he had come and
| gone week after week, in blissful ignOr-
ance, until one evening, while cOnfiding
to Frank some bits Of personal history,
he CHANGED to discover the mistake we
were making, and was eager at once to eN-
plain; but Frank, partly from love of
mischief and partly for fear the explana-
ton would put an end to his coming, had
begged him to keep quiet for awhile. $50
the fault is all mine," she said. And now
you may call him what you like-farmer
Hills nephew or farmer Hills hired man
to me he is, and has been from the first,
simply Ralph Strong, the truest and best
man | have ever known" And all
Arabclla's arguments failed to convince
her that ploughing and reaping for farmer
Hill had in any way lessened his man
hood, or that in marrying farmer she
would be booming herself to a life of daily
drudgery. So there was nothing more to
be said, She was Of age, and had a per
feet right to do as she pleased-but it
seemed so odd that Frank, who had refus-
ed more offers than she could we'll remem-
Der, was, after all, going to marry farmer
Hills hired man 1t came to light little
later that he was himself the owner of a
handsome farm, and had hired himself to
farmer Hill chiefly for the purpose of
learning how to manage it, having dis
covered, on leaving college, that he knew
far more Of astronomy than of agriculture;
but even this modifying fact could not
restore Arabella's composure.
Father and mother came home in the
fall, and we all went back to town-and
at Christmas there was wedding. Ara
bella declared that it was disgrace to the
family; but father, who is quic, at read
ing men, said Ralph Strong was worthy
of any woman, and that Frank had shown
her good sense.
They have been married three years
now, and Grace and | 90 every summer to
visit them. Their home is little Eden,
and Frank is as happy as queen. To be
sure, she has some care, as every wife and
mother must have; but [ can't see that she
is one bit more Of drudge" than any
CITY woman; and, as for her husband, he
grows nobler and better every day, as every
true man must who has wife to help
him. Arabella has not yet been to see
them, but | don't think her injured digni-
ty can hold out much longer; for Frank,
with the sweet forgiveness of her nature,
has named her baby for her, and dam
tier "baby Bell" was never seen. They
are going to bring her to town soon, and
Grace and feel sure that she will prove
little peacemaker. Speaking of Arabella
reminds me that last summer we met
farmer Hills nephew himself-the other
Ralph. They say he is rich; but, poor
fellow, he is greatly to be pitied, for he