Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1873-01-09

Don't go, JOnn!
ono, darling"
And he stayed until the relentless clock
cried out one And Bessie tore herself
away from him and bolted him out. Now
she was in the little parlor alone, with a
sore pain at her heart.
A tap at the window pane. She open
ed the window with haste and joy 1t
was John again, to say goOd-by once
more, to reach up to her and draw her
down to him fol one blissful moment
and she had shut out the cold night air,
and stood alone, weeping. Two years
was so long. 1t was so far away-Cali-
fOrnia!
Some one really said California. Bessie
started and walked, Jim had said it, and
was going on:
''California, Oregon and Nevada"
Bessie had very vague ideas of what
her lover was doing in California-how
he was making the money that was to
make their marriage possible. She wrote
to him once a fortnight, and he wasn't
much of scribe, and wrote once in a
while little, short, loving letters, the main
part Of which was:
II love you, darling. | long to see
you. | am getting on splendidly. Look
for me by the time the wood is out"
Monday morning the village was astir
again. Just as if Christmas, and the
quiet Sunday following had never ssen,
except for the greens which still decorated
the shop-Windows. The village black
smith appeared at his forge, as smutty as
if he had not been seen, washed and
clean, sitting in his pew on Sunday morn
ing. The village grocer drove his hard
bargains, the village barber retailed the
news and curtailed the boards of the viii
lage, and the village ''Charitable Soup
Society" held its meeting in the Sunday
School rooms, under the management of
Miss Pobjoy, who indeed managed every
thing and owned everybody in the vii
lage, and knew more about people than
they did themselves. She was lady of
plain visage, some fifty years of age,
with very soft, insinuating voice, and
slight lisp. To Miss Pobjoy, sorting and
tying up bundles of soup tickets, entered
Mrs. Crowell, the doctors wife.
"Is that you, dear?" said Miss Pobioy.
I've been into the kitchen to look at the
soup, and it's excellent am sure the
poor creatures should be thankful that
the Lord sends them such good things
So I said to my little German cobbler this
morning His wife is sick; and said to
him that he had only to come here to get
the soup, and gave him some tickets,
but he made some excuse about having to
take care of the babies. You know
they've got twins, and their place is SO
dirty ! really couldn't sit down in it
Just pure laZiness, | think. But | said
to him, Don't despair. The Lord will
PROVIDE How is your baby, dear-and
the doctor? Charming as ever, [ sup
pOse?"
"Baby's well, thank you; and the doc
tor has just gone to see your German cob
bler's wife, and I sent my girl there to
clean the place little, and take them a
few things"
Dear me! Tn afraid you'll spoil them,
you dear, charitable creature! Don't
make them dependent. Here comes poor
Mrs. Hotchkiss How she mourns that
husband Of hers; just as much as the day
he died, ten years agoi Good morning,
dear; Pm so glad you felt able to comet"
Mrs. Hotchkiss, widow in conspicu-
Gus weeds, sighed out "Thank YOU"
and threw herself into q chair
''Well, Christmas is over" she exclaim-
ed, ''pm grateful to say. Anniversaries
are so painful to people who have known
sorrow"
Eyes, dear, so painful.' said Miss Pob-
joy, sympathetically. "But the music
was good at church, and the sermon 50
nice and spiritual"
Yes" said the widow, doubtfully,
"but [ couldn't get over seeing Bessie
Paige. do like to see people show some
feeling"
Mrs Crowell ventured to suggest that
some people didn't sAoD all they had; but
her remark prssed unnoticed
why, how, dear?" said Miss Policy
to the widow.
"Why, don't you remember that it was
two years ago on Christmas day that
Bessie Paige buried her father And there
she was with a red bow in her bonnet, as
smiling and clipper as if the day had no
associations for her. And when they
sang the hymn, really the joy expressed
IN her voice was enough to make any one
OF my sensitiveness sick with heartache
for such hardness"
Mrs. Crowell was seen to smile, but
said nothing.
as Miss Pobioy saying something
amusing?' said lady just entering
II have never seen Miss Policy when
she was not entertaining, Miss Flint" an
swered the doctors wife. ''In fact, she's
a host in herself
you're too good, dear" said Miss
Policy, well pleased. "Sarah Flint, I'm
glad to see you Come right here and
tell me the news"
Miss Flint and Miss Poboy felt them
selves in their element when they were
together. 1t was an element dangerous
to the rest Of the world, however delight
full to the two ladies who made it.
"There's no special news, DEAR" an
swered Miss Flint to the others
question, except about Jonn Wash
burn and Silas Bangs. | just met Mrs
Bangs at the post-ofiice. Got a letter
from my Silas, says she He's coming
home. Be here most as soon as the letter,
he says-next Friday perhaps, or Satur-
day And then she told me ever so much
about him and john Washburn. Johns
coming home with him. They've been
getting on splendidly in California. Silas
Bangs says Johns a great favorite with
his principal, and every one thinks John
might have his daughter for the asking.
1t would be good thing for him, would
MT it?''
YES, indeed! She'd have all her
fathers money, | suprose:'
Every cent"
"Well, I'm sure l wish them every
happiness
"Of course you do, you dear, charitable
thing"
q" thought said the widow, che used
to be very attentive to that haTd-hearted
little Bessie Paige. But I'm glad to hear
there was nothing In it. He deserves a
better wife. How little she is like her