Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1873-03-13

lent, sensible man In his way, but whose
services strongly suspect, could be dis
pensed with in certain quarter Eli! am
| right?"
He looked at me with most comic ex-
preston.
"Wonderful, declare! To find out
that II mean Johnson-was a tutor!"
Don't give me the credit of it," said;
'it was all Olivia, who has quiet,
thoughtful penetration that is literally
amazing"
Uncommon pretty GIRL" was his off
hand commentary.
Still, had not made any advance in
what was strictly the object of my visit.
| sounded him in various ways. He met
me in the most off hand manner.
ooh, l am next door to pauper, and
have to live on what can pick up-take
any odd jobs that may come. johnson,
there, will be rolling in wealth one of
these days; at this moment suppose he
gets thousand year"
"Fine salary to draw" said, "for look
ing after an agreeable young gentleman
like you; would do it for an eighth part
of the money; and dare say" | added,
with meaning, ''there are certain young
ladies would be glad to do it for moth
ing"
II should be delighted" he said, in his
cheerful way, ITO take an order for any
large amount, with, of course, Miss
Olivia heading the invoice"
laughed, but did not quite like this
generality. However, he at once accept
ed an invitation to dinner for self and
friend, and withdrew. reported every
thing to my delighted family, and it was
agreed, on the facts and statements of
oh T c,,h Tod hot
49, 20 pS1 J in s1on mat,uIssIe1gn-
ed his remarks with a judicial gravity,
and pronounced them to be pregnant with
nuptial meaning. At that moment, de-
clare, we looked on Olivia as provided for
in life. But what was it to the excite
ment later in the day, when news came in,
obtained direct from the postmistress her
self, and therefore authentic! Not only
was the name of the young man good and
aristocratic, but a mystic, aureole encom-
passed him; for "Hon." went before his
name like an outrider! 1t was ascertain
ed beyond doubt that such was his
proper decoration; and it was the more
certain, as the young man had gone priv
lily to the post mistress, and begged that
she would not mention the matter. "Peo-
pie make such fuss, and if they knew
there was AN honorable in the neighbor-
hood they would stalk him like deer"
The joy, the rapture in our family on this
discovery was inconceivable. But there
was profound recognition of nv tact in
dlvining the quality of the guest we are
entertaining. Even Mrs Henwitcher, re-
luctant always to allow me the credit of
wisdom as compared with her own, con-
fessed that | had shown some sort Of
penetration, " which from her was really
handsome compliment. We must give
them dinner; this should be the next
step. This was really akin to throwing
up an earthwork in an investment; and
we usually pressed the besieged with such
promptness and vigor that, after we had
slapped" our way up to the very wall by
the third dinner, the invested had no al
tentative but to surrender, Or fly inglori-
ously by some subterranean passage. This,
fond of doing, generally caring very little
how ignominious was his retreat.
We had charming little banquet. The
Hon. Mr.. Anerley exerted all his powers,
which were great, and ratified on with
delightful vivacity which quite won our
hearts. The only drawback on our hap
piness was his friend Johnson, who be-
gan to reveal himself as regular boor or
bear-heavy, dull, barbaric, and incapa-
BILE Of contributing a single idea to the
general hilarity. My girl, Caroline, in
deed-"the rock of sense" and all that
[ saw was inclined to be indulgent with
him, and he, in his turn, made some
her good graces. But Mrs. Henwitcher
sharply and promptly put that down.
One of her daughters to be wasting her
sweetness and graces on rude, raw
quack or pedagogue of this description
The second parallel was opened-I
mean second dinner was spread, with
an increase of result. The third was
then got ready, the coup de grace, when
the storming parties were already mus
tered in the trenches, and we knew the
place must fall. / never saw my girl
looking more attractive. We had
special wine kept for such nights of sac
rifice, when the votary, warmed with
the generous fluid, was unable to control
himself; there was q rare old Burgundy
produced on these occasions, which
would have dissolved the most cantan-
kerous tissues into kind of indulgence
A claret Of high reputation followed,
alarmed in q napkin. That warming in
the napkin" was always known through
the household to be significant of the
crisis. 1t was so effective on this occa-
sion that / almost expected the
crisis to come before dinner was over. A
charming and most seductive young man,
| always will say, though-but this is an
ticipating.
In the same proportion the objectiona-
BILE vulgarities of his companion showed
themselves. He came in bad humor, and
seemed TO be jealous of the attentions
paid to his friend, and to resent the
choice things being pressed on him, ex
clusively. I was very eager that my
young friend should have what remained
of my choice old Burgundy, when, in an
uncouth, ill-mannered way, this fellow
seized on it.
"Let him go without IT; I've better
right to it than he has"
''He is quite right" said the young
man, with Difference.
Excuse me, Mr.. Johnson" I said,
angrily.
"Oh, don't johnson me, I'm tired of
itr'
| don't know what answer l should
have made to this speech, only that
our rustic servant came rushing up, and
with faltering accents announced that
Lord Anerley was below! The effect of
this news was tremendous. A guilty flush
came into my face, though l had done
nothing to be ashamed of, while Olivia
gave a faint cry, and fell back in her
chair. But this was nothing to the effect
on our guests. l soon rallied, however,
and boldly proposed to go down and
bring up his lOrdshiD, a proposal which