Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1873-12-04

and, as you suggest, it shows patriotism"
The cold sweat stood on my forehead,
and l groaned. To be sure, 1 was nearing
my thirty-second year, but l didn't want
to get married yet, and if | did, l did not
want to marry her. l thought if | went
away, she would think it all over, and
know by my manner that she was mis-
taken. So | rose and said | must be going.
"Give my respects to your tatheron his
return" | added. 81 bid you goodbye
for a short time only, for | shall call next
week to see him and pay my respects to
Miss Fanny"
"If you could stay a little longer" Hen
rietta said, rising, too, and coming up
close to me, she will be home to dinner,
and you need not return to see him. But
what a hurry you are in" laying her head
on my arm, "to talk about a very short
time. You know l will have to get ready.
| will do as well as l can, since you urge
it, but next week is entirely too soon.
Yes, I'll give your respects to Fanny. She
is coming home in a week or two, so she
will be at the wedding. She is a sweet
child. But, oh, Charles, to think that
you loved me all this long time, and
stayed away, trying to forget me, when |
had always liked you so much" and as |
started to cross the room she
threw herself right into my arms, and put
her own so tight around my neck that |
could not help her kissing me. And just
then the door opened and old Brown
walked in.
"Never mind, Charley Parker, never
mind.' he shouted. I've seen such do
ings before in my life. It's all right, all
right, my boy. Don't look SO confused.
You're a steady, sensible fellow, and Hen
r ietta is a good girl, and will make you
You want my blessing, of course, and you
shall have it. Now come in to dinner,
aud Wen hear the rest of it if you have
got anything to tell me"
"Charles was coming to tell you TO-
night. father" said Henrietta, hanging on
my arm with both hands, land he says
he has loved me so long and did not dare
to let me knowl"
gan to feel relieved, for he was not deaf,
aad should be able to make him com
prehend the terrible mistake.
"Mr. Brown" | began, stammering
awkwardly, "can | see you a few minutes,
say to you, and Miss Henrietta will ex-
use US"
ooh, nc, Charley, never mind" he in
%terrupted, Il know you and your family
and about what your chances for the fu-
ture are. Never mind the formalities; it's
all satisfactory to me if it is to Henrietta,
and | judge-ha, ha!-by what | saw
awhile @ that she is agreeable"
But, Mr.. Brown" | exclaimed. horri-
fed, Il don't want to get married! |
hadn't thought about it. | never was
much acquainted with Miss Brown. She
hasn't quite understood me. III did
not ask her to marry mem
His co ~Intenance Changed-frst to per
pleXitv, then to dignity and severity,
n | understand that you have been
t%rifling with my daughter, sir? If you
have not asked her to marry you, | should
think it about time, at least, that you ar
rived at that formality. BOUNDS, sir, |
don't understand you, either! A father
has a little legal redress in such circum-
stances, sir"
| began to despair of finding any way
to make them understand.
Henrietta still chung TO me, hearing
about half we said, smiling, selt-satisfied
and atfectiOnate. At the change in her
fathers manner she said, cOaXingly:
"Now, father, told Charles you would be
pleased. thought you liked him, and
told him so when he asked me"
The c~learest thought lhad just then was
to get away. Some other time would be
better in which to set things right. | tried
to speak calmly and conciliatingly, and
trust to a future opportunity of explain
ing to the old gentleman how his daugh-
ter's intirmity wa at the bottom of it all,
so | said:
Il have not meant to deceive your
daughter, sir, nor do wish to do so. |
will defer the communication | Wished to
make to you till another time. | must 90
now. l will see you again very o
Good morning" And | started for the
hat-rack.
Henrietta put her arms aroundGly neck
and kissed me again as | reached for my
hat. | could not help it. | don't know
rs she could. | don't suppose she ever
had a chance to kiss any man but her
father before, and the Door, sanguine,
gushing old thing really thought she was
engaged to marry me.
| was SO dumbfounded at the state of
affairs, nat | don't know how | got away.
But was in the street walking home, en-
gagged to Henrietta Brown, and with her
fathers consent, in less thar an hour from
the time | went there.
| did not 90 to see Brown that night nor
the next day nor the next. Nor did |
write, though | tried two or three times.
The truth IS my nerves were 50 unstrung,
| could not bear to think about it. And
1t was no more than the truth when | sent
word to the store that | was sick, and
went to bed on the second day.
The next morning came a note from
Brown. They had heard of my sickness
at my place Of business where he had
called to see Whit had become of me.
He was very sorry. Henrietta was very
anxious and frightened, and would come
to see ME during the day.
There isn't much more to tell. Henri
eta was very affectionate, and no matter
what | talked about she understood me
to be talking of ourselves and our marri-
age. She wasn't to blame, you know.
Mr.. Brown came in in the evening and
told me how pleased the family was with
the engagement, and hoped | would be
able to go up to the house next day and
stay till | felt better.
gave it up. | went to the house in
Browns carriage, and was duly con-
graduated.
let Henrietta set the day. 1t was four
weeks Off.
l thought l could run before that time,
but | didn't.
Fanny Stuart came demurely up to US
after the ceremony, and called me Uncle
Charles"
am married. I submit, bravely, I'M
complainingly, even meekly.
DIT 1an1,I~,y, H. @--@Cl 4.