Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1873-07-03
THE WORST MATCH OF THE SEA.
son.
EY EDGAR FAWCETT.
IN HIS VOICE.

IN HIS VOICE
IT is certainly very nice of Mrs. Heath
And bv the way, | was prepared for the
flat reverse 0fbenevolence from her hands.
| believed (When took the trouble to be-
lieve at all on this subjecD that she mildly
loathcd me. | thought she had never for
gotten a certain event or two connected
with the past--the dear irrevocable DAYS
when hadn't lost my money and stood
forth the crown and flower of marriageabl
New York bachelorhood; when, also, she
was poor little Fanny Chichester and no
coming millionaire, like Archibald Heath,
ESQ., had as vet cast his shadow before,
Doubtless | behaved with more or less
villainy then; it certainly is mean spirited
to tritle away a girls time under such cir
cumstanCes-time that is money to the
sweet Industrious creature. 1t is iustlike
putting ones hand in ones pocket while
a pathetic-lo0king mendicant stands by,
and then Withdrawing the hand empty, to
the mendicant's painful amazement
But most surely all satire is il-timed
which | may presume to level against
Mrs Archibald Heath. We have changed
places, she and |, since those departed
days. Her end Of the seesaw has gone
majestically up, mine disheartingly down.
Doubtless / ought to feel grateful enough
for being asked here to this lovely Laurel
wood by a lady whose invitations are often
-royelled for and then not gotten; and
perhaps if | belonged among the scram-
blcrs and the elbowers. my exquisite
triumph would be like receiving a new
sense.
Wei, as It is, [ am grateful exceeding
~. i nature that can forget an in Jury, or
it with a kindness, comes nearer to that
human state which merits canOnization
than in any other instance [ can hit upon
This seems to be precisely the case with
Mrs. Heath. | am asked to LaurelWOOd
and among the three other people
who are asked contemporaneOuslv
there IS a certain Miss Lillian Martel, a
relative of Mrs. Heath's husband.
This evening, after | have been having
rather endurable talk with the girl, and
have been languidly making up my mind
10 like her as long as | am here Ga lapse OF
time whose duration yet remains among
the futures mysteries), what should oc-
CUT but d sort Of little private interview
with my hostess?
How DO you like herr" Mrs. Heath
wants to know, lingering spray of moon
lit honcysuckle as we stand together on
the spacious piazza, this peerless, placid
colorcd July night.
am in a sort Of absent mood, and don't
answer al all precipitately. A little in
sidious moonlight has pushed itself
through the dense honevsuckles, and is
tinging my companions large, full-mould-
ed arm till the firm clear flesh looks like
sculptnred pearl. am thinking how
once, in an imprisoned youthful moment,
hn
physical specimen now than it was then.
How DO | like herr" | repeat lazily.
Her? You mean Miss Martel?''
"0t course with a dash ofimpatience).
oh, certainly" while | am waking
myself up. Very much; that is, she
talks rather nicely, l think. We dis
cussed croquet mostly"
~ on must have exhausted the topic
states Mrs Heath with a light laugh,
considering how long you were together.
Don you think her pretty?"
She has nice hair; so bright and wavy-
mean in front of course. [ make
point always TO ignore whatever dimly
resembles the back of a woman's head; it
Is usually such stronghold of deceit, not
osay extravaganza"
w nat swcetly amiable idea, Do you
Know you're getting to be terrific cynic
now that dividing her sentence with a
37aqcy laugh you've lost your property?
Guy you nice tub, will you promise
me me occasionally to sit in it? But about
LlI Nartel. Do you think her clever?
You Know" ~
Does he? suppose that if John
IsoaFl MIL talked croquet with Carlyle,
IyitFt wouldn't be much resultant bril-
"a1cy IN conversational way"
Winch means that Miss Martel didn't
interest you. am sorry to hear it. She
ias been out so little, and | wanted her to
nave success next year, if possible. A
Ia, success, | mean; not mere stupid
money!
perrctrate an effete cough. People
81, "P' 70 use cough as an ambuscade
sumo sudden amaZement. "Her
presently repeat, enough on
~ 3O%fa again to attempt little hypo-
'"'tat unconcern. II didn't know about
WIS 'Is, Heath raises astonishcd eyebrows.
- haven't heard? You don't tell me,
'Vo e.n2"Sh! nearly everybody knew"
ba,l DAINTY communication with the
Jaa}y>ockIe) "Oh, yes; very rich in
ba r. Hot 1t from her grandmother. By
w:,f "S sweeping my face for a second
fr ..-. Agcn eyes,, these tidings are not go
rsTn.. oam the current of your future
bi81,..',, | trust. Some men are so NOR
hr1sl AFRAID OF being thought fortune
an. -, And fyou're not just as pleas
yioa1-tL my hcncctorth as you have pre-
l,S,E been, shall feel that | have done
yon Ill., "a. a serious injury by throwing
t+ ydts little apple of knowledge"
cansy, ,. sIat our interview is more or less
The ,-a.' SO. That woman has grown to be
anytbi,5 Soitana of diplomatists. Could
Tie ~ nave been more delicately put?
saIva Y oe % my dignity and the balsamic
ousfr rHeallng We're offered simultane-
She forrl Ia those few strong words, too,
can 80 save save me for all the past-she who
benin f " afford to forgive now! Her
- Ahser has nninted for me a path