Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1874-01-08

forted her little. She had gained the
door. 1t was only to lift the latch and
pass the Scylla of the floor and Charyb-
dis Of the creaking stairs, and all would
be safe. But how was this? Oh, horror
The latch wouldn't lift, the bolt was down.
She was locked out
This was what had happened. Milly's
unsteady fingers had not closed the door
firmly; and, when the wind rose, an hour
later, it began to swing to and fro on its
hinges. The noise reached the alert ears
Of Mrs. Ives.
What IS that banging?" she said, start
ing up. Dear, dear! that tiresome shed.
Milly must have left the door unlatched.
Father, l wish you'd get up and fasten
it."
Shivering, but obed lent, Mr. Ives went
Creeping to the chilly shed, he bolted the
latch; and then, to avert the likelihood of
another nocturnal promenade, he pro-
ceeded from one door to another and
fastened all the rest. So, when Milly,
aghast and hel pless, tried in turn front
Goor, kitchen-door, and side-door, behold
they were all fast. The house was mac
cessible.
What could she dog Go back to the
Pratts? Oh! no; that was not to be
thought of for moment. Feverish with
anxiety, she went her weary round again.
She even tried to raise window; but its
weight resisted her, and the dreadful noise
It would make was another objection.
The only hope, she thought, was to get
in somehow in the morning, without be-
ing seen. Morning! but that was
so far of. And, as she thought
the consequences of her fault presenting
themselves to her mind with colors grow
ing more lurid each moment-suddenly
all strength seemed to die from her limbs.
She sank down on the doorstep, and began
to cry.
It was just then that the sound of far
off bell reached her ears. The clock of
low was striking twelve The Old Year
was dead. II am seeing it out" thought
Milly, '.just as Sarah said;" and, as the
slow strokes died away, her tears broke
forth afresh. With such an ending to one
year, how was the next likely to begin?
The wind had died away 1t was not
very severe night; but she shivered
strongly. The tears died on her glazed
cheeks. Only low sob broke forth now
and then, like a ripple from the misery
within. And so Milly began her New
Year.
It was one of these sobs which caught
the attention of Tom Russell, as, making
a short cut "cross-lots" toward his home,
he CHANGED to pass near the door where
our luckless little maid was sitting. He
hadn't been at the party. He didn't care
much for such things, and, besides, had
sick horse to look after; and the night
so far had gone in blanketing, fomenting,
and indicating the equine invalid. He
was going home now, spare blanket on
his arm, and in his pocket his phials,
drenching- horn, flask, and so on.
Cupid takes on strange DISCUSSES some
times. That Milly's fate should be near
ing her at this critical moment, in cow
hide boots and tOp-coat, with brandy
bottle in his pocket, seems funny enough.
But so it was. Tom was a big, sturdy
fellow, middle-aged to eyes of seventeen;
but with the sweetest good temper in the
world and a heart as tender as any wO-
mans. No sound of distress ever reached
his ear unheeded. He thought this the
plant Of some little ANIMAL kitten or
dog; nevertheless, true to his instinct, he
went out of his way to see. And great
was his bewildeTment when the covering
figure on the doorstep met his eyes.
"Milly Ives! Why, what on Garth"
Cob! Mr.. Russell, don't speak out
loud; please DON'T" cried poor Milly,
desperately. Father and mother will be
sure to hear you"
"And just what they ought to do" re-
sponded Tom; eff they've locked you
out, as | suppose they have. Here let me
knock. III engage to wake them up"
and suiting the action to the word and
the word to the action, he was about to
discharge a ponderOus blow at the door,
when Miliy caught his hand in both hers.
"Please listen" she said They don't
know I'm out"
Don't knowp' Language would fail
voice.
mo, they don't know, And oh! Mr..
Russell, I'm in such a dreadful scrape.
Please don't knock nor make a noise; but
just go quietly away again.
Tom had known Milly since her baby
hood; but the idea that she could grow
up never had fairly occurred to him till
this moment, when he stood gazing at
the pale face, so pathetic in the dim Ii CHIT
"Tell ne ali about it, won't yOu?" he
said, and sat down by her on the step.
So she told him all-how she never had
any fun, like other girls; and how she
longed after it; and Sarah proposed this.
But oh! it hadn't been pleasant at all,
and now she was so unhappy; and, if it
was found out she should never hold up
her head again.
80 if you'll just go away" she plead
ed, in conclusion, land let me sit here till
morning, [ would thank you so much.
Father always comes down first, and
goes down to the barn; so perhaps | may
Slip in, and not meet any one. Pm not
cold at all, really-that is, not very"
Not cold! Tom touched the little hand
nearest him, and almost whistled with
dismay What should he do? Take her
home with him he could not Waking a
neighbor would be tantamount to expos
ing the whole story.
"I'll tell you what" he said, at last.
I" AS for leaving you alone here, that's
out of the question. | must stay by and
see that nobody hurts you; but, if you
will be good, and do just as [ say, I'll
promise not to make a noise or alarm
the family-though | must say. except
for your feeling so dreadfully about it, it
So, first of all, Milly, you must drink
this"
"This" was a hastily compounded dose
of brandy and melted snow. How lucky
that he had it about him, he thought; and
it was lucky. 1t checked the chill which
had begun to creep over Milly's limbs;
and after she had swallowed it he took
her into the road and made her walk
briskly up and down leaning on his arm.
Later, when circulation was quite re-