Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1874-11-05


will answer Do you know of one,
Doctor-a good one? He must be nice,
and all that, or couldn't endure it"
" Well-nO-I cannot think Of one
Just now. There are none living near
that are available Perhaps we might
import one"
doctor, I've an idea"
How startling! Bring it forth, that
may admire it."
You be the lover"
"All right I'm willing"
"Then we're engaged"
Yes-fOr the present"
In fun, you know"
sOhl of course Till Sam gets mar
ried, or till you wish TO break it"
where's the ring?"
ooh! have one up-stairs-an old one
| suppose it will answer to cover our
little arrangement"
Glow splendid Of you, Doctor"
CHOW YOU must 90. Old Mrs Davis
is coming soon with her neuralgia. Shall
[ tell herr"
"TelI her what?"
"Of the engagement"
eyes. Just hint it, and before night
the town will know it."
And they did. How they snatched up
the stray morsel of gossip and stirred It
into their tea with the sugar. For
tunate circumstance. 1t sOured on their
stomachs-the news, not the tea. Even
the sugar and the good BOhea did not
save them from expressing, with beauti-
full freedom, just what they thought
about it,
"Such an old goose to be taken in by
that designing Sally Depford! The mink.
the little cOntriving-a rtful--
Such language! 1t is not pretty. His
tory like this cannot stOOp to report all
that was said concerning the last new en-
gagement AS for Sam Barrett, he faded
beautifully away, and actually disaD-
peared. He suddenly found " a tip-top
chance for business, you know, in New
York. Ought to 90 right on and fix it
up"
Ills parting with Sally was not partic-
ularly affecting She wouldn't allow it.
That curious, antique, diamond ring
flashed in his astonished eyes, and his af-
lection melted softly away into nothing,
like the cloud Of white steam under
which he escaped in the $40 p. m. ex-
press The whistle echoed among the
Wauchusetta hills, and the gentle Sally
heard it without a sigh.
Some of the other girls could hardly
forgive her for driving away the only
available young man in the place, but
they sOothed their laCCrated feelings with
the sweet hope that as the summer va
cation was near at hand, new impOrta-
ton of city visitors from Boston and
New York might "make it gay again"
and spread wide once more the matri-
monial horizon.
The suddenness and complete success
Of the victory rather surprised the victor.
She had succeeded beyond her eXpecta-
tions. Now that it was all over she
would return the ring, and-well, no,
perhaps she might keep it just one more
night. Cousin Mary DepfOrd was COM
ing to spend the night, and it would be
rather amusing to wear the ring a little
longer and to let her into the secret
She would return the ring in the morn
ing.
Pleased with this unspoken plan she
set the ring firmer on her finger and pre-
pared to receive her company"
Cousin Mary Depf0rd was charmed
with the ring and was profUse in her con-
gratulations. Sally took them quietly
enough
It's all joke, you know, dear"
"A joker
Eyes. dear, littlc-well-game, if l
may so speak"
Cousin Mary was properly shocked. In
the retirement of her own room she eX-
pressed her mind fully, and declared she
would not wear the ring another moment.
1t was Il pretense, and-a shame to do
such Il thing.
Sally was startled and pleaded the
dreadful necessity of the case.
g He was such bore, you know, and,
really-what could | do? 1t was all in
fun. There's nothing serious. [ mean
to return the ring tomorrow"
| wouldn't wear it another minute if
| were you, Sally DepfOrd."
Sally laughed and still retained the
ring She would return it tomorrow.
She would wear it one more night-for
it was, really, such handsome ring.
The doctor behaved beautifully. He
only called once, and didn't even ask
her to ride or walk.
He walks so fast-and as for that
old chaise, you know how it creaks."
1t was a very proper engagement.
Rather cool, perhaps. What could you
expect? He was past forty, if day,
they said.
She did not return the ring the next
day. 1t rained. She sent note to the
doctor the following day, asking him to
call for it. He was away-wouldn't be
back till Monday Of course she must
wear the ring one more Sunday; and she
did-in spite of Cousin Mary Depford's
remonstrance.
On Monday she carried the ring, still
on her finger, to the doctor. He was just
starting off on a professional tour when
she came, and he was SO merry, and there
were so many things to talk about, that
she quite forgot the ring. Besides there
stood the Widow Bigelow in the next
yard pretending to hang out her clean
clothes on the line and watching with
both eyes.
Cousin Mary Depford was harassing.
They had a little tiff" after the man
ner of girls, and made it up on the
strength of a promise from Sally that
she would certainly return the ring to-
morrow.
On the morrow she started, ring on
finger, to duly return it. He was not at
home. She went again just before tea
time. He was at tea and pressed her to
stay and take supper with his good old
| housekeeper and himself She hesitated
moment-then accepted. She could
| quietly hand him the ring after supper,
and in the meanwhile she might as well
have good time"
The fine Old house, the elegant
| diningroom, and the cosy table, set
| for three, were charming. The doc
| tor was good talker, and cultivated and
refined in his manners. She had
| been obliged to bear much
wretched gossip for the last week or two.
It was quite proper she should stay to
| tea 1t would be rather amusing to see
just how it seemed to be engaged. She