Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1874-03-12
JOS SECOND COURTSHIP.
BY BIRCH ARNOLD.


Four heads were bowed over q news
paper, while four pairs of eyes were fast
ened upon an item of such importance as
to cause four voices to exclaim simulta-
neously:
."Oh, dear Isn't it terrible?"
What is it, girls?" asked gray-haired
ooh, mamma Hershfield s. Drake have
failedw
There was a moments pallOr, and then
Mrs Stillman looked up into Adelaide's
anxious face to ask if she was quite sure.
ut is too true" said Adelaide, taking
the paper from her sisters hand. Shall
l read it? Are you quite sure you can
bear it,"
eyes,
And Adelaide read as follows:
We are sorry to announce to our readers that
Hershfeld & Drake, of the Peoples Savings Bank,
have suspended, and one of the worst features of
the case is that there Is no probability of a re-
sumption of business. This is specially hard upon
the laboring classes who had depended upon their
small bank deposits to carry them through the
winter. In common with the public we had always
believed that the bank had solid basis, but in
these days of economical earthquakes 1t Is hard to
tell who viii stand and who will not.
There was silence for amoment as AIDE
laide ceased, but Laura broke it presently
by sobbing out, "Whatever shall we do ?'
And is everything gomez" asked An
ME.
Yes, except the house." answered the
mother, drearily. How much was in the
bank?'
"Only thousand dollars of my own.
Adelaide had three hundred dollars in her
name"
Eyes, mamma, and had fifty dollars
that received from Mr.. Sherman for the
painting | sold. / was keeping it to buy
that lovely travelling dress at Burton's
Oh, dear and there, my trousseau! and
can't even be married!" exclaimed Laura
between her sobs.
This brought wan smile to the four
other dreary faces, and from Adelaide an
interrogative Why?"
At this Laura turned Indignantly upon
her sister
"Who ever heard of bride without a
trousseau, and where's the money to buy
one I'd like to know? And here I've
been denying myself all summer, and
wearing old clothes and pinching and
turning in order to save money to get a
comfortable outfit, so that Ralph wouldn't
be ashamed of me. Oh, dear! It's such
a dreary worldi" A moments silence
and then Laura broke out again: "You
don't suppose Ralph will refuse to marry
me now, do you, Adder"
There was real alarm upon the dimpled
face, and Adelaide answered her gravely:
You don't suppose he would take a
bride without trousseau, do your"
''NOnsensel Yes, if l was a beggar
he'd take me-
Laura's indignant response served
somehow as partial clearing up" and
Mrs. Stillman found courage to call the
girls attention to their breakfast, which
was rapidly getting cold.
We'll, it IS a consolation to know that
if banks do fail we have waffies for
breakfast" exclaimed the volatile Laura,
as she helped herself to three at a time
How much longer do you suppose this
state of things will continue? Whatever
else happened let us stick to the waffles
They are such consolation in times like
this" and she smiled roguishly over the
top of the sirup cup.
This little sally of Laura's helped mat
tiers amazingly, and they were soon dis
Cusslng the future in quite hopeful tones.
They were a hopeful and a helpful family
this of mine. 1t was hard-earned and
harder-saved money which they had lost
in the general ruin, and it really made
times fearfully close with them Here it
was, the last of October, Laura to be mar
ried in December, and all the household
expenses to be met, to say nothing of the
new dresses the girls had been saving
their money for-and no money to do it
with. On the whole it was rather dubi
Gus outlook, but they met it bravelv. The
widowed mother was Just up from a long
sickness, brought on by over work in the
schoolroom; for she had been a teacher
in the city schools; and Adelaide, 10 and
Laura had been clerking in one of the
retail stores, while Annie, with the help
of Hallelujah Morris, the black cook.
had managed the household. Laura
had Just thrown up her situation, intent
upon the rousseau which she and her
mother were to make, "all by them
Selves as she had informed the waiting
Ralph. Laura's money had gone with
her mothers, and this was how they were
situated when the crash came.
"Well," said Laura, pushing back her
nlate. when she had devoured all the
waffles within reach, has the trousseau
vanished into the air, ma claere mere ~
mo, dear, | think not; there is little
of it still in palpable shape, but you will
have to do without so many dresses. That
dress at Burton's, [ am afraid, will have
to be as tale that is told said the
mother, with half smile.
Laura made up face and exclaimed
tragically:
Impossiblel You know not what