Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1874-06-18
posed saying when in the presence of Miss

posed saying when in the presence of Miss
Ives.
At last he turned in at the gate, and,
walking boldly up to the front door, he
made his presence suddenly known to
the Ives family by means OF the friendly
assistance of the heavy brass knocker.
Israel Ives came to the door with far
ing candle in his hand; he gave sudden
little start of surprise upon recognizing
his visitor
"Why. John" he said, is this you p"
els Miss Ives at home?" said John.
nervOuslv. forgetting in his sudden en-
barrassment to designate the particular
Miss Ives he wished to see.
Certainly, certainly" replied Israel.
smiling mischievously; "walk right into
the paTlOr and sit down and she will come
il presently"
Leaving his hat upon the rack in the
hall John did as he was bid he sat down
upon the outer edge of his chair and
awaited the young lady's coming He
heard several suppressed giggles in the
adjoining room, and a subdued sugges-
ton on the part of Israel that they had
best not act silly and foolish Then the
door opened and in sailed Miss
Sophrony Ives, followed by Patience,
Priscilla, Malvina and Lucy Ives,
each simultaneously smiling, and try
ing to look as sweet and pretty as
possible. They advanced one by one,
and gave John greeting, after which
they arranged themselves in a graceful
group about him; then began the liveliest
Conversation John had ever listened to.
He began to grow uneasy and lose his
selfpOssessiOn. This was rather more
Miss Ives than he had anticipated meet
lug.
AT last a sudden idea occurred to him.
"Girls," he said, &c do any of you play
blind mans buff"
The young ladies all suddenly giggled.
Sometimes - said Miss Sophrony, with
a sly glance at her sisters.
"Suppose we have a game, then" said
John, earnestly.
Several handkerchiefs were simulta.
neOusly produced, and before John was
aware he was in midnight darkness.
"But you must be blinded, too, Lucy"
said Miss Malvina; " it always makes it
livelier to have two, you know"
So Miss Lucy's sight was temporarily
Obscured in the same manner that Johns
had been.
Then the word "ready'' was given, and
without a word Of warning Sophrony,
Patience, Priscilla and Malvina noiseless-
ly glided from the room.
For awhile John and Lucy CROPPED in
nocently about them, each failing to find
the objects they sought At last John
spoke:
{" say, where are you alp" he said,
he3plessly.
No answer came to his question from
those he was seeking.
"John," said Lucy, [ believe they're
all hiding"
Just at this moment the two approached
each other with their hands extended, and
they were each suddenly clasped in each
others arms. This was a sensation 50
new to John that it almost deprived him
of articulation.
ooh, is it you, John?" said Lucy; " I
do believe they're fooling u.s."
She suddenly removed the bandage
from her eyes, and the next moment John
felt her def little fingers untying the
knot in the handkerchief that was bound
about his head.
"Look here, john" she said, in a
halfprovoked sort of way, just see what
a trick they've played upon US. [ might
have known what they were up to. Never
mind, Wen have real pleasant visit
now"
They sat down side by side on the high
backed sofa, and Lucy talked so pleas
antly and encouragingly to John that he
soon felt perfectly at home. He was al
most ast0niched at his selfpossession.
The minutes lapSed into hours, and-well,
he never could fully explain how it was,
afterward, but the fact was that Lucy
promised him that she would be Mrs.
j John Jansen whenever he was ready to
claim her as his own, and John went
home that night very proud and happy,
and on the following morning he informed
4 his astOnished father that any time that
farm was ready he would be ready to go
to Housekeeping.
Peter Jansen kept his word, and John
was often subsequently heard to say that
/ if it hadn't been for that friendly game of
! blind mans bluff he would hardly have
known how to have made choice.