Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1874-01-08
Milly goin, on in this foolish way, or


never did 90 anywhere-not to any par
ties or sleigh-rides or anything-and
wanted to go just this once very much
but mother said" here her lips culver
ed, and as a sudden peal Of sleigh-bells
rang down the valley, she fairly burst
into tears.
mildred, I'm ashamed of you" said
Mrs. Ives, in an acid voice, while Tut
tut-tutl" was the only protest poor Mr..
Ives could think of.
And now" went on his wife, sanguine
of victory, 'just say, once for all, is
Milly to conform to my views, or is she
nOt?"
Poor Mr.. Ives. The embarrassment of
deciding between wife and daughter was
not new one. Some natural relentings
there were for his child, but the other
scale was too heavily weighted to allow
of hesitation.
"Of course, my dear; OF course. Milly,
you hear what your mother says" and
then he retreated again into the shadow
of his newspaper. Milly's sobs grew
louder. This was dreadful.
Pretty soon she got up, still sobbing,
lighted a candle, and, mumbling an al
most inarticulate goodnight" departed
to the little room she called her own. The
world looked forlorn enough as she put
her pretty cheek on the pillow; but sleep
came speedily-as it does to the young
and her woes were forgotten
She woke with that blessed oblivion
which slumber brings, refreshed and
frightened with the hopefulness of the
new day. 1t was sparkling morning
daWning on tip-tOe, as it were, and full of
"a ofr \ 10 al
heaviness of heart, she could not keep
dancing as she went about her work.
eve had such a splendid time,". said
Sarah Matilda Pratt (the young lady
aforesaid, who spOrted on the ledge of the
Pit'), catching Milly as she was loading
her slender arm with sticks at the wood
pile. ''We wentto Steadman's, you know.
They do make the most elegant egg-nog!
We danced till we were just as warm
as toast-such fun! And Jim Allen
came home with me, and once we got al
most spilled out ] had my mouth full of
snow when we bounced up against big
drift; and we laughed till it seemed as if
we should go off 1t was such pity you
wasn't there"
"Ohi [ did want to go. I did want to
so much" said Milly.
New Years Eve" went on Sarah NATL
da. sTo see the Old Year out, you know.
| do wish you could come, Milly. Can't
you, possibly? It's such a shame not to
dance the Old Year out. And it's bad
luck, too, people say. Wouldn't your
mother let you, if you'd ask her, don't
you Think"
ooh! no." said MilIy, with her lips
trembling. II have asked her again and
again, and father, too; and they both
say" and here she sat down on log and
began to cry.
''Don't MiIly, Oh! DON'T" cried the
other, almost in tears herself, from sym
pathy. at is too bad. [ declare it is
You're the only girl anywhere about that
is kept SO strict. VOW, | wouldn't stand
it, if were you. [ say" "a sudden bright
plan striking her, ''I've thought of some
thing, Milly I've got it! You can come
And you shall, if you'll only do as tell
you"
"What do you ~ wonderingly.
''Why, come without asking leave
that's all! NOthing's easier. Your ma
goes to bed early, don'tshe ?'
Eyes"
"Well, you just slip up stairs little
before her, and fix yourself; and, as soon
as she's asleep and the house is quiet,
creep down again and out by the she'd
door. You would get to us by half past
nine, and Jack'll see you home. None of
the doors are ever locked at night, are
they?"
Hardly ever. Sometimes they are but
not often. But, Sarah, shouldn't dare"
Nonsense! Not dare! There's nothing
to be afraid of IfyOur own ma was alive,
she'd let you come in minute; for they
say she was the greatest favorite anywhere
about, and went to everything that was
going on. And you've a perfect right to
come, if you want to. You're Of age, you
know"
"No," said truthful NIilIy, Not quite
My birthday isn't till April"
Its just the same thing" persisted
her irrepressible friend. "You can come,
if you like. Oh! Milly, promise YOU will.
Do, darling; do. l shall think you don't
love us if you don't" And so on, in the
midst of which appeal Mrs. Ives was
heard calling, Milly, Millyr and, gath
ering up her wood, Milly flew with guilty
haste toward the house.
"The woman who deliserates is lost"
Milly deliberated. She resolved and
Te-resolved, and at the end of all, New
Years Eve saw her before her glass, put
ting the finishing touches to her dress.
1t was an ugly, Oldfashioned gown, of
light green merinO, and the white roses
in her hair looked queer enough with it;
but, somehow, they set off the fair head
and daiSy-white skin as well as a more
conventional garb could have done. She
saw that she was pretty, and it was i'm
possible to helD eniOVing it.
NOiseless and trembling she crept
downstairs, shawl in hand. Fortune
smiled. The shed was reached, the door
opened, gently closed. She was out
doors, alone under the stars The snow
crunched under her light tread, as she
sped down the road, to where the lights
in the windows of Farmer Pratt's big
red dwelling threw a broad beam out
into the night.
Within there was warmth enough and
candles enough to enliven d mausoleum.
Over the roaring fire hung wreaths of
Christmas green. Smoking Clip was on
the table Above the door a branch of
mistletoe, or what did duty as such; and
much kissing and laughter going on be-
meath it. There was fiddle and dane
ing Everybody seemed jolly and light
hearted-everybOdy except Milly; who,
in spite of the gay welcome she received,
aegean to feel unaccountably depressed
bnd unhappy, now that she had attained
the summit of her wishes. She had
plenty of admiration, and Joined in the
dance and games with the rest; but some
how over all there seemed to hang a
shadow-the shadow, as it were, of a sus-
pended sword Unused to merry max
ings, the noisy freedoms of the occasion
confused and stunned her. She grew