Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1874-08-27

have behaved as he Gid was incompre-
hensible. And yet, while appearing to
have fed from and tilted their daughter,
the young man had really proposed.
Nobody, however, would have guessed
that he had, to judge from Nelly.s be
havior. A face as pale as lily, nights
devoid Of rest, and pillows wet with tears
followed Immediately upoa the announce
ment made to her that Bygraye mad gone
away: gone. without a word or letter
gone. after the significant speeches he
had made. secretly in her own ear, and
openly before her family; gone, not to
return for eighteen months at least t;
gone. leaving a request behind that letters
should not be forwarded, and not leaving
any address to which they could be for
warded. Then, apparently, came the
stage of wOmanly pride and just resent
ment. Her heart was SCARED indelibIy.
but her face recovered its bloom and its
brightness. And Twillett became the
accented lover. Twelve months rolled
AWAY and she became Mrs. Twillett. The
happy HONEYMOON was over; she returned
to her native town to a snug little house
on its outskirts, and in the very first week
of her return. as she sat in her boudoir
waiting for her husband to come home. 4
letter was brought to her from her
fathers. The envelope was large. blue
one. and bore an address which accounted
for il having been sent to her fathers
Miss Eleanor Russell. She smiled as she
broke open the cover, but the smile was
succeeded by frOwn and a start when
She perceived inside the cover a second
letter. This second letter was blood-red.
! and, as she looked at the handwriting,
she trembled exceedingly, and a smoth-
cred cry escaped her white lips.
It may be remembered that on the
night Of a certain 1st Of April, IS. Mr..
and Mrs. Russell had a conversation
about the propriety of bringing Mr.. By
grave to propose whereas MIR. Bygraye.
it was remarked at the time, had already
proposed. Well, at dusk on that same
lst Of April, raw country lad might
have been observed in Fleet street with
letter in his hand, and staring and
gaping inquiringly about him. At last a
CLEAN Of intelligence and satisfaction lit
up his face, and he moved hastily toward
an iron Dillar-box which stood by the
roadside, and near which some mischiev-
Gus young Arabs of the London streets
were playing.
Want Il letter-boX? Here you are, my
boy; shove it in that hole at the top
said one Of them, in the most friendly
and insinuating accents, to the country
lad
"Oi knaw," replied the country lad,
with a look of superior knowledge and
experience, as he carefully dropped the
letter in at the suggested hole, and
walked off with an air Of satisfaction.
ooh! YOU April fool" shouted the
Arabs after him; but he either didn't
know what they meant, or believed in it
! being impossible that any boy whatever
| would infringe the law which forbids
| the making Of April fools" after twelve
o'clock at noon. At any rate, he went
his way regardless Of scoffs.
20 dear. O dcar." screamed the
treacherously friendly Arab, laughing as
if his very sides would burst; 'she's bin
and gone and put his lOve-letter in the
dust-bin; that he have"
p AS the country lad passed one of the
archways that lead from Fleet street to
the Temple he was brought to a sudden
stand-still by stentorian shout.
Thomas" cried voice which made
the country lad jump.
Here OF be, Muster Boygreave," an
| swered Thomas, with tug at his front
hair, and a broad grin at the gentleman
who had called to him.
So you've posted my letter." said the
gentleman.
"Ees, Muster Boygreave, olive done
it" answered Thomas with unconscious
equivocation.
bravo! Thomas" rejoined the gentle
man kindly; you've done your first
crrand in London splendidly. [ watched
you from here almost as far as the pillar
| box; but couldn't see quite all the way.
You didn't have any difficulty, | sup
pose:"
Noa; fund t pillar, and 1 popped
I'm into t slit atop"
THAT'S all right; and l am glad to see
| you took no notice of those young raga-
| mullins who seemed to be laughing at
you. Now you can go; good night"
And away went Thomas with an eX-
preston of unbounded self-content.
Thomas was the son, or rather, one of
the sons, of a poor widow who had lately
| lost her husband by an accident while
| Bygraye was on his visit to the Fussels,
and it was only one of those many gen
erous actions which partly reported of
him and partly known of her own
| knowledge had tended to endear him to
| Eleanor Russell when he undertook to
| find schooling and occupation and a
| livelihood for Thomas in London. But
| how came Thomas to be intrusted with
the posting of Bygrave's letter? Why,
! thus: The letter was addressed after Il
| fashion which makes most bachelors lIv-
! ing in chambers do their posting for
themselves in order to avoid prying eyes,
| significant looks, well-meapt but often
sive illusions and tittle-tattle; and so
Bygrave had intended to post it himself
| as he walked down to his club; but, hav-
ing encountered Thomas in the very
nick of time, and Thomas not having yet
eaten of the tree of knowledge so far as
to be able TO decipher handwriting or
even print, he seized the occasion OF
! giving Thomas lesson in the art Of per
! forming Il masters behestS. He had
directed Thomas to pop the letter into
the first iron pillar-bo he came to; he
had watched Thomas going the right
course; he had seen Thomas halt close
to the very spot where the nearest pillar
| box stood; and he had observed with
satisfaction that Thomas promptly re-
turned and disregarded the many
chances that offered Of game or a fight
with round dozen of street-bOys. Tic
was as satisfied about the safe lodgment
Of the letter as if he had dropped 1t into
the box with his own hands; and he
never gave it a second thought.
And within ten days he, to the great
! astOnishment of Thomas, started OF on Z
sudden to Jericho.
Let us return to Mrs. Twillett. She
had just strength enough left to tear oper