Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1876-06-01

ton, "Thanks, Miss Budd, for your
friendly anxiety concerning my health; I
am sure that Mr.. Budd does not share if y
was perhaps the worst Of all the lines by
which L told her, not in frank, honest
words, but IN a manner that no woman
| could fail to understand, that I did not
| choose to remember that we were be-
trothed
After that no more letters in yellow en-
velopes came to trouble me, and paid at
tention to Miss Hanover, and invested
my money according to Hannover's ad-
vice. And days and weeks and months
rolled by, and if a thought of my little
Rosebud, failing because the sunlight of
my love was withdrawn from it, crossed
my mind, | drove it away with sigh. I
could not help it, | said; it was fate. Fate
meant me for Miss Hanover, for Violette
and we had met, that was all. No, not
quite all; one day remember il was the
day after splendid ball, and I called OH
Vlolette, whose escort | had been the
night betore-one day made this latter
statement to ViOlette Hanover, and she
having heard it, bestowed on me her most
arlstocratic stare, and asked me if did
hot know that she had been engaged to
Mr.. Twentyplum for six longmonths.
And be married next week, Mr.. Mark
ham" added she. so you see youmust
be mistaken about fate.''
" And you have only been flirting with
me?'' | said, bitterly. "Do you know
that you gave me reason to hope every
thing from you?"
" know it is time for me to dress for a
drive,' said she. $50 you must say good
afternoon; and don't look so ridiculously
tragic, Mr.. Markham. I hate scenes
And [ felt that | deserved it all, as
went for the last time down the steps of
the Hanover mansion.
In fortnight Violette was Mrs. Twenty
plum. In month Mr. Hanover was a
bankrupt-One Of those who take a
foreign trip with plenty of money in their
pockets, while others lie crushed beneath
the fragments Of their broken branches at
home.
My money went with his. had come
to London with moderate competence.
had increased it by speculation until |
was absolutely wealthy. Now | found
myself almost poor.
There remained to me only the Moss
wood property, which must be turned in
to farm, and myself must leave nv
hope OF being one Of the city milliona;res
behind me, and become plain farmer
man OF the same social status as Rose
buds father, without his comfortable
knowledge of money in the bank to COM
fort me.
However, with the bursting of the bub-
bic fortune, the circle which had gathered
about Hanover had been seemingly scat
tered to the winds, and people knew that
Miss Violette had Tilted me, and also
that my money was gone. The city had
LOST many Of its charms, and I wrote to
the old woman who had kept the house
at Mosswood for my father until his
death to make it ready for my return.
Then selling the furniture of my bachelor
rooms, and packing my smaller belong
ings in a few trunks, I started homeward.
l must go back to Mosswood and be-
come a farmer. / should find Rosebud
fading gradually away, of course, and
yet knew she would be prettier than
ever. How she had loved mellow I'm
grateful | had been for that love. Now I
would make amends. I would write as
many repentant letters as were necessary.
and she would, of course, forgive me-
NO woman ever fOrgets or ceases to love
any man she has ever loved, you know
Yes, after a little 1naidenly resistance,
Rosebud would bloom for me again.
was as sure of this as the train bore me
onward, as [ was that the moon would
rise that night.
There is no adage more true than the
one that declares that misfortunes never
come alone, but i'll troops Often, of
course, one brings the other. In nv case.
the anxieties that had trooped so thicklv
about me made me nervous, and so led to
a severe accident.
Having alighted at certain station, l
delayed my return to the carriages until
they had started, l remember running
after them and then-what do [ remem-
Der then? Darkness, dreams, pain, an
awakening in a little room, with white
curtains and toilet table, and a vision
charmingly dressed. The same one saving
slowly:
Yes, yes, yes; think he'll do.'
And understanding this was my old
friend Hiram Roper, [ asked:
Glow did [ come here" trying to sit
up, and failing in the attempt.
WELL" said Hiram, "wife and |
were at the station, and I saw you were
good deal hurt, and we brought you on.
You know this is my house."
Yours ~ said 1. land you are mar
ried and in practice, 1 suppose?"
Yes" said Roper. 'Oh, yes; get
ting on famously. And you've had a
bad time, but you'll be on the RIGHT
soon. Come and tell him he will Rose
bud''
And there-yes, there was Rose. After
/ had Illuminated on the fact a few nm
utes, | felt that truth was stranger than
fiction