Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1876-04-20

picture; she had allowed me to steal #
away from her, with scarcely a remon-
STRANGE, a week before Then was the
time | ought to have proposed; but, like
humorous, doubling moon-calf as was,
had let the golden tide of opportunity
| slip unimproved away from me-
drew Bessie Armitage's vacant. doll
| like face from its envelope and compared
the two with a thrill of triumph in nv
heart
COlorless water beside crimson, spark
ling champagne pale violet in the
shadow OF royal rose! pearls eclipsed
by the fiery flash of diamonds ~ ] ex-
claimed. Henry Wallis's taste may be
very correct and classical, but give me my
| radiant brunette! These bleached-out
beauties don't correspond with my ideal
Of perfection"
1t was lovely spring evening as [ en-
tered the wide graveled path that led up
to the broad porch Of the old-fashioned
Vernon mansion. Squire Vernon sat there
smoking his meerschaum.
Won't you sit down and have a
smoke?' he demanded, Hospitality Its
real luxury to be able to take Whit
out of doors, after being shut up in the
house all the winter. Or maybe you'd
prefer going in to see Cecil"
Sensible old gentleman! he had not for
gotten his own young days. [ intimated,
not without considerable awkwardness,
that the special object Of my visit had beer
to " see Cecil
Well, she is in the parlor, all by her.
SELF" said the Squire, good-humoredIy,
motioning me in. Walk in-walk in"
Cecilia Vernon was sitting in the parlor
alone, as her father had said, the bright
center of a cheerful circle of lamplight.
A bit Of crochet-work was lying in her
lap, and an open volume Of poems
poems had sent her-was on the table.
Cecilia Vernon was always fair to look
upon, in my sight; tonight, however, she
seemed more than ordinarily beautiful.
L sat down, and began hesitatingiy upon
the never failing topic of the weather A
proposal had seemed the easiest thing in
the world as | walked along the dewy
edges of the peaceful, starlighted road,
contemplating it from afar off; but now
that | was face to face with it, Alps upon
Alps Of difficulty and perplexity seemed
to surround its accomplishment would
have given all that | was worth to post
pone the evil day but twenty-four hours
all but my self-respect, and that was i'm
periled now.
Cecilia tried her best to keep the ball of
conversation in motion; she introduced
new subjects, asked leading questions,
and feigned deep interest in the most alb
struse of topics. But even Cecilia couldn't
talk on forever, and presently, with lit
tie sigh of despair, she subsidized into 81
lence.
Now was the eventful moment of my
destiny.
"Cecilia!" I said softly.
She raised the liquid brown eyes to
mine.
81 want to confide in you tonight
have | your permission to speak 20
Certainly Mr.. Markhamm
Il am very much in love, Cecilia;
in fact, my heart has long ago gone out of
my possession into that Of"
[ stopped, with the fatal husky feeling
in my throat. Cecilia was blushing di-
vinely! | drew my chair close to hers,
with the sensation of man who has Just
pulled the string of a cold shower bath
"Who is the LADY," faltered Cecilia, as
if she.didnt know perfectly well already.
"Shall show ouher picture, Cecilia?'
Miss Vernon inclined her head almost
to the level of my shoulder to look at the
little carte de 0isGte I drew from my
pocket. l skillfully stole one arm round
her waist.
See, dearestr'
But to my horror and dismay, she
snatched her hand from my clasp, sprang
up, and started away, like some fair aveng-
ing goddess
Glow dare you insult me thus, Mr..
Markham"
Ceciliai hOW-What-"
Don't presume to call me Cecilia,
STRIP sobbed the indignant girl, bursting
into tears and sweeping from the room!
| sat like one palsied. What had I
done? Why was the gracious mood of my
enchantress thus suddenly transformed to
gall and bitterness? Surely she would
presently return and apologize for her Ca
PRECIOUS exit? But she did not return,
and, after waiting long in vain, Isneaked
out Of side-door and crept dejectedly
home, my heart burning with wonder and
resentment. [ had no mind to meet the
assembled family group; so I admitted
myself with the latch key and stole noise
lessly upstairs, where my lamp still
burned-the lamp had lighted with such
high and'bounding hopes!
threw off my coat viciously; as I did
so, the forgotten carte de 0tsite dropped
from my pocket I stopped to pick it up.
1t was the portrait of Bessie Armitage!
And there on the mantel, where in my
needless haste had left it, was the divine
| countenance of my queen, Cecilia!