Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1876-03-09

I
cred by the river side, and, turning to an
other fair girl, he offered her the remain
| der of the flowers, and begged her hand
| for the next dance. She tossed her head
Indignantly, and her looks said plainly,
Do you think l would dance with a
gypsy" She had taken the flowers out
of his hand, but she broke them, and
cast them away, saying suddenly: 81
dont care for flowers, and Pm not going
to dance with you, thank you"
The young man turned away hastily
and the maiden who had danced with him
said to her companion: How could you
wound the young mans feelings 500
What harm could it do you to dance with
him? And, oh! the dear primroses; the
first L have seen this year; see, you have
broken Them" and Ellen bowed down
and gathered the scattered flowers, care
fully placed them among those given her
self, and fixed them in her belt.
81 How could you rather dance with a
fellow like that-likely one of the gang of
thinkers that passed yesterday? And will
you really wear the flowers he gave ~
replied the maiden, with a scornful sneer.
" wear the flowers for their ewn
sakes. How could you break them-the
beauties?" replied Ellen, caressing the
bouquet with tender touch +" and as for
dancing with the young man, | am sure |
am quite ready to do SO again, were it
only for his delightful music"
Margaret drew herself away in digni-
fed silence. She was quite Mortified at
the conduct of Ellen and the young man,
who was lowering near, and watching the
maidens, again offered his hand to Ellen +;
and, anxious to heal the wound her COM
panion had given, she danced with him
| gladly. He saw she was enraptured with
his music, and he was delighted when, at
the close Of the festival, she asked him to
proceed to her fathers house, where she
wished to hear again his sweet strains.
She had an old piano-not very good
one, but nevertheless one that gave her
pleasure; and she wished to try some of
the tunes he had played to the dancers
Ellen's sisters were very much afraid she
had compromised the family dignity by
dancing with this stroller, and they
grumbled about her asking him to their
home so late in the evening. He went,
| however, and after Ellen and himself had
| discOurSed music for a considerable length
of time, to the delight of the old folks,
who were rather proud of Ellen's musical
taste, he rose to leave
>44,o L.
he said he had to be miles away before
| daylight; so Ellen gave him piece of
money and stuffed his pockets with bread
and beef and large piece of cheese, at
the same time begging of him it he ever
came that way again to give them the
pleasure OF listenin g to his minstrelsy.
Sir Evan returned to his own castle, but
| he could not Danish the image Of the gen
tie Ellen from his heart When he slept
or woke he always saw her as she stood
fixing the broken primroses in her belt
looking SO sweet and pretty in her white
| dress and blue ribbons, and her ripping
| brown hair tossed both by the evening
| breeze and by the dancing; and at length
when his mother renewed her attacks upon
him about getting married, he told her of
the maiden he had learned to love so we'll
The lady was dumbfounded Was her
darling son, the pride of her heart, to wed
nameless, humble bride? But as she
| pondered the matter over she became
more recOnciled to it. IT he loved this
maiden, his happiness was concerned, and
wh9T trlJn hovl
| So after short silence that almost seemed
years, she raised her head and asked Sir
Evan if he had cause to think the maiden
returned his love?
q dare not say she does, mother" he
replied; ''yet, L think she thought ten
derby of the strolling musician. l think
there was a sigh of regret for his not be-
ing son of a neighboring farmer.
could read that in her dark gray eyes, even
when she was not the least conscious of it
herself"
God bless you, my dear son." replied
the good lady, with tremor in her voice,
"God bless you, indeed; so amiable a
maiden must prove sweet companion:
and she must be in measure accom-
plished, according to your statement; and
if it is for your happiness, 1 am recon
ciled''
The young man kissed his mothers
hand with tenderness and gratitude; and
he went at once to order out his carriage
for the interesting journey. He dressed
with great care, and a fner-looking man
could seldom be seen.
His wellknit limbs were 1.-THE and
hardy looking, and showed the nimble
huntsman or the brave soldier, as occa
sion might demand. His dark, hazel eye
was beautiful, and his curling hair the
very sunniest shade Of brown. His
bushy whiskers were auburn, and the
habit of command gave dignity to his
presence that heightened the charm Of the
whole.
Ellen's father saw the carriage approach
his house in great surprise, tor he knew
In Y