Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1877-08-23

Miss Selden must have grown either
desperately weary or desperately in
terested MANIFESTATIONS during which
the flight of a sea-bird, the plunging of
some restless sea-monster, the floating
fragment of some wreck, was an episode
and an excitement.
Dear mel yawned Mrs. Bruce;
" even a water-spout or tornado would
be a welcome change This is utter
stagnation, isn't it, Mr.. Surrey?'
Do you find it so, Miss Selden?" he
asked, RELOCATING his reply to that young
lady. Would you welcome the sea-
serpent, or a piratical crew swooping
down upon us from no matter whereY
Il shall be very glad when we reach
Calcutta, said Serena. In the mean
while | am not unhappy"
q don't believe we shall ever reach
Calcutta, 2 groaned Mrs. Bruce. II think
we are Just like that phantom ship which
sails on and on for ever and ever"
Il, for one, shouldn't object" said
Surrey, lightly.
Certainly not. You are going round
the world pour pdsser lie temps merely.
Heavens! [ can't understand any one
choosing this everlasting voyage of his
own will for pleasure. It's perfect
marvel to me that Serena consented to
come"
And a perfect godsend to me-" inter-
polated Surrey.
So some other people ought to think.
But wonder you're not more impatient
"All the impotence in the world
wouldn't carry me there day earlier"
"Well, wasn't so philosophic at your
age" as if that were a feather in her
cap of peculiar lustre; and taking up
novel, Heres q goose of heroine who
doesn't know which Of her two lovers
she prefers. / would like to set her
adrift with them on voyage like this"
"And the consequence would be that
she would hate both, you Think" asked
Mr.. Surrey.
The following twilight Miss Selden
and Mr.. Surrey were pacing the deck
together, and he was opening his heart
to her-a sanctuary always pretty Sc
curely closed to most people-telling
her of his boyhood and his travels, his
Irritation, and his first hobbledehoy
love-making
AllO NltCIC Will you ~ iltGl YOU
have done up Japan?" she asked; "and
after you have made the worlds tour,
will you not long for more worlds, like
Alexander"
After all, [ may not go to Japan" he
began, drawing camp-stool beside the
deck chair she had just taken. Cit
depends depends great deal upon
yourself, Miss Serena" he said, boldly,
and leaning forward to look into her
eyes.
Upon me, Mr.. Surrey?" repeated
Serena. "How can | possibly have
anything to do with it?"
1T all depends -upOn-whether
you could consent to love me, Miss Sc
rena, as | have learned to love you"
Love you, Mr.. Surrey" rising and
Withdrawing the hand he had taken in
his own, while the light that broke in
upon the proceedings of the last few
weeks showed her no flattering picture
of herself in the attitude of a hirt.
Love you? Oh, Mr.. Surrey, don't you
know? Has Mr.. Bruce never told you?
Don't you know that | am going out to
Calcutta to be married?'
"To be married ?" repeated Mr.. Sur
rev, in stified voice" to be married :?
| give you my word, Miss Seldom, that |
never dreamed of such a thing. Per-
haps it would have been well to have
mentioned it yourself. [ supposed you
were Mrs. Bruces goveness-Mr Bruce
did tell me as much as that. | beg you
will pardon my confession, and forget it.
Shall [ take you to Mrs. Brucew
Yes, thank you. I ought to have
mentioned it; only thought you knew,
or it wouldn't signify to YOU" said Sc
rena, humbly. "You will pardon me
for taking so much for granted. Inever
meditated mischief, believe me. | was
Mrs. Bruce's governess before-before
heterogeneous or rather till 1 decid-
ed to take this journey. Goodnight"
Then, hesitating, and offering the hand
she had withdrawn, eve are friends
still, Mr.. Surrey?' timidly.
"'Only friends the merest keep much
that | resign" he quoted II don't
feel disposed to verify your prediction
that we should be sure to quarrel before
the voyage ended, though it might prove
diversion. Pleasant dreams, Miss
Selden"
In community so small, imprisoned
i'll space so limited, two people could
scarcely avoid each other without re-
mark, especially two who had been al
most inseparable the day before; there
fore, by tacit consent, they fell into the
same apparent intercourse in the pres
ence of others. To be sure, embarrass-
mentS and annoyances waylaid them;
but people who will fall in love, or in
spire the tender passion NAL q propos,
must suffer the consequences. There
were not as many tete-d-tete as previously;
or if unavoidable circumstances threw
the two together, there followed oppres-
sive silences, or conversations upon ev-
cry topic but that which occupied their
thoughts. They no longer killed the
tagging hours with chess, or read from
the same page. For want of other rec
reation, Mr.. Surrey mearthed his Gre
mona, and drew melancholy, beseeching
airs from it which made Serena shiver.
at is like the song in sea-shell," she
said. "Why will you play those dolor-
Gus minor chords? They remind me of
nothing but desolation."
Mr.. Surrey put his violin away.
"Have you and Miss Selden been
cross with each other?" asked Amy, one
day, climbing upon his knee, after seeing
them sit silent for half an hour, looking
out on the sea, or any where but at each
other" have you and Miss Selden been
cross with each other? Then why don't
you kiss and make up, like the way Tom
and me does?'
Perhaps Miss Selden and l don't
want to make up" said Surrey, amused