Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1877-03-29

slumbered, his wife stole quietly from his
side, and in fear and trembling, with many
furtive chances at the sleeper, it must be
confessed for John, like most good
natured men, was the maddest of the mad
when he was mad), she carefully and con-
scientiously examined the pockets of
trousers, vest, undercoat and overcoat.
a month went by and she had found
nothing but a flask with something more
or less in it, handkerchief smelling
strongly of beer, pair of gloves ditto,
some coffee beans, a few cloves, piece Of
flag root, meerschaum, half a dozen
cigars, paper of cigarettes, two or three
cards pertaining to hotels and restaurants,
night-key and sundry silver and nickel
coins. II
At last, just five weeks after she had
commenced her search, she felt that her
patience was about to be rewarded.
In a corner of the vest, between the
cloth and the lining-it had slipped
through a hole in the pocket-made there
on purpose, no doubt, these men are so
artful-she discovered the receipt of a
registered letter, which letter had been ad
dressed to Miss Mary-Miss Mary (why
do these Postoffice people write Sc illegi-
bly, ?)-for the life of her she couldn't
make out the surname, but Miss Mary
somebody, at the very time he had denied
her, his lawful wife, the simple ostrich
feather
"Deceitful wretchr' she said, between
her teeth, glancing Indignantly at the bed
where the wretch" slumbefed uncon-
sciously; "but now have one proof of
his perfidy," and she hid the Postmaster's
receipt in her work basket, and [ Ii have
more, if it takes me all the rest of the
winter to find theln.''
But she didn't have to wait all the rest
of the winter, for the very next night,
when john Margerum was snoring louder
than ever, after the cloves, and the flask,
and the meerschaum, and the handker-
chief smelling of beer, and the gloves
ditto, and Il few other articles had tum-
bled out, away down at the bottom of the
breast pocket of the husbands overcoat,
Mrs. Margerum found sealed envelope
directed to nobody. Straight to the gar
ret she carried it, deliberately tore it open
and read as follows:
My DEAREST ONE: Meet me at the Aquarium
on Wednesday afternoon, and there we will
spend some happy, happy hours. Together We'll
watch the gambols of the intelligent seal and
look at the broad back of the interesting white
whale. Together we'll gaze upon the Salmonese
| twins and the festive hermit crabs. Don't dis
",
the band beg ms to play. Ever thine,
RUMMY
Rummy," she repeated, with the
calmneSs of volcano, as she inserted the
billet douX into another envelope, sealed
it and returned it to the breast-pocket.
You'll have the pleasure of seeing Mrs.
| Rummy, also, nay dearest 0ne."
| And shaking her little brown fist at the
| dreaming slumberer, she laid her head on
the pillow beside him and slept restless
sleep.
Wednesday afternoon came, bright and
| beautiful.
Mrs. Margerum arranged her silken
tresses in the most becoming and coquet-
| fish style, perched a pretty, broad
| brimmed black velvet hat upon them, and,
| arrayed in her invisible green silk, with
cloth polonaise and kid gloves to match,
| prepared to meet the foe.
1.-The dearest one shall see that I'm
| not to be despised, if | haven't her blue
| eyes and brassy hair" she said with scorn,
as she perfumed her best lace handker-
chief with roSe-water.
| AS the clock struck two she set out with
beating heart for the place of meeting 1t
was quarter Of an hours ride from the
| house, and a quarter of an hour would
| just give them time to meet and clasp
hands and gaze lovingly at each other ere
| they made pretense of studyidg the
wonders of the deep.
The aquarium was reached. Faster
and faster beat her heart, brighter and
brighter sparllled her eyes, redder and
redder glowed her checks.
She had never looked prettier in her
| life.
The band was playing as she entered.
| Was he-were they there?
| He was-directly in front of her, and
stepped eagerly forward with bland
smile, saying, g Why, how charming you
| look, Tootsev, love! Wasn't it romantic,
my putting that note for you in my peck
ct? [ thought it shame that you should
search so patiently and so long without
finding something by way of recompense
By-the-by, that receipt you've got in your
work box, take care of it. sent some
money to your sister. She didn't want
| you to know it for fear it would worry
you, but she's lost most of her scholars
and is very poor
Mrs. Margerum blushed a still deeper
crimson, but all she said, in calm and
childlike voice, was John, where is the
| hippopotamus? '-Aadge Eliot, IN Detroit
| Free Press.