Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1877-09-13
THE OLD, OLD STORY.

reading, and turned with a contemptu-
Gus air to my young friend. Laura Bald
win. Writers in general )" continued,
'seem to think tale incomplete, unless
somebody marries somebody else; and
| am heartily tired Of it. The idea that
woman's earthly happiness consists in
her being linked by Hymn email vows to a
male specimen Of the human race is
utterly nOnsensical."
must confess that | said this little
wickedly, for | was fully aware that
Laura's entire hopes in life were very
closely connected with the engagement
ring on her left hand. AS l ceased
speaking the dear blue eyes were gazing
at that little jeweled circlet, and there
was a tremor in her gentle voice, as
she said SOFTLY
Nevertheless, Kate, the old, old
story is very sweet. You will say so
yourself, some time"
Never" | answered. energetically.
| had been an orphan from a mere
child-brought up and cared for by a
maiden aunt, in whose large, old-fash-
toned sitting the above CONVERSE
ton occurred.
At this time | was one-and-tw enty,
and had been home from school two
years. | cared nothing for society, my
only friend being Laura Baldwin, a
schOOlmate. | loved her tenderly but
| often wondered how she could love
me, for every one called me eccentric
and cold. [ suppose that did appear
So for | had never been surrounded by
those sweet home influences that tend
n hTIn oil thot Ic,l love- 10 ~,
heart
However, my WOman's nature would
assert itself IN a passion for dumb pets,
which had never been gratifed in the
slightest degree. Many a little homeless
dog and kitten had [ brought in from
the street only to see Aunt Harriet's
eyes glare through her spectacles, and to
hear her eXclaim,-
Good gracious, child take that dirty
creature back to where you found it.
Ughw
This last with a shrug that is indescri-
able
So, with tears, would surrender the
poor thing to its vagabond existence.
While away to school, pets of any
kind were out of the question, but my
love for them grew stronger every year
of denial. On returning home [ found
Aunt Harriet more nervous and irritable
than ever; and felt that gratitude-if
nothing else--bOund me to respect her
every wish
SO my time had been occupied by an
extensive course Of reading, music.
drawing, and waiting on Aunt Harriet
My solitary life had made me rather
scornful of the outside life surrounding
me; and | felt that [ had become very
distant and reserved to all, save Laura
She was now making me visit, and it
was on a rainy afternoon, while auntie
was taking her daily nap, that | almost
startled her by that " Neverp'
But, Katherine, DEAR" she replied,
know how all your life you have
longed for something to love. Would
not noble husband supply that place
in your heart?'
Laura, what [ mean is simply this:
insist that wOman's life can be per-
fectly happy without marriage, and |
mean to prove it. | should wish for
nothing more, if | could have a little
gem of a home, and all the pets l could
care for. Auntie has plenty of money,
but she is afraid of horse, dislikes
dogs and cats of every color and kind,
and is distracted bya canary birds thrill
ling notes. All these things | love. |
always wanted them. | should be so
happy if possessed them.
9 | don't think so, Kate | know you
very well, and | am sure that there is a
large place in your heart that will be
lonely and aching sometimes, and need
the old, old story that you are so tired
of reading about. Have you forgotten
Harry"
There was spice of mischief in the
question, but somewhere in that queer
heart of mine, fine string vibrated just
enough to send a flush to my cheeks, as
| thought of the picture and faded flow
ers in the tiny box up stairs. But [
answered laughingly,-
Nonsense. That was only silly af-
fair of three years ago. Then he went
to Germany to study, the family taking
up their abode in Paris. We had a
slight disagreement the week before he
sailed, and [ would not say good-by. He
wrote once, but [ did not reply. He is
nothing to me-" 1 declared, very
hravely.
Laura looked askance at me out of
those truthful eyes. | walked across
the room to her chair, and, leaning over
her shoulder, said with kiss
You charming unbeliever. Wait
until you visit me in the delightful para
disc you are so skepticaI about. There
you shall see me, the personifcation OF
earthly bliss, surrounded by flowers,
books, and an array of pets, from a
pony to a canary bird. How you will
sigh over your domestic tribulations"
1--WE will wait" answered Laura.
1888 %%%% %%*% %%%%
1t is two years later. | am sitting
alone in the old reception room. All
alone in the house with the exception
of the waiting woman. [ hear her slow
step in the kitchen. Aunt Harriet is
dead. Only yesterday we followed he1
remains to the family vault. ] am glad
| did what | could to make her last
years pleasant l sit here alone, the
same strange creature that | always
have been, with the same strange heart
The house is very lonely. Do l think
of the picture in the tiny box? What is
that to me? / am proud, self reliant as
ever, cold to all but Laura, who still
gives me q corner of her heart Still
do | build my air castle that ere many
months Will be fulfilled
Still month later, and have dropped
letter in the Office for Laura, among
whose closely written pages are these
lines:
am about to sell this place. and
4. O1I