Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1878-06-27

cherished no luminosity against the
southern people, SO he has told me
hundred times. There were many row.
ally beautiful women there that night.
and a fairer scene the lights never shone
upon. The band had just commenced
to play one of Strauss waltzes, and
while was standing by the door, "A
looker-on in Vienna, |
TURNED AND SAW JOHN WILKES BOOTH.
He had but a few moments before re-
turned from FOrd's Theatre, where he
had been acting. He came over to me.
| noticed that he looked very angry and
very much excited, and I asked him the
cause. He pointed to couple circling
in the rhyn1ic measure of a waltz. They
seemed to be oblivious of everything
in the world. Their movements were
perfect-the maiden's mead almost rest
ed on the youths shoulder, and, with
her eyes half closed, she listened to the
earnest, tender words that her cOmpan-
ion was pouring into her ear. 1t was
Bessie Hale and Robert Lincoln. As
he witnessed this scene, Booths white
teeth clenched over the mustache and
his face grew very white, while his eyes
blaZed like fire. He caught me by the
arm with a grasp that made me vince,
and caused me to utter an involuntary
cry, and Missed into my ear: tg o.
"' Mrs. Temple, see that damned vii
lain? On, could kill him-and his
father, too; and, by the Lord of Hosts,
the sands of his life are fast running
out
"What do you mean?" [ asked him,
thoroughly startled by his manner and
words.
ooh, nothing" he said, recovering
himself, Only the man had better never
been born than to come between me
and my love. Bessie loves me, I'll
swear; but what between her people
and his, they will dispose of her as a
lamb led to the slaughter
:" | am sorry for you, Mr.. Booth, " said
my husband, who. standing beside me,
had listened to his words. .....
"Booth turned fiercely and disdain-
fully around to him-fOr he never liked
my husband-and said: Sir, | would
rather be Action, chased and devoured
by his own beagles, than to be like
Lazarus, and have his wounds licked
by dogs out of pity ....
He left us abruptly and went out OF
the room, and we saw him no more
that night
/ told Bessie Hale Of this scene, and
she was at first distressed about it, and
then got mad, as a woman always does
when she don't know what to do, and
and fiirted openly with Robert Lin
coin, much to that young mans de
light.
The next morning we all awaited
Booths coming anxiously, and Bessie
sat In my parlOr until dinner expecting
him; but not then, nor that whole day,
did he make his appearance.
Another day passed, and still anoth-
er came and went, but no signs of Booth.
Instead
ROBERT LINCOLN CAME
regularly, and bybreakfast-time a most
exquisite bouquet of flowers from the
White House conservatory would al
ways be sent to Bessie; and Robert
Lincoln pressed his suit boldly and ar
IDENTITY. [ think she was piqued at
Booths silence, for she gave Robert
much encouragement, and his visits be
came longer and more frequent"
One day, about Il week after the
ball, as the two were sitting alone to-
gether in my parlor, John Wilkes
walked abruptly in, and sitting down
with onl Y slight nod of recognition to
both, took a book and commenced to
read. An hour passed on, and his rival.
seeing that Booth was determined to sit
him out. got up, made his adieu, and
left the field open. Bessie told me af-
terward that she was much incensed at
his behavior; and gave him a piece of
her mind. He retOrted; she grew more
angry, he more curt and cOntemptuous.
she recriminated sharply, and then he,
losing his temper flung himself with a
muttered curse out of the ROOM"
she cried often and bitterly over
this misunderstanding and would have
sent for him bat that her pride withheld
her"
Matters were at this state for some
time. The long winter passed away,
the long days came and went, each
bringing some dreadful story. The
very air brought tidings every hour,
and the whole continent seemed to re-
sound with clash of arms; troops every
day passed toward the front, and, pas
sing our hotel with their bands playing
and colors flying, each day brought the
news of some new triumph, and vic
tory, so long frowning on the Union
arms, came now, perched on its ban
ners; and nearly every night there was
a joyous gathering at our hotel, and
1JtI10I l,ti J..
of the day. Mr.. Lincoln was happier
than | ever saw him, and wherever he
moved he was in circle of cordial
friends.
CAT last the great event happened
that we had all wished for, hoped for,
prayed for, during all the four long
weary years
LEE SURRENDERED
at AppOmattox court house land it
seemed as if the people were delirious
with JOY. At our hotel there was one
round of congratulations and reioicings.
Every night The parlOrs would be
thronged with an anxious, eager, eX-
cited party, who would discuss, drink,
and dance the night through. Amid all
these scenes Booth moved-calm, stern,
silent cold. His manner was utterly
changed; and, instead of ranting,
romantic boy, he seemed a composed,
practical man. We all knew that the
triumph of the federal army was a
blasting of his most cherished hopes,
and none of us said any thing to him
on the subject. And so the fated days
sped swiftly by; and while a nation
was drunk with joy-while the ringing
of the bells, the cracking of the bon
fires, and the blaze of martial music all
united into n TIE Denim I'm honor. of