Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1878-01-24
MORE THAN HER MATCH.

Long shafts of moonlight were shoot
ing down through what seemed an al
most impenetrable wood and qulverln9
on the green moses. A faint wind
dallied with the foliage. Wild flowers
decked the ground.
Here, in this sylvan retreat, sat Miss
Barron, and she was very much out OF
humor, for every now and then she
drove the point of her parasol into the
unoffending moses. She looked and
was downright disguised with every
thing and everybody. The belle OF
three seasons, during which she had
escaped heart-whole, she was now
caught" and all because Of Il three
weeks soiourn at a country villa.
To be sure, moonlight, sitting through
vines over rustic porch, has something
more intoxicating than the glare of gas
jets; a wandering, scented wind, just oil
from the meadows, has rather finer
appeal than air vitiated by cut-howers
and gas drives over grass-grOWn roads
that are fedged with wild vines and
overhung with branches are just q trif1e
different in effect from the London
parks in landau or phaeton and that
animal man, who, in town, is so care
fully dressed, is, in the country, where
one would suppose geological specimens
would thrive better, something more
human, in tweed and felt hat. At any
rate, Madge had found it SO.
Madge had never been off her guard
before. Hitherto she had visited fash
ionable watering places, but this year
she had come to Il quieter place, and
had met Lyndhurst Darlington. She
did not yet know, however, she was in
thraldom.
She only knew she was cross and
lonesome; and so she sat punching the
little blossoms and pouting. She thought
Barrir ton exceedingly companionabIe,
ar at the other four gentlemen stop
pins ut the villa were little better than
wooden men. AS for downright earnest
love, why, her intentions for three years
had been never to venture her heart at
sea, but only to glide about the shore,
flirting, safe to disembark at any time.
Yet she was now thinking of Lyndhurst
Darlington in way many would have
termed love. But she would not admit
this to herself. He was delightful
summer friend, that was all, she said.
She liked summer, and flowers, and
birds, and haZy atmosphere, and
quiet Irritation, but when these went
the coming season brought new enjoy
ments and fresh t1irtatiOns. and Barring
ton could so with them. Were there
no others, pray, who could read Tenny-
son and sing tenor? But now, Just this
moment, it was rather lonesome. IF he
only would come
He had gone to town the morning
evening. She had walked with him
through this wood-path, on his way to
the station. He had fingered mo-
ment at the stile beyond to tell her how
beautiful she looked how the fresh
morning air had frightened the color on
her cheeks.
Come this evening as far as here
to meet me-" he had said, won't you?
The path will be q horrid labyrinth
without you"
You will surely return?" she had
asked. eff you don't l shall find
every tree a hobgoblin when go back
alone"
Return, indeed 1 shall think of
nothing else. | shall do nothing all dav
but pull out my watch to see if it IS time
for the train"
Then he caught her hand in quick
way, thought a moment, bounded over
the stile, and fastened down the path.
turning often to look back at the pretty
picture she made, listlessly leaning on
the stile, with tinge of regret in her
face. At q turn where she would soon
no l., l., j L
her kiss
Madge was now waiting, according to
appointment, and she had taken care
to concoct a most ravishing toilet.
But all her little preparations were
wasted. Lyndhurst Darlington did not
come. Still she waited. It seemed so
unreasonable, SO cruel, to disappoint
her. Perhaps he was only trying to
tease her, had got out unseen, and
would surprise her directly by his APP
pearance.
A doleful sough Of wind, coming from
the dark recesses of the wood, sudden
shutting down of night made Miss Bar
ron feel something like fear, and she
started nervously to return. AS it grew
darker her dread became terror she
tancled strange noises were about her
feet scarcely touched the ground she
SKINNED on, fluttering at heart like
some low-flying bird belated from its
nest
What wonder that she vowed that
night, as she brushed out her hair. never
to forgive Mr.. Burlington? What won
der that harmless little bunch of vio-
lets, which he had gathered for her the
day previous and which she had treas
ured IN a vase on her dressing case. she |
now found faded, disagreeable and odor
less, and that she tossed them pettish- |
ly out into the darkness from her Win
dow?
" | detest him and his violets." she
cried. He may stop in town till
doomsday, for aught care"
Miss Barron did not sleep we'll and
rose in the morning with a little dull |
weight on her feelings. "Perhaps.
she thought, she will not come even
to-day"
As she dressed for breakfast he was
constantly in her mind.
!" Perhaps he did it on purpose" she
SAID. Perhaps he didn't, but lost the ,
tram. But he had no business to lose
the train" she added Grossly. per
maps ne was Ill perhaps some woman
had asked him to remain. Well, if so.
L don't care" she said. "He shall see [
am happy enough, and not even pioued,
when he comes"
Still, as the day wore On. Madge found
the ladies of the company provoking
and the gentlemen more uninterestin9
than ever. Mechanically. towa rd o1,o,,7