Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1878-11-07
, MODERN ROMEO AND JULIET.

-----------------
4 MODERN ROMEO AND JULIET.
If you had gone with me into GER
tain church in ElltoWn on a certain
Sunday, followed the highly respectable
usher up the softly carpeted aisle, set
tied yourself comfortably in the corner
Of the prOfered seat, and glanced up al
the organ and choir behind the Rev.
Speecham's desk, your attention would
probably have been attracted, as was
mine, by an undeniably attractive sub,
ject. A girl in a dark gray dress and
hat, with dash Of color like the breast
of bird in the latter, and a charming
poise and quick motion Of the head to
carry out your thought. A slender
graceful girl, with warm red dimpled
cheeks, full red lips that gave the CHIEF
expression to the face, and were con
stantly changing that expression by
curves and quivers, steady blue eyes
and q strong forehead and chin.
If, ut the end Of the first hymn, you
had been unable to tell what she had
been singing about, it would not have
been because you had not been watch
ing her all the time from under eau.
tious eyelids; and, after the reading
you would probably have found your.
self as | did, old bachelor that | am
wondering what that girl was thinking
about.
First she pulled off one neat, little
gray glove, rolled it int a ball and
threw it into the book-rack in a very
impetuous manner, and when the quiet
little Mr.. Speecham gave out the hymn
she glowered at him savagely, then shut
her lips tightly, making straight scarlet
line that surely was not called out by
the sentiment, "Blest be the tie tina
binds" etc.
After the audience was settled for it.
morning, well, nap L think, to tell the
truth, the blue eyes took a far-aWay
look, as if they saw something beyond
the back of the minister's head beyond
the up-turned faces, beyond the carved
doors and stone walls, and beyond the
touch of the clOsely-clasped fingers.
This expression prevailed to the enc
Of the sermon, toned down now anC
then by an evident thinking out of the
matter III question. After the bene
dictiOn had been pronounced, and the
people sufficiently awakened by a ter
rible blast from the organ to walk me
chemically out of the chilly church into
the bright sunshine outside, [ saw my
morning puzzle slip by DR.. Speecham
join middle-aged lady Of the highly
respectable sort, and go out with the
crowd. As for me, [ betook myself tc
a humdrum boarding house with a din
feeling of regret that was no Longer
young.
Now, all this is simply prologue, as
it we're, to the little drama which [ found
out afterward, and started out in the
beginning to tell you under the title
which has, believe, been used for {
SIMILAR purpose already by some one.
Having given the introduction in due
order, the curtain will now rise on the
first act of the play.
Picture to yourselves a Sunday after
noon, slowly waning into evening; {
large gothic house, with a great many
porticoes, and on one of them my puz
Zle Juliet, and the middle-aged lady
whom she addressed as aunt, sitting
vis-a-vis. Juliet looks up now and theI
into the elderly lady's face as she speaks
to her, but oftener, it must be confessed
glances dreamily beyond over the wide
slope of lawn at the side of the house
Auntie Gray, impressiYely, CHOW
Juliet, | am very sure you would fine
your feelings changing toward dear DIR
Speecham If you would only stop think
ing of that wild harum-scarum Ha
Lane" ("H'm," thinks the maiden
. it is a good thing you don't know who
| am thinking too much of.") "It ISM
the most violent love that lasts the
longest, and, besides, it is dangerous t.
trust too much to the feelings. The
dear doctor IS Il good man, and hi
would restrain your sudden impulse,
and freaks" Juliet's lip curls suspic
iously, but she says nothing
Auntie Gray resumes, "You do like
him don't you, Juliet?" Y.
eyes, auntie, Prospect and like Mr.
sSpeecham, but that isn'tloving, and
don't love him."
tence, for as size looks Up she has til
horror OF seeing that reverend gentle
man standing at the end of the porch
having come over the lawn as usual Il
take tea and walk to church with them
after a custom of some years standing
The instant she glances up, he makes
gesture for silence, SO much sterne
than any she has ever seen him maxi
before, that,she, is literally astoaisheC
into complying. r.
"There is no need of your blushin;
like that.oyer a man that you onl,
like. y dfones on her aunt, In a state 0
sweet unconscieusness; but-sbefore SIN
has finished speaking, the man wht
hasanintentionally played eavesdroppe
has disappeared. He is late in cominl
to tea that night. but when Juliet come
down from her room, in answer to tn
bell, she finds him chatting quite tn
same as usual, though she cannot hell
noticing thata change has come owe
his countenance.
There Is a certain young artist, Re,
Cant by name, only son of one of he
aunt's intimate friends, who has 70
SEINE time made his home with tina
worthy lady, and. thanks to his unfail