Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1878-09-12

pose that jim, tOf the sake OF his peace
of mind, would outgrow his affection for
her after little while, decided that he
had. She was very glad of it. And yet
there was q tinge of melancholy in the
discovery. She was glad for his sake,
because he had suffered so, but it was
abstractly considerable very solemn
thought that so strong an attachment
was so short-lived. Not that she would
have had it last longer in this particular
case-0, no; but there might come a
time when she should want to know that
the one who had so great a regard for
her was to have it forever. But what
was she to expect? Was Jim fair sam
pie of mankind in this respect?
If Farmer Long had been an observ-
ing man, during these days he would
have seen coming into Jjm's face some
thing that could not have failed to re
mind him Of the time when the youths
mother and Mrs. Long were girls; and
the best looking ones IN the village.
The fathers strength had come into
Jim's body and limbs, but he was get
ting his mothers face, by installments.
These were to be his possessions when
he was Of age.
As his 21st year drew toward Its close,
he could not tell Whather to be glad or
sorry for it. His reason told him to go;
and fOrget-he had not forgotten you
see-in the excitement of business
somewhere, his disappointment. But
that heart Of his kept forever answer
ing 'Stay another year. He was in
this state of mind the day before he was
twenty-one. After dinner that day he
went and sat on the bench under the
great maple He went there that he
might be alone to decide whether he
would follow the dictates Of his reason
heart. Reason at last carried the day.
He arose from his seat and said aloud,
and decidedly, ~ shall CO." 1t was set
tied. He had told the family all along
that he should go away when he became
of age. He was glad that they knew
and had became reCOnciled to (perhaps
wished) it. He was set upon looking
straight ahead now, and determined
not to look back.
And he did look straight ahead
Look? he stared, for Just a second or
two, and then went a head, straight and
fast. Up the slightly ascending mead
ow Jennie was running toward the
house; and not far behind her was the
four year-old hme-back pursuing. 1t
was fortunate for Jennie Long then
that Jim was near; and that he was
''big" and strong and brave. jim was
bent on getting between Jennie and
that mad brute and he could not stop to
find weapons. He rushed past her and
at that moment her strength gave way
and she fell. If jim had made a mis-
move-but he did not With great deX-
terity, he seized the animal by the
horns as it came up, and putting forth
all his strength drew its head with such
force and suddincss to one side as to
throw it down. Then springing to
where Jennie had arisen and stood I'm
able to move from fright. he caught
her in his arms and bore her to a place
Of safety over the wall.
When Jennie could speak. she turned
to jim and asked, "What if you had
been killed?'
ooh, there wodld have been q beggar
less that's ALL" said lie, and walked
away.
An hour later jim, in a deep reverie.
was sitting under the old maple. He
heard the rustling of dress, the sound
ofapproaching feet, and then Jennie's
gentle call, 'Jim %
He arose and looked at her.
Jim, do you-hate me?"
mo, worse then that-f0r me-"
"Worse? Than you-don't feel to-
Dc III
No, for love you more"
Truly, JIM"
Truly"
'WelI, then you may read what 1
have written on this paper; but don't
open it till [ get a long way off,"
She handed him the paper and
turned and walked in the dire :tion of
the house. Jim was not long in open
tug that note, and reading;
DEAR JIM-Don't go away.
JENNIE"
Nor did the writer oft get a long way
of before he overlook her.
When jim and Jennie entered the
house together, a little later, Farmer
Long looked at them sharply for mo-
mGnt and then, as if what he saw war
ranted him, he arose and handed jim
also paper saying as he did so:
81 shdlik ter have yeOu look this
| ere dockerment over'n see eff it is ker-
rect. [ don't want no mistake bout it.
The place that jines mine was fur sale
N I've bot it. This 'ere'a the deed
ont"
And so it was And that "docker-
ment" was made to run to James F0W-
Ter and his heirs.