Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1879-10-16

aged. Sne was glad to see her niece
interest herself in any thing that could
beguile thought from the one sad,
notifying subject of her desertion.
Toward noon she went to seek Eloise.
Her first glance showed her the girl
sitting thoughtfully upon the hearth-rug
with her lap full of letters, and queer
furnished Hindoo Jewelry. She sprang
up to meet her aunt, and with a
strangely solemn excitement cried out
''Oh, auntie, they are yours, all yours
[ was looking at that queer cabinet and
my dress turned 1t over, and piece
fell out of the bottom, and these thin-s
were scattered about" Then she ran
out of the room, shutting the door care
fully behind her.
Poor Miss Ethel needed her priva cy.
Here was her lovers vindication. here
were all the sweet words for which she
had nearly died. He had suffered all
she had suffered; he had poured out
his agony and his despair in letters
which had never until now reached
her. The poor lady took them to her
room, and never appeared again tn at
day. But she had no hard words for
the hand that had wronged her. Dear
father; he meant it for a kindness
was all that she said.
Still she grew very restless, and con-
tinually declared that she knew some
thing was going to happen. But COM
ing events often cast long shadows be-
fore, and it was full two months after
ward ere Miss Ethel's presentm ent
came true. Then she got letter one
day which threw her into a wild, fever
ish excitement. "Eloise," she cried, al
most sobbing with JOY, che. is come; he
is at the village; he will be here in all
hour. How am | to bear it?"
Women seek each others sympathy
in hours like this, and Eloise-perhaps
with just little bang for her own sor-
row-gladly gave it. But when she
joined the long parted lovers at dusk,
and saw her aunt lingering with tender
cares by the handsome dark stranger at
the firesidc, she knew that never again
would Aunt Ethel want sympathy; it
was easy to see her lover was still her
lover, and that they thoroughly under
stood the past.
Perhaps the sight of their happiness
was little irritating sometimes to
Eloise. She could not help blaming
her aunt in some measure for the loss
of Harry, and she wondered if she ever
remembered now any of her old opin-
IONS about the folly of marrying for
love. Many women would have re-
minded her of them, but Eloise. was
not ill-natured; and when she saw the
old lovers wandering about the gardens
so happily together, she only hoped
that her own blighted youth might have
some recompense given 1t: for such a
Joy it would almost be worth waiting, a
little while, but not twenty-five years;
that was too strong test of fidelity.
1t was not asked of her. On the
morning of the 9th of June, when the
dew was yet on the grass, there was q
messenger to see her. He had with
him an exquisite basket of white roses
and in their midst was a letter which
made Eloise Bruce the happiest girl in
America. And aunt Ethel was just as
delighted. 'He must come here al
once" she said; "they would wait break
fast for him-and he must never &C
away again"
Then the ladies discovered that Harry
and James Early were already friends
They had met at hotelin New York
and both having their hearts in the same
little Southern town, they had speedily
become confidential. And Harry was
not long in getting his pardon though
his excuse might well been considered
L.-o 1D.-I,1or
walton of his offense.
"You see, darling" he explained be
tween his kisses. you wanted to tes
my heart, and so thought it only fail
to let you test yours also. Do you think
you would remember me, if you never
saw or heard from me for twenty-five
years. as Aunt Ethel did that lover o.
hers ?''
Harry should remember yoU
forever. [ never, never would have
married any one else, if you had staic
away altogether. But indeed it was
cruel to try me SO bitterl v"
And how about your sending me
away? ?"
q won't ever do it again, Harry
and [ never really wanted you to go
You ought to have known that"
A few nights afterwards, as they al
sat together on the moon-lit veranda
Aunt Ethel said, Very tenderly, "Chil
dren, James and | will be married next
Thursday, and we shall sail for Calculus
Immediately. Could not the two mar
riages be made at once? Then, Harry
Eloise could live on at the old place
and keep it from going to destruction
1t is Eloise's now; [ made it over to her
today, and Mr.. Green says you are
going into partnership with their firm
SO l hope you will have enough to keep
love from flying out of your windows
Little more was said at the time, fol
Aunt Ethel persistently turned the sub.
ject. but when she came into Eloise's
room to bid the new bride elect "good
night" the happy girl whispered: ooh
aunt, how genel Gus you have been tc
US! Surely Mr.. Early must be very rich
to let you give such magnificent we'd
ding present"
mo, dear he is not. In fact, he is
yet what he calls struggling man. He
has great ventures on hand; he may be.
come rich or he may lose nearly all he
has made. 1t is something about indigo
dear, know not what, and | don't care
am going now wherever he goes, and
[ am very. very happy woman"
Then Eloise whispered, slyly, "Auntie
do you remember saying a year age
that girl was little fool who married
for lover"
II remember, dear. l am wiser now
and say if the girl is a little fool who
marries for love. she who marries with
out it is the most foolish and wretched
of women. On the whole, Eloise, am
rather proud of our good sense-eh. my