Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1879-06-12

chickens-had anything but a leaky
skif to offer, but who, with the ready
hospitality of the dweliers in tentc, in
vited them to share the shelter Of their
canvas roof; but as the oars of the skiff
were broken. and Elinor's slipper was
not at hand, it seemed of little use.
Thus at their wits ends they paced the
sands, upon which the waves eDcroach-
ed more and more, making green hol-
i lows in the moonlight when they broke,
and fringing the lone line of coast with
spray like tangles of pearls. John
heaped a cushion of beach grass, and
they sat in the pale light of moon
that was slowly dipping behind the
dunes, and watched the great unnamed
monster shake It's name at their very
feet, and listened to its endless dd cdpos,
and wondered if the silver bridge which
the moonbeams threw across the water
would bear them home, and repeated
love lines from the poets; or he sang
to her:
| "Oh listen to the bowling sea,
That beats on the remorseless shore!
| Oh, listen. for that sound shall be
When our wild hearts shall beat no morel
Oh. listen well and listen long,
For, sitting folded close to me,
! You could not hear a sweetcr song
| Than that hoarse murm1r of the seal"
The moon fell lower while he sang, and
left the world to starlight; the wind
blew freshly off the sea; Elinor shiyered
| in the blast. "Shall we accept the
Gypsies invitation" he asked, cor shall
we walk to town."
Chow far is it, John" She called
him "John." 1t seemed a new name
as spoken by her. She gave it a new
meaning.
SIT is eight miles, Elinor, over marshy
places and rough ways"
'Let us try it." But before they had
gone half a mile on the beach her
strength gave out. 81 am so tired!"
she said. eff one could only f1yl" At
that moment he felt an almost 1rresisti-
BILE impulse to seize the hand resting
on his arm and cover it with kisses; to
| fold her in his arms then and there,
and whisper. eff you are tired, dar-
| ling, rest here, for love is rest and bles-
sedness supreme; and / love you" But
| the old haunting distrust required what
if she should answer, "Not here; your
love is not large enough for me, not
| hesitated and doubted and half be-
lieyed, q boat shot along the shore and
buried its keel in the sand. They had
sent relief from town.
They sailed up the wide river, and
watched the lighthouse send its flame
far out on the waters, and met the
wraith-like forms of ships at the
wharves, silent as ghosts, the town
lights likejack-o'lantern and the tide
setting round the piers; and when they
| reached home, and he left Elin0r at her
fathers door, the clocks were striking
midnight, and startled robin In the
elm tree overhead was trilling sleepy
note.
But fortune was not to be severe with
John for one neglect Of opportunity,
meant to offer him greater induce
ments and more tempting chances.
EIinor's father awoke one morning and
found himself bankrupt Somewhat
later John went to purchase pair of
new gloves, in which to worthily pay
his respects to his love, when who should
step forth behind the counter to wait
upon his demand but Elinor herself!
"You, Elinor!" he exclaimed. "Think-
ing of angels, you hear the rustic of
their wings"
'The wheel of fortune has made a
revolution, you see, and here | am.
But not crushed by it."
"That is well. For man is man,
the poet sings, and master of his fate"
Il don't think it means women,
though" said she. "What can | do
tor you? lam at your service. Gloves?
Jouvins?"
eyes. Are you going to Mr.. Swelps
tomorrow night"
Gam going? The Swelrs have for
gotten my existence. [ have gone I'M
der, so to speak, as far as they are con-
cerned."
Indeed 1 was looking forward to
meeting you there"
"And you meet me here instead"
"But if you are not to be there, shall
not care to go"
THANK you; but l should he sorry to
deprive you of a happiness"
Should your" leaning across the
counter. ''You asked just now what
you could do for me. Shall l tell
yous"
Us, you may tell me.
His eyes held hers, intense with
meaning; his lips trembled with the
burden of his heart; all MS desire was
leaping up, and shaping itself into ten
der words. What was it that stayed
them, caused them to falter into COM
monplaces? What power locked the
eager lips upon the half-uttered secret?
Why did the intense eye lose their
sweet significance, the hand relax its
gentle grasp?
"You may stretch this pair of gloves
for me, then, if you please" he said,
recovering himself
"Isn't it little droll," said she. hid
ing whatever chagrin she experienced
behind her smile" isn't it little droll
that stretching the stocking should be
such a sin, while sire tohing the glove is
perfectly harmless n
"Confound my folly" he thought.
walking away. "Why didn't say ii?
She looked almost as if she expected
something. / gave her the right to.
but did she oare 10 listen? TIC BE sure sure
the place was unfortunate; but people
have made and heard proposals in ball
rooms, IN crowds, before this-at street
corners and at book-stalls. There was
Captain Wildes; he proposed to Mary
on board the cars, and, not understand
ing him, she crieo: 'WhatP So he
had to scream ii all over again, and the