Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1879-05-29

which ran In this wise:
"MY DEAR GRETA.-It is some time
since [ had the pleasure of hearing from
you, and 1t has occurred to me to ask if
time and distance were not weakening
our hold upon each other; to wonder
how long you would continue to love a
man whom you saw only once or twice
a year, since it seems to me that owing
to the bad times cur marriage is as in
definitely postponed as the millennium.
Now, my dear giIl, | do not wish to
stand IN your light; if you were not en-
gagged to me, some more eligible partner
would seek you, [ feel certain. More
over, my health is precarious, and the
doctors have advised me to try the air
of California. It is prescription more
nauseOus than drugs, since must leave
you behind me; but could not, in hon
or, carry your promise with me for an
! indefinite space of time for my own
selfish satisfaction merely. At the same
time, believe me, it is no easy thing for
me to Say 'adieu' to the dearest girl in
the world.
Sincerely, STEPHEN SoTHERNE."
| To say that Greta was surprised would
be the same as if we should call an
earthquake unpleasant" She was
thunderstruck, overwhelmed, with just
spirit enough left to return Mr.. Soth-
erne's letters and presents by the next
mail without word.
He has heard all about the diamond
and believes it," she thought. Itwould
! be a comfortable arrangement if one
/ 70 he nj
proves unworthy, but hearts are not
! fashioned after that manner. When
every thought and motive of ones life
is woven up with those of another, one
can not unravel the tangled web at once
another such shock will send me to
the insane asylum" sighed Greta. But
there was another yet in store for her
Mr.. Graft mad taken to dropping in
upon her after her days work. One
evening he said:
"Miss Greta, what if you should be
found guilty of this this"
"Lf they should find me guilty. How
can they find an innocent person guilty?
If / took the diamond, where is it?"
Mr.. Grafton smiled indulgently.
"People have been imprisoned, brand
ed, exiled, hanged, and quartered for
sins ther never committed. If you were
guilty you would be more likely to es-
cape; you would have laid your plans"
Greta gave an involuntary sob; the
tears shone in her eyes. "And there is
no one to help me-" she gasped, think
ing aloud rather than speaking to Mr..
Grafton.
Yes, yes. there is some one ready to
help you, Greta," said that gentleman;
Il will help you, if you will only give
me the right" he petitioned.
"You, Mr.. Grafton? What right can
[ give you? | don't understand"
eff you were my promised wife
All! my dear Miss Greta, don't turn
away your head disdainfully; hear me
out. Mr.. Stoughton is under some OBJ
legation to me; If you were my prom
ised wife l could write him. There
would be no more said about the miss
ing diamond; it would be accounted for
IN some natural manner. You would
be no longer suspected. No one could
suspect the woman whom Thomas
Grafton delighted to honor"
'4ou-you are very kind. l thank
you: bat [ do not love you, Mr.. Graf
ton"
Il don't ask you to love me. OF
course you don't; the idea has never,
perhaps, entered your head before. |
only beg that you will marry me. Love
will come sooner or later, as / deserve
it at your hands. And, Ny dear Greta,
what better can you do? Who will give
you employment, with this blight upon
you? How will you earn your daily
bread?'
81 don't know" returned Greta; how
shall [, indeed? But, all the same, it
would be contemplate TO reward your
unseifishness by marrying you for a
home
"Only agree to marry me, and [ will
not quarrel about the motive" he i'm
plored.
What could Greta do? Her lover had
deserted her; her good name was tar
nished. Without home, friends, or work,
was it not the height of folly to refuse
such a way of escape? And yet, how
could she love him? But might not
one survive the luxury of loving? Come
wealth, ease. and position; vanish all
illusions that make life sweet. She
,
something might turn up to her advant-
age-the diamond, for instance. But
the fortnight passed, as fortnights will;
nothing happened, except that Mr..
Grafton, feeling confidence in the woman
who hesitates, refurnished his parlor in
blue satin and pale gold, fitted up an
apartment for his wife's boudoir like a
suburb of fairy land, bespoke the par
son, the ring, and the carterer.
do tellP' said one gossip to another;
"Greta Loring's going to step into clio
yer, and no mistake"
Its powerful change for her. ]
, hear Mr.. Grafton;s always had hank
ering for her. He told Mr.. Jobson any
man could marry any woman he set his
heart upon, if he'd only work bard
enough, and wait like spider in his
J Web"
81 guess he got Greta for the asking
eh ?"
q dunno; there was that Sotherne
who was sweet on her."
4 reckon that's blown over-only a
: young mans pastime. Pm surprised
) at Tom Grafton, though, with all his
) airs and frilIs, with his family tree and
: his coat of arms, and his ancestors and
) his money. How does he get over that
} little affair of Mrs. Stoughton's diamond
, | s'pose he expects folks ovisit his wife
J and ask no questions, once she's q
, Grafton"
| Law! it's the way of the world: a
) pretty face makes a man forget tres
passes and get rid of his judgment. It's
no use auarrelling with such things al