Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1879-09-25

began to whisper words Of affection
Alice listened with downcast looks, but
made scarcely any reply. After about
month Mrs. Dempster asked him to
take tea and spend the evening. She
perceived the dawning passion which
was dawning on both sides, and she saw
no disproportion, except in fortune, be-
tween itch farmer and d merchant
captains daughter, she was inclined TO
foster the feeling for her child's sake.
John Morrison was to be of the party;
Mrs. Dempster had confided to him her
secret, and after one or two objections
to the character of the young man, he
consented to be present. 1t was about
an hour before tea-time when he came
to this resolution; and as so0n as he
had done so he went into the garden.
John Morrison was pale, cookbook
ing man of moderate stature. He had
no pretentions to be handsome, but no
one would have looked at him without
noticing his marked and speaking coun-
tenance; to admire, not its beauty, but
its power and intellect. But why is he
now so overcast and sad? Let US listen
and we m%y hear.
And is it for this [ have trained her
up? Is it for this [ have devoted my
existence to her for seven years,-for in
the girl saw the dawning woman, to be
the victim of this wild and reckless
youth, who will break her heart? But
she will be rich, easy, comfortable.
Well! if she could be happy l should
be glad; but Walter Clifton loves with
the love of boy,-a love of impulse,
give him his toy and he will break it"
"What are you talking to yourself
about so treely?" cried Alice tripping
from behind some bushes where she had
been culling flowers for the evening.
But how pale and i'll you look! Shall [
get you anything! p
"No, Alice. l am very we'll in body,
but the mind is i'll at ease"
:" Are you i'll, John ?-my friend-mY
brother"
"Ah, yesl' cried he, passionately;
"there it is; | have been a fool; | have
taught you to treat me as brother, and
the idea could never enter your head of
thinking of me as ought else"
Certainly not" said Alice anxious
ly.
"But it had mine, Alice!" cried John,
forgetting ali reserve and prudence,
"ever since you were twelve years old,
L looked on you as one who might be
my future wife. Six years have passed
away, six long and happy years-nearly
seven-during which, each day, | have
loved you more and more. [ waited
and waited, putting off the day OF dec
laration until you are quite young
woman; and it is now too late"
Alice groaned, astounded, hurt and
panied to the last degree.
"Too late" said the usually calm
young man, In tones of deep and wildly
passionate feeling, "and all my dreams
have fled. [ hoped, if heaven blessed
me with your affection, to be united to
you on your nineteenth birth day; we
could then have made my two rooms
up stairs ours, and have left your moth
er yours. She would have found no
change, save that i'll place Of one child
she would have had two"
"Ah John, John! why did you not
speak before? never thought new
er supposed-I-I-"
"Allce, it was not to be. So, no more
of it. | must go away-not just yeti
would startle your dear mother, but by
and-by."
''My friend, my brother" exclaimed
Alice. as she gazed on his pallid face,
flashing eyes, and trembling lip.
"Say no more, dear girl. Be happy
with the man of your choice. You have
the prayers and good wishes of John
Morrison"
And the young man turned away,
and went up to his room. An hour
later he sat down to the tea table of
Mrs. Dempster, far calmer than poor
Alice, who scarcely had courage to look
up. The talk was varied, and generally
who can think sufficiently seriously to
converse in any other way. Presently
he spoke of a grand subscription ball
for the following Thursday, to which he
invited Alice, In the name of his moth
er and sisters, who would call for her
in their old-fasEioned carriage.
"But cannot CO." said Alice, quiet
ly, while, despite herself, her eyes fash
ed with pleasure at the idea; "nly
mother cannot remain alone; besides,
| dance very indifferently."
My dear Alice" said John, in kind
tone, Il will take care of your mamma.
We will sit up for you until any hour
of the night; go, it will do you good,
you who never go OFT"
Yes; go by all means" added Mrs.
Dempster.
CHOW you cannot refuse" continued
Walter, shaking Morrison's hand hearth
ly; "Mary and Jane will be round at
seven, SO mind-be ready.
After he was gone there were rare
discussions that night. Alice had no
dress to 60 in; that had never been
thought of. Mrs. Dempster thought
more of her daughter than of herself.
it is true, but ball dress is a serious
affair with persons of small income.
After supper the debate was resumed,
but with no satisfactory result, so all
went to bed. About eleven o'clock the
next day, while Alice was turning out
all her finery in search of something
suitable, man entered with a parcel
for Mrs. Dempster. 1t contained a
beautiful ball dress, sent by Morrison,
who had risen early, and gone into
town on purpose to purchase it. Alice
turned pale, and sat down; but recover
ing herself, bent over the kind present
to hide her tears. Mrs. Dempster-
good and proud nother-was in esta-
cies, both at the dress and the donor,
and Immediately sat down to table to
begin cutting IL out.
When John came home that night
his greeting was indeed hearty and