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

rate it's like snall's journey; I take
one step forward and slip back two. The
deuce F! | wonder how they get on 1t
must be tirersome standing behindza
counter all day. with the Guilford pride
on her shoulders, and the home troubles
Juggling at her heart. If / had only
asked her before the breaking of this
bubble! But now it would seem like
taking advantage of her circumstances;
and if l could not endure that she
should consent to marry me from pity,
how much less from prudence? Yet,
if she cares for me-. But how am |
to know? she is not likely to tell me
without being asked, and why should l
ask her unless am certain?"
And thus, while he let the occasion
slip by, while he dawdled and perplexed
himself, the firm in which he was Junior
partner required his presence in Europe
to establish branch house. He went
to bid Elinor good-bye-perhaps to say
something more earnest. He would
not tell; he could not count upon him
self nor his moods. He found her in a
dark, narrow street of the city, where
the sunshine was only morning visi-
tor of the most ceremonious kind; in
rooms whose shabbiness smote him to
the heart. She sat before a flicker
ing fame, and embroidered in linen.
He understood that by this means she
was eking out her insufficient wages.
But otherwise she was the same being
whom he had known in luxury. The
blush had not deserted her fair cheek,
the dimple still hid there; the eyes were
as radiant with light and spirit, the ex-
preston as enchanting, the voice as
liquid and full of soft, lingering tones
and bewitching accents, as in the bright
est days of her prosperity. They talk
ed about kis journey, the sights he was
to see, the sounds he was to hear; and
she sighed and said, ooh, / wonder if 1
shall ever go to Europew with that wild
hope which most of us long to realize.
They We're sitting together upon tete-a-
tete, a relic Of past magniticence. He
had been looking at her embroidery,
and when he gave 1t back their hands
touched and fingered almost lovingly.
The words were on his lips, "WIl' rou
go to Europe with me, Elinolw
"Will you," he faltered; "will u
You will-forget me, suppose, as soon
as l am gone. Out OF sight, out OF
mind!"
eff you wish me to forget you, l will"
she laughed.
'And if do not wish it?''
"Ah, [ cannot promise; you are to be
absent a whole year."
If she could not promise to remem-
Der him year, was it likely that she
would promise to love him a lifetime?
So he went to Europe, and tried to
forget himself in the details of bust
ness; to satisfy himself with the public
galleries and gardens, with art and
nature in holiday attire. He visited
the Mer de Glace, and dwelt in the
shadow of the Matterhorn, and heard
the mountain echoes vibrating upon
the inspired air. But to whom could
he confde all his fine thoughts? Who
could respond to his moods with such
perfect sympathy as Elinor! Half the
charm of travel was lost without her.
At the Lake of Como he fell in with an
elderly gentleman, solitary like himself.
"Ah," said he, this travelling alone
is almost like staying at home"
" And why, sir, did you not bring
your wife ?" ventured john.
Because I was a fool once. [ have
no wife. Twenty-Five years ago | was
in love, but [ was, at the same time, too
great a Ounce too tell her so. Young
man, if you ever chance fail in love,
lose no time in letting her know it.
Don't defer speaking"
And if she"
"No matter what she answers. You
will have done your duty; you will have
nothing with which to roproach your
self"
John left the lake of Como at once.
He travelled night and day to London,
and embarked for home. He went to
the shabby by-street where he had left
Elinor; but the bird had flown. Mr..
Gullford, with that happy faculty some
men have for always coming to the sur
face in good condition, had specialized
himself into another fortune during
Johns absence, and was only to be
found on Queens street, in the mansion
of his forefathers. A servant ushered
John into cheerful morning-room M,
looking out into a garden full of sun
shine and flowers, and went to find
Miss Elinor, while he looked at Elinor's
portrait in crayon, read the name of
Granville Dormandy in the corner, and
wondered if he did it before going
away, and why he, John, had never seen
it before. Just then voices that had
all along been family audible drew
nearer, so that he could hear the words
as well as the tones. He turned his
head and looked out into the garden,
where, in the neighborhood of hun
dred-leaved rose-tree. Elinor had
paused, leaning on the arm of a tall
young man.
81 thought at that Time" the tall
young man was saying, and they stood
SO near the window that John could not
fail to hear-was obliged to listen-"I
thought at that time that you had
fancy for young Everett-John, wasn't
it? BY the way, met him abroad, and
decided that you must have refused
him, he was so distraught."
Elinor stirred, and shower of petals
stirred with her. Il may as we'll be
frank with you," she said; sit makes
no difference now. [ did. 1 was in
love, with him, Granville; I believed
that he loved me. [ should have mar
ried HIM if he had asked me. But that
was year ago, and when one deserts
you, what can you do better than for
get him ?"
" Nothing, darling; could not advise
anything that would please me more.
Poor fellow And [ am his heir! Well,
perhaps [ shouldn't have been here
myself but for lucky chance. loved
you, Elinor, when I left you. One
evening | was drifting in a gondola be-
meath the marble ruins of Venice, when
two youths, idly pleasuring like myself,
.,.,crc,c,A j. 1 i