Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1880-05-13
She wrote me a spirited answer.

anG before any answer came 10 tQlS, OlO
Mrs. Brusle walked into our place with
ner shopping bag in her hand one morn
ing.
81 want you to take me to some nice
shop, Tom," she said, eff you can spare
an hour or so. I'm going to buy a
black silk for Dolly. and she told me to
tell you all about it as you seemed to
be upset"
| asked the permission necessary,
and called a cab.
Once within it the old lady began.
"You see Dolly will need to be dress
ed handsomely. She starts next month.
It's all settled, you know, between her
and Mr.. Holly"
"Settled?' cried I.
Eyes" said the old lady. 81 knew
you'd be pleased with the good news.
She was singing in the choir, and be
happened to 60 there to church, and he
asked an introduction and got it, and
called next day. It's very sudden, very
but she wouldn't engage herself to him
without our consent: and it's such a fine
thing that we can't refuse. So we've
consented. She'll feel homesick, no
doubt, away from us; but we mustn't
think of that. l try not to-" and then
the old lady put her 'kerchief to her
eyes.
"She told you to tell me?" 1 said.
"Oh. yes," said the old lady.
My heart was on fire, my blood was
boiling; but / made no sign.
you stay in the city all night, don't
you'll" l asked.
She said she would and gave me
the number of her stopping place.
After the shopping was over / went
home and took from my trunk little
parcel of letters, a lock of hair, rib
bon-heaven knows what trashy bits of
love treasure-put them in a large buei-
ness envelope, and walked over to the
old ladY's with them.
Tell Dolly that / sent her that, and
wish her all the happiness that she de-
serves" said |.
The old lady heard no sarcasm in my
voice.
II will, Tom," she said; "and do come
to see us soon. Wen be lonely without
Dolly"
So it was over; and the thing that
was most terrible to dream Of had fallen
on me.
And Dolly wrote no letter and made
no sign.
1t were as though she was dead, and
she was dead to me.
Of course | made no Confidants, and
l worked as hard as ever.
The work of wholesale WOODEN house
docs not ol,ol1o,, hOoo,,oo N oIorl- 70
crossed in love or Tilted. Bales and
boxes and bundles went out and came
in all the same; and what did it matter
If | looked pale and lost my appetite,
so that did my figuring and writing
and all the rest of it correctly? But
one day as [ looked up from a box l
had been marking, saw a sight that
made me sick with rage.
Holly, and no one else, with his light
side whiskers and bis glossy hat and
marveloIsly square shoulders. He was
talking to my my uncle, and appeared
to be on intimate terms with him. |
stood still and stared at him In few
moments he saw me, putting up his
eye-glass, bowed.
| made no bow in return.
Then he came across the room.
IL don't think it's mistake" said
he. 81 met you at the station with
Miss Brus.e"
81 remember" said.
"sne's very we'll, and suppose you've
had letters |"
Excuse me, Pm needed elsewhere %
| said and dashed away.
how of ,,x,aI1
across me, said: $50 you know Holly,
Tom He's not a pad fellow, though a
bit of a puppy. He's made good deal
of monkey i'll the theatrical line man
ager and all that, you know. Married
sort of cousin OF my wife's two years
ago SO we're a little sociable."
SIS he married man?" | asked.
"Oh, yes why not?" said nay uncle.
"Uncle Harold" said I,''you must
let me run uD to Hamilton tonight
It's a life and death matter. I must
CO."
What is the matter,i Tom?" said my
uncle.
81 can't tell you," said I; but 1 must
CO."
"Then you must" said my uncle
Don't be longer than you can help"
Ii he had but known how long every
moment seemed to me, he might have
spared the warning. travelled in the
night train, and reached the dear little
brown cottage when its windows were
golden IN the sunrise.
"Why Tom !" cried the old lady: CSC
you thought you'd see our girl off after
all? You know she starts tomorrow 2
Dolly did not look at me, but saw
her face flush crimson.
I'm sorry to say that I have come
down to bring bad news" said |.
"Bad p said Mr.. Brusle. "I'm
sorry for that, my boy. What is it?"
SIT affects you, SIR" said "no: me.
Yes, Dolly, it is true, and i'll as you
have used me, my heart bleeds for you
| come only because worse would hap
pen if | were silent, and [ beg you to
believe that | am actuated by no spirit
of revenge. You may not credit 10 e
but [ wish that any other man had this
TO do. Mr.. Holly is, and has been fol
two full years, d married man."
turned my face away from Dolly as
uttered these words, and dropped il
upon the hand that rested on the vine
rellIs. I expected to hear her scream
Or to see her faint. But my news did
not seem to produce as great an effect
as | expected. | looked up again. All
eyes were fixed upon me.
"Ahl" said the old man.
"Well," said the old lady.
go on, Tom," said Dolly.
ellis wife is cousin of the lady my
uncle married." said I. eff you don't
helieve me. [ can off r q nrnnf of the