Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1881-01-13

rangement of dress that he saw every
day
Still he knew that Aunt Betsey's
spare locks, thinly sprinkled with gray,
were not dressed in modern style, and
he could not for the life of him see
whereabouts On that dear old head any
of those gypsies or fanchons would rest.
He remembered that long ago Aunt
Retsey was wont to twist her hair with
the same energy that characterized all
her movements, and that this operation
resulted in hard knob at the back of
her head, like door handle, which
certainly would not harmonic with
these capeless head dresses.
Just as his brow was overcast with
this thought the pale girl came near
Uncle Abel, her cheeks blushing as she
did so in defiance of the other girls,
holding in her hand a plain Leghorn
bonnet, trimmed with violet ribbon.
She wore mourning dress, and the
plain brooch at her throat held a lock
of gray hair.
81 think this might suit you, SIR" she
said. eff your wife doesn't dress her
hair in these fashions, these bonnets
would not do at all This is rich and
and plain, covers the back of the head
and neck"
"Wa'al, now, tell me, for l have got
so bothered with these things that |
don't know one from t'other. | want
to get bonnet for Betsey, and | mean
to. Now jest tell me if you would like
your mother to wear one like this? Oh,
/ beg your pardon, ma'am. didn't
see" and he touched the sleeve of her
black dress.
'I-I-am sorry"
The young girl brushed off a tear
quickly as she said, II have no mother
now; but if you will trust me, sir,
think this will suit"
She had stood, hitherto, just out of
the range of John Dare's vision, and
had not seen him at all. Something in
the sound of her voice attracted him,
perhaps, and when Uncle Abel called
"Here, John Dare!" he stepped hast
lily enough toward them. The girl
thrust the bonnet into Uncle Abel's
hands and would have been out Of sight
if her dress had not caught on one of
the branching stands and held her fast
"Amyp and John Dare, with a hot
| flush on his face, caught her hand and
so detained her. "Amy Egbert, have |
found you at last?"
The girls face grew white and red by
turns, and the words she spoke came
so low and broken that only John could
catch their meaning.
Uncle Abel pushed his spectacies up
on his forehead, still holding the hat in
his hand, looking Open-mouthed from
one to the other.
II guess you must have knowed this
young woman afore, didn't your" he
said, but John was too busy with eager
questions, and Amy was trembling and
flushing as she tried to speak calmly,
and so his question was unanswered.
Pretty Josie was dividing her attention
between a new customer and the
strange scene beside her, and between
anger and modification, she looked in
no need of help from rouge, as she
tossed her head and muttered various
uncourteous remarks in regard to chat
Amy Egbert and her beau"
Uncle Abel held the hat while long
er quite patiently, but at last despaired
of the interview being ended, so he
coughed and then said:
''I'll take this bunnit. Twenty dol
lars is good deal. Betsey's worth it,
amt she, John?"
John need not have stated so, or
said very" which wasn't q sensible
answer at all; but Uncle Abel laughed
a little to himself, and said softly, ooh,
boys will be boys" and he was
ohi;ooJ 70 +o1I Misc Eobo,+ +bo J;roo
ton over twice, too, and felt quite I'M
easy lest it should not arrive at his
hotel in time.
Outside the door John turned to
leave his uncle, and looked as shy as
a girl as he said, Its all right, Uncle
Abel, You've found a new bonnet,
and I've found an old friend"
Uncle Abel held his hand fast, and
looking a moment without speaking, in
the young mans eyes, said: ''She's a
motherless girl, John"
"UncIe Abel" and John turned an
grily away, OF would have dcne so if
the OBTAINING hand had not held him
With a grasp which sixty years had not
weakened. 'Look here, my boy, |
meant no offence. None of my blood
turn Villains" he added proudly;
''but you see she's young and purity and
forlorn, and may be if you see too
much of her, she might get to thinkin'
more of you than would be good for
her, and if you amt in earnest [ guess
it would break her heart. Shake
hands with your uncle, my boy, I
mean no harm; but / promised Liza
when she was on her dying bed that |
would allus try to give you good ad-
vice, and the last words she spoke,
says she, Abel, watch over my
boy"
"My dear, kind uncle, thank you
indeed [ do-for all your kindness, but
could not bear to think that you
should misjudge me. l knew Amy
long ago, when her parents were both
living, and she had all that wealth
could give. / loved her then in a
quiet way, but [ was too poor to tell
her so. Then came reverses and
death, and in her poverty and pride the
girl hid herself from me until now.
She tried to earn her bread by her &C
omplishments, but failed, and gladly
took this means to do so. Now, if can
win her for my wife, l shall bring Mrs.
John Dare to see you some fine day
this summer-may I, Uncle Abel!'
So they parted and the passers-by
little dreamed of all that had been said.
'Wa'al, wa'all, if things don't turn
out queer" soliloquized Uncle Abel,
homeward bound, with handbook
nlaced on the seat before him "TO