Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1882-06-01

azalea; a woodbine tangle with an elf
balanced therein as IN a swing; a lily
with a sleeping fay in It's cup; a curve.
of jasmine framing in reach of pale
sea and one tiny sail. Each and all
bore the impress of the same delicate
taste, and In every one-in the darkest
leaf of the lily, beneath the shadow of
the woodbine swing, and the crest of
the breaking wave-appeared the same
family traced E. NJ. Alex Dent studied
them with an interest that made his
neighbors smile; then recollecting him
self he pushed them aside, and the con-
versatiOn shifted to other matters.
1t was not till the ice had come and
gone that he ventured on the question
which through all the progress of the
dinner had been uppermost in his
mind.
"By-the-way what has become of the
Edward Morrises. Miss Morris mar
ried a long time ago, suppose ?"
'The Edward Morrises. Let me
think. 1t is long time since I heard
anything about them"
"Are they not III the city,"
cob, no! Didn't you know htat2
Mr.. Norris lost all of his money, and
they went away. Where did they go :?
l heard at the time, but it is so long
since"
"Mr. Morrisl Why they called him
a millionaire. How could he loose all
his money!
ooh! 1t was that horrid business of
that-sOme railroad. [ never can rec
tol
you all about it. It made an immense
disturbance at the time. And Robert
Morris-the other brother, you know
was found to have forged an immense
quantity of stocks, or bonds, whichever
it was, and ever so many people we're
ruined by it, or would have been had
not Edward Morris sacrificed every
thing to buy up the forgeries, and save
the family credit But it took all he
had to accomplish it. After that they
sold that lovely place of theirs, and went
to some little place-in New Jersey or
was it Connecticut ?-sOme little cheap
place, anyway; and there they have
been living ever since. | met Evelyn
once at dinner; it was about four years
ago, think. She was staying in town
for a few days, but forget with whom.
She was as handsome as ever. It does
seem thousand pities- doesn't it p
that such pretty girl should be shut
up in pokey country village where no
one sees her."
"And you are sure she has never
married?'
con no, certainly not. What chance
is there for girl to marry in a place
like THAR"
"New Jersey, or was it Connecticut"
| thought Alex; but he noted certain
gleam of amused interrogation in his
hostess's bright eyes, and having no
desire to arouse or sharpen any latent
suspicious which might be in her mind,
he dropped the subject. None the less
was he mindful to slip into his pocket,
when they rose from table, the silken
trlf1e which might prove q clew to lead
him to the hope relinquished so long
ago. Evelyn Morris unmarried? He
could hardly credit the tidings.
That she would, must marry some
man her equal in wealth and worldly
position, become the mistress of
splendid home, and shine a star of con-
stantly increasing magnitude in the
social sky, had been fixed part of his
boyish creed. He believed it abso-
lutely, and it had awaited to keep him
silent when his heart would fain have
spoken.
What had he to offer the brilliant
girl at whose feet all the treasures OF
earth seemed laide A pair of strong
hands, heart that loved her, such
good or evil fortune as might chance to
be his portion-that was all. He was
very much in love, this young Alex
Dent of ten years ago; but he was wise
hey the fervor of his years, and he
had calmly reviewed the situation.
Why should he speak? Why should
he trouble this exquisite creature with
what must prove only vain complaint,
an empty appeal? As well ask some
bright particular planet to come to
earth and serve for illumination to a
mud howell as to ask her to share his
uncertain fate. So he sailed away, no
words spoken, and carrying with him
the bitter conviction that good luck, if
it came at all would come too late fer
any hope of winning this one chief
good which his heart crayed.
| Good luck came in its own time. He
stood again in New York, at thirty-one,
a rich man, prospered beyond his
widest dreams, and holding an assured
position. He had liked many girls
during the ten years of his absence, he
had even been half in love with one
or two; but the memory of Evelyn
Morris had been a spell potent enough
81! 10 pJ hn oil
half. He was free still-a freedom ne
had hardly reioiced in till this day
when in his incredulous ears rang the
news that his early love was still IN
married.
For two or three days after the Hunt
ley dinner he went about like a man
in dream. He inquired here, he in
quired there. Everybody was ready
enough with histories of the great for
gerry, but no one could tell him any,
thing about the Edward Morrises OF
their Whereabouts. The Robert Nor.
rises were in Europe, living under q
cloud, no one exactly knew where
But what seemed a fatality all the fami,
lies whom he recollected as intimate
with the Morrises were abroad just
then, or in Florida, or scattered by the
changes which ten years had wrought
No one seemed to have cared to &C
quaint themselves with the movements
of the ruined family. The little ripple
caused by their departure soon sub
sided. People easily forget in the busy
life of cities, and all this had happened
nine years before.
In despair, Alex Dent at last betook
himself to the rooms of the Decorative