Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1882-06-08


on you and my other fri lends and earn.
ing an honest support, ! have chosen
the latter. Was / wrong ?''
"You were right if you are in
earnest. But surly you have not lost
your means"
Tom bearing shook his head in a
responding manner, and turned
round to serve some radishes to a
customer.
"Come back in an hour or two and ]
will tell you all about it," he said,
mournfully. II shall have more leisure
then. A cabbage madam" Why, il
is Mrs. --w
1t was in truth, the mother of Miss
Emma, who, followed by a servant
carrying basket, had come after the
fashion of many ladies to do her own
marketing.
''Mr. Dearingp she exclaimed.
"Unhappily, madam replied Tom,
turning away to hide a blush, it
seemed.
"Youm
''Myself, madam-reduced circum
stances-unforseen misfortune. l see
you nave recognized me-.
The lady looked extremely shocked,
and after few words of common
place sympathy bowed slightly and
disappeared in the the crowd, her face
indicating, I thought, relief at.thus
terminating the singular interview.
For, confess that it is embarrassing to
meet the guest with whom you have
spent the evening before behind a
market stallp
"You see," said Tom, mournfully,
"this excellent lady is terribly shocked!
But [ ought not to be surprised. Come
back In an hour or two, my old friend,
and [ shall be able to explain every
thing. You at least are not ashamed
of your former comrade."
went away IN maze of wonder
was the scene real or was there some
thing under it? I could not determine.
Either might be the truth. If Tom
bearing had experienced a sudden
loss of fortune, q man of bis real pride
and horror of dependence might have
resorted TO this honest occupation. It
was certain that there he was, with an
apron selling vegetables-and the
writer of this narrative assures the
reader that the incident is strictly true.
When [ returned in an hour Tom
bearing was gone, and on the same
evening | left town in haste to see a
member Of my family who had been
taken i'll. When returned three weeks
afterward, my first visit was for Tom
bearing
[ hurried to the market. He was not
there. Another person presided at his
stall, who could tell me nothing about
him. went back wondering, and
looking around for some friend to in
terrogate. 1 saw nobody, but in pass
ing Tom Bearings former lodgings l
heard the notes of a flute.
[ stopped and looked up. The win
dows were open and the rooms were
plainly inhabited. Was it Tom. ran
up the steps and knocked, half expect
ing that strange voice would demand
my business.
"Come in," said the familiar voice
of my friend, and Fastening forward l
saw him in a lowered dressing gown
and velvet slippers, leaning back in a
luxurious armchair.
"Tom ~
THE proper thing would be to ex-
claim, Good heavens can I trust my
eyes ?" he replied.
"You are not to be q rket-garden-
er any longer, then?"
'No. | have resigned. It was not
entirely favorable to my pet ambition
matrimOny-so [ thought [ would dis
pose of my entire stock, and do like
all the rest of the world--marry for
MARY? Are you to be married !"
81 have the pleasure of replying to
that question in the affirmative, my
dear friend; and to say that shall ex-
pect you to be my first groomsman on
the happy occasion. [ positively WON'T
call you my best man'-that is too
Observation-Disclosures that the fact
was not surprising.
"Tell me what you mean," I said.
with pleasure, if you will sit down
and not continue to gaze at me as if l
were a menagerie or an aquarium
Tom smiled, laid aside his flute, lit a
cigar, and said;
"You gave me the idea which has
led to the present denoument-to test
the friendship, let u call it, of those
two charming young persons-Made-
moiselle Edith and Emma. You sug-
gested a railroad accident, and a note
to each with view to reply. But
that was impractical and did not prom
Use decisive results. Unfortunately the
convention Of modern society interfer-
es with romance. The maidens could
not even rush to my bedside, or even
express in gushing terms their emotions
by mail, since others would peruse the
notes. [ gave that up, and thought of
q more convenient plan"
Il see-you mean the market gar
den business-but-"
"Let me flow on uninterrupted, my
friend. shall reach the conclusion
sooner. said to myself, There is one
paramount question. Which Of these
fair ones is sincerely attached to me,
and likes me best for MYSELF"
81 begin to understand"
"And the test was perfectly easy. [
disappeared from society, and became
market gardener, saying to myself as
| took my place, in white apron, be-
mind my stall: The one who does not
loose affection and respect for me now
Is the real angel Well you were pres
ent that morning, but not on other
mornings. The angels actually came
on the sly-one after the other-to see
if the terrible report were true. They
did not speak to the poor market gard
ener form erlY their friend They lI1rk-