Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1882-08-03
TOM HALIFAX, NJ. ID.

She had been resting her head upon
her hand, full OF thought, when sud
denly she heard the sound of horses
boots Gathering down the street. She
looked up wondering who the rider
could be, and looking up half startled.
Il was DIR. Halifax himself, and as he
reached the gate, he slackened his
speed, and dismounting, came up the
garden walk with hurried step. She
did not wait for the servants, but step
ping into the hall, flung open the shade
blinds in response to his summons and
stood before him.
He certainly had not expected to see
her, but he did not vince, merely bow
ing, and coloring slightly.
II beg your pardon, Miss Ashby," he
said; "but | have come to solicit char
ity on the behalf of one of my patients.
am not a rich man myself" with the
calm, handsome eyes on her face, "and
your father told Tne that might rely
upon him in this terrible trouble"
~ am very glad to be of service" said
Bessie. "What is most needed, DR..
Halifax? ?"
He made few suggestions as he
thought proper, and, Hnder his direc-
tions, she filled large basket with food
and wine. It ed as though he was
at least ten years older, and Bessie's
heart grew very full at the sight of his
pale, grave face as she completed her
task.
"Can / DO nothing more r. she asked,
as she gave him the basket. 80 DR..
Halifax, if [ only COULD" And in spite
of herself, the thick, gathering tears
filled her eyes.
He looked surprised, and then his
face softened. '"Thauk you'll" he replied.
81 will remember what you have said. y
When Tom Halifax mounted his
horse again, it was with a thrill of
pleasurable pain and backward glance
ut the slender figure on the piazza. He
had looked down upon the pretty face
beneath its yelling curls, the wet lashes
and tremulous mouth, thinking little
sadly of the days when her eyes would
have met his with a warmer glow. Yes,
it all came to the same thing in the end.
The old wound was not completely
healed, and soft glance from the girl
ish eyes had set it throbbing again al
most as fercely as ever. That night
lie came upon Captain Housted.
"Can not help you, Halifax" said
the kind hearted fellow. "YOu are kill
ing yourself. Let me do something, if
it is only to grind powders"
You must not run the risk of infec-
tion," said Tom. "You have something
at home to take care Of"
Eyes" said Captain Fred. "But l
don't think the little somebody cares
much" His voice had stopped tone
or so, and ne was tapping his boot with
his whip, as though musingly.
"Ask her." suggested Tom, with a short
laugh, that most choked him.
81 am going to ask her tonight"
said the captain, raising his head sud
IDENTIFY, with a half smile. otis all a
lottery, you know. 1t remains to be
proven whether my prize is a blank
or not"
Three hours after Bessie stood with
her cousin in the garden.
at is no use," she said, with impetu-
ous tremor. 81 don't love you; Cousin
Fred-at least, not as | must love the
man | marry. | thought l did, but
lately stopped, dropping her face,
and then added, almost IN a whisper:
81 have been very wicked and foolish.
Please forgive me"
The captain looked down little
gravely. "When did you change your
mind, Bessie?"
GA few weeks ago, since this dreadful
plague. 1t made me think, and I saw
that had not been doing rightly"
1t was fully three minutes before Fred
Housted spoke again.
''See here, BessieP he said, at last,
81 am learning something. too. never
believed the gossip before nova
moments pause, and his smothered
doubt burst forth: Bessie, why did you
quarrel with Tom Halifax
ooh, Fred, don'tp she said.
Don't cry" said Fred. 81 want to
know the truth"
have said Bessie Ashby never did
anything by halves. In her grief and
excitement she forgot she had firted
with her cousin; forgot about the ''posi-
tion;" forgot everything, but that she
was frightened, and miserable, and
tired of acting.
u have been so horribly selfish" she
sobbed. 81 didn't think l cared so
much, and-and he was so poor. and
then we quarelled, and l thought l
could like you well enough. l don't
think ] should have been so wicked.
but he was SO proud, and things got
worse every day; but lately it has all
come back, and can't help it."
''YOu have not treated me we'll, Bes-
sie," saidt honest young captain after
short silence. "Men don't want wo-
men to marry them because they think
they can like them we'll enough but
think you see how you have wronged
ME. 1t is all over now, so we will say
no more about it."
have said before that hearts do not
break. They may stretch and perhaps
suffer a little In the rebound, but really
breaking is out of the question; and
warm and true though our brave cap
tain's might be, it was not likely to
disgrace the general India rubber repu-
tation by swapping, even in this painful
strain; so pray do not blame poor, pen
itent Bessie for any misfortunes which
may hereafter befall him.
The next morning DR.. Halifax met
his rival in the street.
81 prophesied rightly, old fellow"
said the gentleman, quietly. "The affir-