Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1882-08-17
Then said Baby, "Rick tiss mice

Rick"
Oh, that is what he was doing when
she foolishly imagined he was waiting
for herto come and implore his forgive
ness-bidding goodbye to Baby. She
might have known it, for he had always
loved Baby dearly.
eyes, Baby; nice Rick, good Rick,
dear Rick: but for all that, the ring he
gave me goes back 10 him tomorrow
unless hear from him tonight. How
dare he wish that we had never metz"
But she did not hear from him that
night, and the next day the little band of
gold was released from It's hiding place
in her thick brown hair, and too faith
| full messenger placed it in Kicks hand
and he left his place of business. But alb!
what silent, serroWful maiden wander
ed about the Lounsberry dwelling there
after! What listless, weary voice re-
peated the nursery rhymes that Baby
demanded fifty times day.
mo nice-no more" said Baby, mis-
sing the merry tones and happy laugh.
But Mrs. Lounsberry was not at all
displeased with the turn affairs had
taken. Brougham Brown suited her
much better as prospect re sOn-in law
than Richard Creighton. One was a
wealthy young brewer, the other poor
clerk in counting house.
Lefty will soon get over it," she said
to Letty's father, whose heart ached at
the sight of his daughters sad face
GA first love disappointment is al
ways hard to bear for while. l
thought | would have died when Steph-
en- Ford married my cousin; but I
didn't; | lived to marry you, and have
a sealskin cloak, and Mrs. Ford hasn't
even a jacket
And SO Brougham Brown, who was
really a manly, generous, good-hearted
fellow in spite of his beer and wealth,
encouraged by the maternal head of
the house, began devoting himself in
The most ardent fashion to Lefty; and
she seeing her mothers pleasureIthereat
and h airing no word from Rick, re-
ceived his attention in passive, unre-
spOnsive way.
Three months went by, and it was
Aunt Emory's birthday, and that &C.
centric old lady had decided to divide
it among the family, lunching with one
portion, dining with another, and sup
ping with a third. The lunch party
was given at her sister Letitia's Mrs.
Lounsberry), and some halfa dozen old
friends and some relatives were hidden
to the feast. Lefty in a sea-green gown
/ (Rick's favorite gown with spray OF
pink hyacinths (Rick's favorite spring
fiower) in her hair, went quietly about
welcoming the guest, Brougham Brown
following her like her shadow, until
lunch was announced. Then taking her
place at the table, the young man still
near her, she raised the cover from and
dipped a spoon into the last jar Of
grandmama's famous peach marmal-
ade (she had it placed before her,
trusting to be able to hide the mischief
Baby had done) when somebody said,
addressing her mother: 'Have you
heard that Richard Creighton is going
abroad for his health? He has given
up his situation, and sails in q day or
two. They say he has failed fast late
| ly."
And the very moment Aunt Emory
fixed her spectacles upon her niece's
poor, pale face, and sharply: What's
the matter, child? Do you see anything
dreadful in the sweets
" No ma'am," answered Lefty, with
a pititul attempt at a smile, when the
spoon struck something harder than
preserved peaches should be.
" Let me help you," said Brougham +;
and with one turn of MS wrist he plac-
ed upon the dainty china shell before
her-a wad Of paper.
And Sc that is the celebrated mar
malade is it?" said Aunt Emory. d" I
don't want any. | prefer my sweets
unmlxed with foreign substances. Take
it away, Norah."
But Lefty was already slowly unroll-
ing the paper tit proved to be the miss
ing part of the jars original hat)-a
rather difficult thing to accomplish, as
1t stuck persistently to her small
fingers. but accom plished at last-when
out rolled the little gold pig. And on
| the inside of the paper was scrawled
IL Kicks bold had these words
MY DARLING: How foolish we are
| mean, am Here is the charm.
Miss Varian had it about ten minutes
last night-Only long enough to show it
to you and tell you a story about it..
Baby will give it to you. Had no pa,
per, so l tore piece off one of your
Jam pots. Viii see you to morrow eve
ming. RICK.
Never did any young lady so sudden
ly break through all the convention
aIltles of society, never did daughter
so quickly forget the wish of her moth
er, never did niece so unflinchinglv
brave the displeasure of thirty-thous-
and-dollar aunt, as did Lefty Louns-
berry the instant after she had read this
note.
"Brougham," she cried, looking at
him with beautiful, beseeching eyes,
81 must-I must. You will go and
bring him to me, dear?"
1t was the first time she had ever
called him dear" and alas he felt
that 1t would be the last.) For mo-
ment he pulled his long moustache
nervously. 1--WE are not very good
friends, you know" at last he said.
Yes, | know; but | am to blame for
that, too, " said Lefty hurriedly. "For-
give me, Brougham, but l must see
Rick"
And SO the good fellow, hesitating no
longer, turned from that imploling
face, and with a Juggling at his heart
strings, went off to seek his rival. He
found him and brought him back to
the girl they both loved.
And what do you think Aunt Emory
did? Aunt Emory who had declared
over and over again that only as Mrs.