Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1883-10-25
BETWEEN THE TWO.

Nimrod OdIin, like his namesake of
Id, was q 'smighty hunter not of the
casts Of the field and the fowls Of the
ir, for it is doubtful if his knowledge
firearms enabled him to tell whether,
charging them, the powder or the
not went foremOst-but fortune hunt
+, which as the genial Artemus would
Nv, is far different"
Fifteen years of unsuccessful trial
would have discouraged less ardent
sportsman. But Nimrod had begun
early, and was vet only th'rty-fiVe, hav-
iuo all his hair and most of his teeth.
There was q suspicion of grey about his
IMPLIES, but by wearing ear-locks, well
Jmbed forward, it was pretty well
uieted; and slight tendency to cor
ulence was kept within bounds by dali
' course of dumb-bells before break
asst. long walks before dinner, and
scientific starvation according to Bant-
inc Under all the circumstances he
saw no reason for giving up hope,
which, rs the doctors tell us, is never
10 be yielded while life and physic hold
out.
Once or twice Mimic use his every
day name-came very near bagging his
bird; but just ut the critical moment,
another OF richer plumage, came whir-
RING by, in pursuit Of which he left the
first only to be led long Elusive chase
and left to sad comparisons, at last. be-
tween the value of Il modest turtle in the
hand and that of Il golden pheasant in
the bush.
Flora Forsyth, in her nineteenth year,
was the prettieSt girl in the village-a
fact to which the liyeliest attention was
awakened in bachelor circles, when the
death OF i rich relation left her mistress
Of twenty thousand dollars in nard cash
with no provisos.
MIN Odlin, especially, pricked up his
ears. He had known Flora from her in
fancy, had patted her curly head APP
proYingly, when q little girl, just for
repeating more golden texts" than any
other scholar in the class ut Sunday
school, AID smiled amuSingly when she
answered the yeXed question of who
was Cain s wife, by guessing it was Mrs.
Cain.
In later years Mr. Odlin was too busy
with other pursuits to take much notice
of Flora. But he was man Of calcu-
lating mind, to whom 4 marriageable
young lady, plus twenty thousand dol
lars, was what the mathematicians call
4 rational quantity" while without
that, or any other portion, it would be
quite irrational to think of her. Ac-
cordn@lv, among the first of those to
pay homage to Flora and her fortune
was Mr.. Nimrod Odlin.
She received his attentions, if not
quite complacently, at least without
laughing at them-at any rate, before
his face.
Nimrod felt his way carefully, profit
ing by past experience, which had
taught him that it was often quite as
dangerous to be too precipitate as too
tardy.
One by one he advanced his parallels,
till at last he felt that everything was
ready for the grand assault. His first
movement had more the appearance of
defense than attack. 1t was that of an
infantry at the command, Prepare for
cavalry" is he sank promptly on
one knee.
Dear Floral he murmured, taking
her hand and pressing it to his lips, Il
have loved you ever since-''
You heard / had twenty thousand
collars" she was on the point of inter-
rupting, but checking herself, quietly
asked:
''When?"
Mr.. Odlin seemed somewhat at loss
for dates, and after stammering little,
took refuge in the indefinite.
1 have loved you for years." he
whispered softly. Dearest, viii you be
mine? Do not break my heart by say
ing no"
1T won't break in two weeks, will
it?' asked Flora, her lips quivering in
the struggle to keep back a rising laugh.
''Do not trifie with me-" he whined
dolorously, striving, but with indifer-
ent success, to start q tear
Il only mean said Flora '.that as
your heart has stood the strain for
years, it can probably hold out fort
night longer; and must ask at least SC
much time to consider your most unex-
pected question.
You will consider it, then, and in
two weeks give me an answered. cried
Nimrod in transport of hope.