Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1883-12-06
NEARLY ESlERANGED.

Bourne, peepng earnestly between the
boughs of the monster lilac-bush, whose
purple plumes waved to and fro in the
evening breeze. ''Oh, why don't he
come? | can't possibly be mistaken.
He said on Tuesday evening at seven,
and it's twenty minutes past by grand
pas big clock; and, oh dear!' with a
sigh that stirred the bunch of pansies
pinned on her left shoulder, ''there
isn't a soul in sight"
BY all the signs and symptoms,
Lilian's little pink ear should have
burned that evening, for they were all
talking about her at Miss Lorinda
Larbins' tea party in Dover street.
"Oh, she's a born coquette," said
Miss Lorinda. 1.-TWO Jumps of sugar
did you say, or one, Betsey Young?
She cant help it. It's in her nature.
Don't you remember, Mrs Pepper
field, what a tlirt her mother was be-
fore her? But she'll never play fast
and lose with Gilbert Dawson again
that III 90 bail!''
''Oh, do tell us all about it, Miss
Larkinsn' said the Widow Peabody,
with her mouth full of chicken salad.
''Well, if you won't repeat it,
Repeat it! We! Never as long as
we live!" was the reply that went
around the tea-table in one accent.
''Of course" added Miss LOrinda,
''it's all quite private and confidential
between ourselves. But it was at the
Medbury's party. What business the
Medbury's have to give parties, with
bought ice-cream and two violins and
harp, | don't know"
EEE,yaT.Vpnp Il 1nJ-fpptlyv OHUaTa
there's a mortgage on the place, and
that her dressmaker's bill amt paid
But that ain t neither here nor there
I was there, in my dyed-green
gown. trimmed with Aunt Liddy'S old
English lace, and | was a-lookin' at
the bio orange tree in the conservatory
that's another of Mrs. Medbury s
sinful cxtravagances- [ see Lily
Bourne in her white frock on the other
side of the bank of flowers, a-giglin'
and a-whisPerin' with Squire Rufus
Darlin'r'
My calculated the other ladies
with open mouths.
And up came Mrs. Medbury, all in
smile-she smiles twice as often as
before since she got them new false
teeth-and whispers in her ear. And
says Lily. out loud, says she, oh, [
cant! I'm engaged to Mr.. Darlin'n :"
MOI cried Mrs. Pepperfeld.
Il heard it with these very ears, ="
solemnly answered Miss Lorinda.
Engaged" shrieked Miss Young,
whose own dimpled niece was even
then laying siege to Mr.. Darling's ada
mantine heart.
Engaged repeated Miss Lorinda
Larkins.
.'And she keeping company with
Gilbert Dawsonr' exclaimed the Widow
Peabody, breathlessly.
But she won't never tritie with him
no more" added Miss Lorinda, with
ill-disguised satisfaction. For [ met
asked him about his mothers rheuma-
tism, and what the doctor said about it;
and he never took no notice of my
questions. You know that absent way
young men have when they are in
love.
Excuse me, Miss Larkins, says he,
but I'm in little hurry, a-lOokin'
right over the top of my head, as
if l wasn't there at all. If you're
goin' to see Miss Bourne says l,
there amt no such terrible hurry.
Says he, what do you mean?'
And he looked at me sharp enough
this time. 'Hain't you heerd? She 5
engaged to Squire Darling says l.
And says he, 1T can't be possible!'
Says /, i heerd it from her own lips;
and all Pekasset's talkin' about it,
says l.
= The idea of young creeter like
that sellin' herself for money and fine
house. For everybody knows, says |,
that that's all Rufe Darling's got to
recommend him; and he's old enough
to be her father into the bargain, says
/. And he just turned around, and
without even having the politeness to
say goodbye, went off in the opposite
direction.
Young men amt accountable when
they in love-" sighed Miss Polonia
johnson. who was suspected Of being
the poetess who wrote the love sonnets
in the Pekasset Weekly Oracle.
Il amt one that NEEDLES with other
folks affairs, said Miss Lorinda
viciouslv biting off a piece of soda
biscuit and butter, ''but | shall never
encourage flirting with any man, while
you're engaged to another. It's clear
ag'in my principles
And before the next days sun had
set, everybody in Pekasset knew al
about Miss Bourne's engagement tc
Squire Rufus Darling.
Don't mind it, Gilbert" said ole
Mrs Dawson. do not let silly
girls caprices break your heart"
She lay on the sofa in the pretty little
keeping-room, where the floor wa:
carpeted with blue, because blue wa:
Lillian Bourne's favorite color, and th,
walls were papered with white and-eolC