Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1883-10-04

naturally.
sNever mind. Mine are like gray
hairs honorable. I got EN- in the ser
vice"
'.Of darh-eyed girls with sunny curls
and lips o'erhung with roses, p" sang the
Captain in n deep, sOnorous voice.
well, / doubt if one be any harder
than the other. Fact is, military life
is first-rate discipline for one who COM
mits matrimony-yo still continue
too, than 4 dozen Colonies to regiment
a~',1d give you in the course of a year. !"
"Ah. but my life is so very differentn'
said the Captain complacently.
"Certaiuly-only three months mar
ried. Your time is TO come" replied
his friend with an air of commiseration.
They first pull the wool over your
eyes that's during the engagement, for
if they didn' SO many good fellows like
yourself would never be drawn in the
way they are, Then they drive lightly
the FIRST few months | dare say she
hash. { given YOU one order vet. has she?
No | thought not; you're in too much
OF y hurry TO wait for 'cm-but after the
Years up, whjzz, how they drivei
NAlzz buzz, scratch gravel lively. If
NoU Go0't. some other fellow will; and
in a twinkle you're deserted. the reinS
drop loosely ON your neck. and YOU look
up 10 see Number Two running away
with Your rio. on which Your wife sits
calmly with ribbons in one hand and
whip tn the other.
1T won't be 50 in my case" said
Te.lord, snanpishly.
Did hint at such thing?" asked
Garry. BLESS him-how he caught
me up, too; quick as wink" Then
there was complete silence, until Tel
ford looked up and said with half-im-
pIoring, half-quizzical expression on his
sunburnt face: ''Oh. Garry, if you
would only @et me out of the difficulty
by falling in love with this COMPOUNDED
brunette, and marrying her yourseIf!"
''My dear fellow" returned the
other, speaking soberly, though his
eyes twinkled with the merriment he
was endeayoring to suppress, Il would
make any sacrifice for friend but
that-don't ask me. 70 give up my
| freedom and merge my identity into
| that or woman who probably hasn't
| more than two ideas in her head-the
one, to get all the money she can get
! out of me, and the other, to spend it as
fast as pOssible-nO, thank you, Rich.
You are admirable for these quaint little
J suggestions, but as practical man
! you re q failure.
''Yoa'l come down with me, though
as YOU promised, won't you?"
"Oh, yes, I'll stand by you to that ex-
| D,,+,
wife?'
AT an uncle of hers near Richmond
| She will stay there till | can straighten
things" Then, having finished their
cigars they rose to leave, and proceed
| ing down the marble steps to the street
| they separated Captain to make
arrangements for the journey on the
morrow, and the Lieutenant to meet a
party of friends in Hyde Park.
They both met the next morning at
| the station, and having taken their
| seats in the carriage We're soon whirling
on toward their destination 1t was
only two hours ride. and as they ap.
preached its end the Captain grew ner-
Vous and excited.
! ''Oh. cheer upr' cried Garry, slap
| ping him on the shoulder Don't get
so red in the face; its evident you'v
had but little experience in this line
''What d We mean now?" demanded
the other, shortly.
Il mean that you've never been mar
ried before, 7" returned Garry soothingly
as, their station reached at last, he has
| tily pushed his friend out of the car
riage, following in more leisurely style
| himself.
Tefords own drag with his groom
were there waiting for him.
On through green lanes and down by
golden fields they drove, Garry enjoy.
| ing the loneliness of that scenery which
at any other time would hold innumer-
| able charms for Telford himself Ten
| minutes later and thew were standing in
the drawing room at Darlington Court.
The old Squire, hale, hearty man of
| 90, was there to welcome him. The
Captains mother, a tall, aristocratic-
looking dame, languidly arose from the
| depths of an easy chair to receive her
sons atfectionate salutation. A small,
graceful figure turned from q distant
| window at Mrs. Telford's bidding. and
was presented to the two gentlemen.
Great drops of perspiration stood up
on the Captains forehead, and faint
flush came over his face as he muir
INJURED q few indistinct words. A flush.
too, came stealing on the young girls
brow as she noted his embarrassment
and restraint. Without one word to
him she addressed herself to Garry, who
fastened to lead her back to her former
retreat, that his friend might recover
himself in the more congenial atmos-
phere of his parents.
Il don't believe Rich thought they'd
have the girl on hand, or he would
never have come down." said Garry to
himself. 'But I'll do my best to keep her
out of his way So, agreeable to this
resolution, he endeavored to entertain
Miss Bevan in his own charming, pecu-
liar way, and certainly he appeared to
succeed, for Telford, glancing over at
them half an hour later, saw that they
were sitting at no great distance from
each other, and chatting like two old
friends