Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1884-01-24

Z y
sat down on the saddle. The truth is,
/ don't know anything about it, except
that after awhile, how long I'll be
hanged if know, [ found myself rid
! ing along the road, deep in the contem-
plation of a divinely drawn picture
which the very sunlight itself framed
and hung before me.
The routine of court duty was very
dull after this, and | longed for the
time when / could wander back to the
| log house, which to me held such en-
! chantment. Previously | had lament
ed the fact that / had remained so long
bachelor, but now | was glad, because
| had found an ideal. l don't know
how many sentimental decisions | made
during that session of the court. but [
! don't think that it would shed the light
of very much credit Oh nv judicial
career if the constitution of the country
| should arise and demand statement.
After awhile | went back to that old
| log house. | found the old man Just
! the same. He welcomed me as though
! he had never seen me before, but with
rapture / noticed that the girl spoke as
though she had seen me before, and
that she was glad to see me again.
This time | was determined not to leave
SO soon, and, the truth is, | fingered
several days. walked by the river
with the beautiful creature, and helped
her to gather the kindling at night.
roamed with her morning, at night
and at noOn-tide, and together we chas-
ed the rabbit and squirrel, and even
the fox. with all his slvneSs, didn't al
ways escape our prowess and skill.
Not among all the neighbors was there
such ''girling,o and ], for myself,
had never seen one to compare with
her beauty, her grace and her voice.
When | spoke of my leaving, the old
man objected, and even the girl slightly
demurred, but | told them that business
| OF pressing Importance was claiming at
tention from the north to the south.
But the beautiful girl with rosy lips
pOuting. declared in way that would
have paralyzed Paul. that I was so
restless and wanted to leave them be-
cause, as she thought, | had found them
all dull. | made brave effort to 90
without showing the slightest emotion
on my part, you know, and when the
old man seemed so very anxious that |
should remain, | decided that I d better
90 and return within few DAYS |
dldn' t care to override it, you under
stand. Well, | went away, not because
| really had any business, but because
| did not care to injure my chances,
for by this time, you may know, | was
dead in love with Myra
| cOuldn' remain away but a short
time. When | returned they were all
glad to see me. Myra, it seemed to me
wanted to kiss me, and [ would have
kissed her, but [ didn't have good
chance. She was more lovely than
ever, and when at night we walked out
under the stars, felt that she loveI
me. [ dreamed of her. Her growing
acquaintance with books pleased me,
| for | knew she studied for my sake
The old man, too, seemed changed to-
ward me. He spoke, when we were
alone, of family affairs, and told me
how glad he was that / had come to
visit him. | saw that he knew | was
in love with his daughter, and with
thankfulness l noted that he encourage
ed my suit. One night after Myra had
gone to her room, and while the old
man and | sat by the fire, the old fell
low removed his gaze from the glowing
Goals, and looking at me, said:
.'Myra is the best girl in the worl. "
''You needn't tell me that, said /,
''for | know it.
Her husban' will be a happy man."
"a glorious man, [ assented.
Il hope that you'll not regret the
day when you came here"
Il know that l shall never do so.
Nyr1.a and I oooh O+b
you do?'
Eyes, sir.
Il am glad of it. Nyra is slow to
speak out and [ am glad that you
know. Speakin' on the subject might
shock her. Well, good night, and he
grasped my hand warmly.
Tat night could not sleep. I knew
that the Old man understood my great
love for his daughter, and with tnrilI
l saw that it met with his approval
Next morning L was determined to
ask him for her, so, after breakfast,
when he invited me to take a walk with
HIM, thought that he had devined my
intention. Myra, too, seemed to know
that something was likely to pass be-
tween us, for she shook her fist in a
charming way at me when we left the
house. 1 looked back and saw her
peeping at me, with such deep fixed
love in her chances, that I thought [
ought TO go uack and kiss her, but /
turned TO the Odd man and talked to
him about his hogs and sheep. | de-
cided TO ask him for the CT, and al
though l knew he would Willingly give
his consent to our marriage, yet it was
4 difficult matter. ''When [ get to
that tree," unused, looking ahead Il
will ask him. Just rs we came to the
tree he stopped and said:
you've knOwed my darter for some
time"
Yes, sir. -
Not such a long time, it's true, but
so long that we almos' look on you as
one OF the family"
L am proud to know it. :"
''Trank you, sr. Well, now, I'll
! tell y l. My darter is goin' to be mar