Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1884-01-31
T OR.
IRA Perry,
BY MAX ROSSCARN.

Il kin jist tell you right now that I'm
not goin' to hev any more trapesin'
with that engineerin' cuss. Bill is COM
in next week and if he hears of your
goin' on there II be the devil to pay.
You needn't look so sassy, miss, for
he'll take the starch out of you when
you're his wife. "
Il shall never be his wife and you
know it. +"
Nov, Flor, I've jist this to say once
for all. You will be Bill Preston's
wife. You'll marry him next Thurs
day. You don't know me nor him if
YOU think your tom fool airs is gOin' to
make us change our minds. You'll be
married next Thursday whether YOU
like it or not, and you might us well
stop your high and mighty ways, for
Bills not the man TO be fooled with,
and if that tine-haired cuss of an engi-
neer comes within range of Bill's gun
there won't be much of him left" and
he turned and left the house and strobe
down the steep mountain path that led
to the town below.
The GIRL stood in the door way of the
little LOG hut that was her home, and
looked up into the dark pine woods
that covered the mountain side. Tall
and slender, with large, dark eyes and
glossy, golden hair, flair as a lily"
clad in dress of dark-blue flannel
that fit her trim figure like a glove,
daintiIy shod feet-looks, manner and
dress betokened the lady, as she most
certainly was.
Her father, now so rough and
brutal, had once been the pride of
his fathers heart, and had been
allowed to do much rs he pleased,
and had pleased to devote his time to
enjoying life in very low company at
very rapid rate. HorSe-races, foot
races, country dances of the lowest
sort of people, picnics and gambling,
so fully occupied him that no thought
was given to education.
He was possessed of fine figure and
a coarse. animal sort of beauty, and at
twenty won a timid, gentle girl, who
married him in opposition to the en-
treaties Of friends and relatives. How
often we see women rush headlong into
a life of woe and misery!
A few years after the marriage Dicks
father died, and when the estate was
settled it was found that Squire Nor
ton 5 wealth had all gone to pay Dicks
bills. Dick made no complaint, simply
saying that he'd had the good of the
money, and after short time he babe
his boon companions good bye, took
Agnes and thea daughter Florence and
went West TO make his fortune in
the mines of Nevada.
Il h l.,
lived IN the lonely log hut on the noun
tain side for twelve years; then, after
eXactinm a promise from her husband
to send Flor to her Aunt Florence in
the East for a few years, the tired wo-
man laid down the burden, life.
Dick, only too glad TO be rid of the
care of For who was then sixteen, sent
her to her mothers relatives who hoped
to keep her rs one of their own. For
three years Florence was happy in her
home and school, and was near for
getting the claim that her father had
upon her, when peremptory letter
from him recalled her.
Her sense of filial duty made her re-
solve to obey him, though in her heart
she reyolted against one who had never
by word or deed been a kind father to
her.
On her arrival at the hut her father
soon informed her why she had been
recalled. She was to become the wife
of his ''pard," Bill Preston, VINO had
been his sworn friend ever since Dick s
first year in the West. Bill had been
impressed by the girls beauty when
she was mere child, and had readily
made a bargain with Dick that the
child was to be his wife whenever he
chose 10 claim her, and Dick would as
soon have cut off his right hand as to
go back on his pard.
Florence. AT first, could not realize
that consent WAS the last thing of
~Si"H ~" +h~'.e-l.. - f""+ 49,