Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1885-07-23

|
cation without which he could hope
for nothing.
Such was the situation in the sum-
mer that saw the beginning of our
great national struggle for the pre-
servation of our nation. Then it was
hat an unforeseen event directed BY
he hand of Providence overthrow our
hero's cherished hopes and cast last
ing shadow over the prospects he had
50 industriously painted IN sunshine.
Farmer Chandler had a brother who
had died many years ago, broken
hearted at the desertion of his young
wife, whose retreat he had been un>
able to discover And, dying, he had
left his fortune and his son Henry to
the care of the old farmer, knowing
well that beneath his coarse garb there
beat a heart which knew nothing but
kindness and honesty. Henry had
been raised at college and for three
years had been making his apprentice
ship at law in the Office of an old Lex
ington lawyer Failing health during
this summer brought him to the coun-
try and to old Chambers house.
Henry was handsome and we'll dress
ed; he had the habit of society, was
pleasant and attentive to Mary, and
she, unsuspecting the nature of Toms
interest IN her, never saw her old
school-fellow without torturing his
heart with cruel descriptions of Hen
RVS superior endowments. Humanity
abided in Toms breast, and with it's
strength also little wickedness. Tom
bought himself a new suit of clothes
and fine boots, which only accentuat-
ed the contrast between him and his
rival. He began taking care of his
fnger-nails, and twice week shaved
his sunburnt visage with devoted care.
Still hope lived in his heart, until one
day, at the turning of the old poplar
shaded road down by the creek, he
ventured to say to Mary, whom he
| had met and stopped for talk: 'It
seems to me you are thinking great
deal too much of this city gentle
man."
"Why, Tom, how could II" was
the reply, ''you know we are cousins,
and then-that's a secret yet-we are
engaged"
The sound of Gabriel's trumpet
would have been sweet music to Toms
ear compared to those words. He had
schooled himself to endurance as q
necessary ally IN the arduous task be
had undertaken, but this was too
much. His heart seemed to cease
beating, he grew dizzy, his frame
shook like battered wall. He felt
thatall hope had at once deserted him
all the fanciful future, whose wealth
and beauty he had treasured as his
own, at once disappeared, and the flu
ture appeared to him as desert, in
whose heated sands he saw himself
alone, hopeless, and over-burdened,
sinking down, never to rise again.
Without the support of the rugged
trunk beside which he stood, he would
have fallen. Mary rose to his assis-
lance.
"What is the matter, Tome You are
sick. Sit down till getsome water, :"
and she ran to the creek, using her
straw hat and handkerchief to carry
. water to battle her old friends head.
But he had summoned temporary
energy. It was her happiness he
wished-not his. Did he let her know
the agony she had inflicted, her Joy
would be marred by his mystery. He
naet her with a smile that i'll became
his pallid face, but it was almost
without tremour that he said
Really, that's FUNNY felt got
dizzy, and, if it had not been for that
old tree, I believe [ would have fallen
land just when you were telling me
Of-of your engagement, wasn't it?
Well, Mary, sincerely hope he will
make you as happy as-as you des>
erve." And with that she soon went
her way, ignorant of the deadly wound
she had dealt
But when, alone, Tom Jones cor
templated the dismal ruin which had
overtaken his dearest hopes, a great
despair took possession of his heart.
| At first he could not realize it. He
sought to imagine it was only dream
| Tben he cried in his agony my
| God! have you no pity, no mercy, to
ROB me at once of all hope, all Joy, all
future? Close your heaven forever be-
fore me, but give me back nay Mary"
This great passion soon exhausted his
physical strength, and for long time
he sat on the root of that old beech
near where he had parted with Mary
his elbows on his knees, his face in bis
hands-stupiged, unnerved, almost
insensible.
The little creek ran softly by; be-
yond was the meadowe@ hill, rich in
the sunshine, with its glossy herd Of
fat cattle, and over the hill ran the
old turnpike that, like silver thread
over emerald aud gold, circled around
the fertile hills of Kentucky. Sud-
denly an unwonted sound came rip
pling through the air, and to the ears
of poor Tom brought gradual con
seriousness and surprise. It seemed to
bring the answer to the question
which paralyzed his senses. what
shall I dc Lowe" and there seemed
no thing ON earth that could be done,
till the sound of drum and fife in
martial tune aroused his sleeping con-
sciousness and brought the inspired
reply: ''To the war" Yes. to the
war;" he SAID. Il will 60 at once,
and who knows what may happena"