Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1885-12-31
A FORTUNATE NEW YEARS AC.
CIDENT.

CIDENI.
Il was a very jolly crowd which
stood waiting IN the Bracken bridge
Depot for the seven clock train, that
frosty New Years morning.
One might have thought that seven
was rather an early hour for SO large
and exceptionally gay gathering
especially as only one of the party was
to take the tram, the remaining six
teen having assemb led merely to ''see
her off,"
But for better informed person the
fact that one was Ida Terrill, would
have been a sufficient explanation.
That young lady had come to
breckenridge OF a visit to her aunt,
four months previous; and Backen-
bridge society had given her the warm
est welcome imaginable. There had
been a furious run of parties during
Ida's visit Brackenbridge had never
been SO lively; for Miss Terrill had
taken" immensely, and society had
exerted itself IN her behalf.
The heroine of the occasion stood in
the midst of the chattering throng,
entirely bewitching IN her snug brown
suit, tossing back laughing replies to
the chorus of sallies aimed at her.
Charley Whitlock was pretending
to cry into his pocket handkerchief.
George Becker, lolling across a seat
with hair rubbed UP wildly, was simu-
lating fit of insanity brought about
by Miss Terrill's departure.
The train came putting up.
N.xr,9 h. ~4-yrN
mere" cried all the girls together.
There was a confusion of kisses
and hand-shaking, the masculine
portion affecting violent indignation
that they were excluded from the for
mer.
Miss Terrill's uncle, who was to see
her safely to the junction at Crosby,
where she was to change cars, hurried
her into the train. And the futter
of handkerchief from window was
all that was left to the group on the
platform.
Charley Whitlock aud Lizzie Cav
ms walked away together, OF course.
They had been engaged all summer,
and were to be married soon.
Poor Arthur" said the girl, look
ing after the tall form which had de-
tached itself from the group and was
taking a solitary course up the broad
street.
''Yes-poor Giford!' said her lover
cOmpassionately. "What made her
throw him over? I've never had the
rights of the case. But suppose you
know?"
Eyes; she told me all about it. She
is the the most conscientious girl in
the world-Ida Terrill. She refused
him simply because she wasn't quite
sure she liked him well enough to
marty him. She said she'd be doing
him wrong if she married him with
out being certain; so she rejected
him"
Charley gave a muslng whistle.
She's rejected a mighty nice fell
low he declared.
Yes; I told her SO. I tried to make
her change her mind; but she
wouldn't. Do you know-I oughtn't
to say It-but I've imagined two or
shree times that she had come to care
for MIN little2 You see, the longer
you know Arthur Clifford the better
you like him, and it was two months
ago that she refused him. Well, I
don't knowr Lizzie concluded, du-
biouSly.
Ida Terrill, meanwhile, was spin
n1ng toward Crosby. Her uncle had
taken from the train boy a maya zine
for her and a newspaper for himself,
and was already absorbed in the politi-
cal aspect.
Ida turned the leaves of the pamph-
let listl9ssly, closing If at last, and al
lowing her eyes TO wander among her
fellow passenge rs-rather an uninter-
esting set, she concluded. Then she
rested her elbow on the window-sill
and her pretty chin on her hand, and
looked out somewhat absently.
Had she made mistake? she
thought. Was she sorry she had re-
fused him?
No sur ely not. How could she have
accepted him when she had not cared
for him9 There were plenty Of proofs
that she had not cared. for him2
According to the best authorities
she should have turned red and pale
by turns at his approach, and her
heart should have substantially in
creased its palpitations; she should
have been madly Jealous at seeing
him with anybody else; she should
have thought Of him by day and
dreamed of him by night-if she had
cared for him. But she had had none
of these symptoms.
OF course she reflected, as she sped
by houses, and fences, and fields, she
had appreciated him. She had known
as who did pot?-that he was very
pleasant, very gentlemanly, very en-.
PERTAINING. And his behavior after
his rejection, had been nothing less
than sublime. He had, sit were
ionoread If coeatipui,,er tn Gevote him.