Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1885-12-31

and-be it said to her credit-with
perfect goOd-nature; but Uncle Har-
vey was overcome with remorse.
What a blunder2" he Ell aculated.
| ''Bless mel" how could I have made
it2"
The idea fitted through his niece's
head that he was precisely the person
most likely to have made it, but she
merely smiled.
4 mustn't miss my train now" she
said. SIT must be very near time for
| it."
Eyes, yesr' rejoined Uncle Harvey.
Certainly. I'll see about it righ4
away"
His near-sighted eyes, rowing about
the depot, caught sight of an old gen
tleman from Bracken bridge, a special
friend of his.
"Well, there's Chanting = haven't
seen him for week! Just wait till
speak to him moment" and he dart
ed off.
Ida waited five minutes = ten. A
train moved slowly out. Could il
have boon hers? Ida grew nervous.
IShe knitted her brows, and joined her
uncle.
'Ah, your train my dear, 2" said he,
briskly, as he perceived her. ''I'il see
about it"
He started off with business-like
air. but came back slowly.
cts gone!" he announced, in 3
dazed way. went just this minute,
they say. I don't see how it happen
ed; I never made such a blunder be-
fore"
Ida gasped, and stood staring ather
uncle in despairing helplessness.
Then, pulling herself together, she
turned to railroad official standing
near, who said glancing at her ticket,
IN response to her agitated inquiry,
that the next available train was due
at one.
Two hours and haiti But there
was no help for it.
She should not feel safe, however,
till Uncle Harvey was we'll out of the
way; she felt that he was quite capa-
bic of leading her into third blum
der. She interrupted his food of
| speculatlons as to how the mistake
could have occurred.
You mustn't walt far me, you
know" she said, with heroic sweet
ness; land you'd better take your
train, SO as to be sure of it. It's al
ready made up"
She took his arm and fairly put
him aboard; she saw him select seat
inside and open a paper, and knew
that he had already arrived at a
peaceful Inconsistencies of her very
existence. Then she went into the
waiting roon and sat down.
Two hours and a half! She would
not be at home till late in the even
ing, when they would have given
up expecting her. What dreadful
day it had been
She wondered that she was still
alive; she wondered whether her b air
would not have turned a little gray
by the time she reached home If she
ever did. She leaned back and closed
her eyes despairingly.
Somehow Arthur Clifford was still
uppermost in her mind. She took
up her reflections where she had left
off before. Yes, of course that was
the explanation-he had congratulate
ed himself upon escaping her. If he
hadn't would he not have asked her
again? Te-be-sure he would He
had never cared for her-it was per-
fectly plain tat he hadn't. It was
probable that he had even disliked
her. Well she was glad she had re-
fused him.
Nevertheless she took out her
handkerchief and wiped q moisture
from her eyes. When she looked up
she gave violent start, and her face
grew brightly red.
Arthur Clifford was standig some
three feet away, and looking directly
at her. E[e came forward immediate
ly and sat down beside her.
Ida bit her lip. But the sight of
his friendly face had the odd effect of
bringing lump into her throat and
tears to her eyes, she went and stood
by the window. And Arthur follow
ooh what is the matter?" he whis-
pered bending anxiously over her,
quite forgetting :the fact of her
presence there in his tender distress.
II don't KNOW" said Ida, looking
up at him timidly through her tears.
That look was too much for the
young man.
ST can't help it can't help i'll"
he burst out, IT want you! can't
live without you! There! I had
made up my mind never to trouble
you again"
He looked down at her.
ooh, you don't care for me?" he
cried, rather wildly. Say itw
eyes do" said Ida, firmly.
For there was no longer doubt in
her mind on that point.
There was a little silence. The
hand-clasp, which in the publicity of
the place was all that could be ex-
changed, seemed woefully inadequate.
"You haven't asked me how came
here" said the girl, perhaps to cover
the humping of her heart; and she
related her misfortunes eloquently.
II ought to sympathize, said her
lover. Il ought to be politely sorry; ;
but I'm not. l consider it direct
interposition of Providence-your
getting left, and my happening down
h oya to Ys,oat O friand IL, fb;rl- ri, ~