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

that. She should think of him IN the
mazes of the German-there was no
body at home who could dance so well :;
she should think of him on cool.
bright mornipgs,-he had driven her
out so often on such days-and On
warm afternoons, like those they had
spent together ia his row-boat, on the
leafy porch; she should certainly
| think of him on bright moonlight
evenings
Ida stopped herself half-angrily,
and gave a determined attention to
her book. Perhaps the words were
| obscured for moment by a slight
n1ist which had somehow risen in her
soft eyes; but it vas only for a mo
meut.
1t was mise when they drew up in
Crosby's large, covered depot.
you'll take next train back, won't
you, Uncle Harvey?" said Ida, SIS they
crossed the several intervening tracks
to the waiting loom. 1--WE a good
while to wait for my train, you know.
You won't need to wait with me."
"Well, [ don't know don't
know" said Uncle Harvey, irresolute-
4
He was dreamy little man, with a
scholarly face and big, near-sighted
eyes. He was vague and impractical
to the last degree. To-be-sure, a per
son of his ample means could afford
to be impractical.
an just see when your train
leaves" said Uuncle Harvey, present
ly, putting Ida into seat and disap-
pearing toward the ticket-window.
He came back hastily.
ut leaves in ten minutes" he an
nounced. cpl put you on it now"
''Ten minutes?' Ida repeated, fol
lowing him wonderingly.
According to the time table which
she had studied before starting, she
should have waited an hour and a
half for her train.
She mentioned the fact to her uncle.
'Oh, it's all right" he assured her,
easily. '1t's the train for Chiffon,
I inquired,
He found seat for her, chatted
until the warning Cali aboad" sound
ed, and babe her good-by.
Ida leaned back and watched the
slowly -receding depot rather YEARLY.
She was not especially fond of travel
ing-certainly not travelling alone.
She wished the day were done with,
and she were at home.
She was not sure that she did not
wish she had never come. Of course,
she had had a charming time. But
that had made the coming away still
harder.
She had SO hated to leave i. all She
did not ask herself what, or whom
it was That she most regretted leav-
ing.
The conductors demand for her
ticket broke up these Iugubrious rev.
cries. He gave it glance, and said,
with solemnity betting the occa-
SION
''You are on the wrong road, miss.
This ticket is for the B. L and G.
Road"
Ida returned his half-amused look
with a gaze of dismayed bewilder-
meat.
och, what shall I do?" she family
said.
The conductor was young, and by
no means proof q gainst a perfect
face and pleading gray eyes. He
leaned toward her very sympathetical-
ly.
Your train" ne said, "won't leave
Crosby till half-past ten. You can
get off at the next station and take the
ten o'clock express back there in time
to get it..
He passed on, with reassuring
nod.
Ida again resigned herself, with
sigh.
How exactly like Uncle Harvey the
blunder had been! If she had been
alone, she would never have made the
mistake. She would have held fast
to the timetable, and there would not
have been such balk. She felt some
thing of evaporation.
The conductor assisted her from the
Car at the next station.
you've only half an hour to wait"
he said.
Half an hour-yes; but half an
hour in dreadful little station, with
dusty benches, a splintery floor and
grimy windows, was not so amusing.
Ida was the sole occupant of the
small room. She could hardly have
told, afterward, how she passed the
time.
She sat down in one of the uncona-
Portable seats and counted the boards
in the floor; she scratched her name
on the window with the small dia-
mond in her ring "a proceeding
which, under any other circum-
stances, she would have condemned
as highly ill-bred land she went out
and paced up and down the little
platform.
A house just visible down the road
reminded her family Of Uncle Har-
vey's, and her thoughts roved back
over the past summer, and naturally
to Arthur Clifford.
After all, she unused, he was rather
an odd person. Almost anybody else
would have made another attempt, in
spite of a first refusal. She could
think Of a dozen girls who had mar
ried the very persons they had at first
rejected.
Not that she should have accepted
Mr.. Clifford in any case: but 1t was