Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1885-07-09


mitted.
"You shouldn't stop up so late at
night" replied, looking straight at
her. sit doesn't do for delicate girl
to stand talking in the streets on cold
winters night"
"Why jack she said, looking puz-
zled, sit was you that kept me out. 1t
was half-past eleven when you left
me-"
/ was about to make some angry re-
ioinder to this, and tell her that L had
seen her talking with man at twelve
at night, when / was called by her
father.
Come Jack" he cried, II want to
show you horse / have bought. lam
afraid l have been taken in; | know
you are a good Judge of horse-fesh."
felt cross with Ada for the first
time in my life, and was only too
pleased to follow Mr.. Richards, leaving
Jim to talk to her.
This is the conversation that passed
between them, was told, afterwards.
Jack is very good fellow" said
Jim, in his blunt way, ''and hope you
will make him happy. have known
him so long, that he seems like a broth
er to me-"
81 am very fond of Jack" replied
Ada, quickly, cor [ should not have
consented to marry him."
A minutes pause, and then Jim spoke
again.
1T doesn't do" he said, 'sfor girl
to be seen walking about with another
fellow when she is engaged to be mar
ried."
Ada both looked and felt astonished.
What on earth could her future hus-
bands best friend be driving at? She
thought his remark very strange one.
''Does your sweetheart do that?"
asked Ada, thinking that he was desir-
Gus of enlisting her sympathy.
81 haven't got one," said Jim, shak-
ing his head, and looking as if inclined
to add: s'And Il good job too"
When we were walking home togeth-
er that night, fancied Jim looked very
grave and preoccupied.
what on earth is the matter?" |
asked
Nothing" he answered, shortly, and
shaking hands at the corner OF the
street, Jim left me without another
word.
did not see much of him for the
next two or three days, and during that
time l became conscious of a change in
Ada. She seemed to have lost her high
spirits, and once, coming into her pres
ence unexpectedly, [ found her in
tears.
When | asked her why she was weep
ing, she gave some eVasiye answer, and
this, in conjunction with Jim's odd be-
haVior, made me extremely uncomfort-
able.
was walking down the street, turn
ing over the mystery in my mind, when
who should l run against but my
friend.
"HolIoa!' 1 said, Frightening up q
bit, Il was thinking of you. Where on
earth did you drop from?"
ITO tell you the truth" said Jim, 81
was looking for you. [ can't stand it
any longer. 1t isn't a pleasant thing to
say, old fellow; but [ have found out
that the girl you have set your heart
upon is not worthy of you. Somebody
has seen her ever SO many times talk
ing to man. Last night he kissed
her.
Il y,
a moment it was a toss-up whether I
sprang at Jim's throat, or not; but I
thought of our long friendship, and
cooled down little.
''Look here said, as calmly as l
could, for I was trem bling with anger,
''if you can't prove your words, I'll
give you the biggest thrashing you ever
had in your life, though you are my
friend"
$50 to Miss Richards, and ask her
who it was she met last night" return
ed Jim. IF she can answer that ques-
ton to your satisfaction, I'll take the
thrashing like man, and feel that I
deserved it..
And he walked off, leaving me in a
state of mind impossible to describe.
Without stopping to think of what I
was going to do, 1 went over to Ada,
and the instant | found myself in her
presence, asked, abruptly:
''Who was it you met last night?'
waited anxiously for a reply to my
question, but none came.
Instead of answering me, Ada buried
her face in her hands, and began to cry
bitterly.
w III W % IL Ou AuCG 1tISI lSuI. 4
asked, impatiently.
''Hush!'' said Ada, rising to close the
door. Don't let my father hear"
''Oh! you are ashamed of the truth
being known to your father?' l asked,
sneeringly, ''but I'll take care he hears
the whole story"
Ada dried her eyes and looked at me
detiantly.
You are brute, she cried, land
hate you. Tell him, if you LIKE don't
care. He'll turn me out of the house
for my disobedience; but, what does it
matter to your
What will the neighbors say if tn ey
find out your goings on?" l asked,
roughly. Stealing out of the house
every night"
That false" said Ada. Il met
her inside the house, and once only,for
the last time"
"Her?" 1 repeated. blankly.
Yes, returned Ada, beginning to
sob again Father swOre I should