Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1886-01-07
THE FIRST PROPOSAL.
BY FRANCIS EDWARDS.

- VII h1~SSJ SN~J
rather old fashioned basket phaeton
stood in front of large cream brick
house on Clifton avenue one Tuesday
morning late Ia June. The air and
sunshine and sky were perfect. A
most tempting morning for drive.
The owner of the turnout, Col.
Baker, was within the mansion So
licifing.s Miss Hazel Traits company
for a drive. The Young lady had
not the slightest objection to going
with him. He was an old friend of
her fathers, an amusing story teller,
and very fond of his horses. He was
called colonel" not from any con-
nection with military life, but it was
title received in early boyhood days
and it had chung to him as nickH&mes
and titles of this sort often do.
Presently they came out of the
house, she got into the carriage. Very
lovely she looked in pale, ecru dress
and nat to match, with flaming
bunch of peoples down on one side.
On the way down the avenue they
met DR.. Whitbeck, driving slowly
and bent over in his seat nleditative-
~ eying the dashboard, as if pro-
foundry considering some scientific
theory of studying the latest treat
ment of a case" The moment he
looked up and saw them he grasped
his whip. The horse gave start
which nearly threw the doctor over
backward, and went furiously up the
street
Darn that colonelp he muttered,
under his breath. ''What busina ss
has he to be driving her out SO much ?
Then, with a grim smile and long
drawn breath, cts none of my bust
ness, though, none whatever, if she
rides to the nd Of the earth with
him"
This young man had met Hazel the
summer before while visiting a school
friend. He was proud, poor, reserved
and ambitious-a self-made man--but
uncomfortable Ia society. He lacked
the ease and polish that many an I'M
worthy, weak man possesses who is
brought up in the habits of refined So
ciety. He felt this lack keenly-ove--
estimated MS ''barbarisms, " as he call
ed his unpublished style.
Hazel first saw him, by accident,
binding up the broken leg of dog
one day when she was out for walk
Ia the country. His goodness to this
little stray creature touched her heart
and his manly form and open face,
beaming intelligence and kindness as
he arose from his cramped position on
the ground Immediately i'm pressed her
strongly. she went up to him like a
child, without embarrassment Or hest
tation, and spoke of what he had been
doing.
1t followed in the conversation that
he knew her friends with whom she
was stopping and walked home with
her. They were introduced, though,
as Hazel said, sit was entirely super
huous after such an extensive ac-
quaintance," Almost every day dur
ing The remainder of the summer they
We're companions, riding, walking,
fishing, sailing.
DR.. WhitGeck was more at his ease
IN the open air. His scientific know
ledge often came into use and he grew
to be sort of hero-a skilled hero in
her eyes she thought there was moth
ing he d. mot know and could not do
To him this childy woman grew
more charming every day. Her in
nocence and open admiration for him
was quite too much for his reserve,
which melted completely away in the
sunshine of her presence. She was
such lOvable little maiden, with her
merry laugh and ready sympathy. He
did not realize how he had opened his
heart to her and the strength of his
passion until it was too late. When
he did see his danger with strange
faulty he said TO himself: 'She does
not know it. I'll make no resistance
now, but go on and be happy In the
present, as I shall probably never
again know happiness in my life" So
they had parted without one word of
love being spoken.
The following winter DIR. Whitbeck
had commenced practicing in the
same city where Hazel lived. She met
him occasionally and invited him to
call, but he was always busy, and a
strange GOODNESS grew up between
them. He actually seemed to avoid
her. She thought, with a womaH' S
sensitlvenesS, that she had been silly
and foolish and heregarded her as toe
trlhing piece Of humanity to be
worthy of his least attention, SO with
equal GOODNESS she studiously avoided
him.
The summer days slipped away.
Autumn came and early winter, still
she had received no proposals-not
ore. Her young gentlemen friends
did not find it easy to make advances
with her in spite of her frankness and
seeming pleasure in their society
The only person who really enjoyed
her confidence was the colonel, whom
she regarded as sort of father-con
fessor.
However, the fatal day came al
last. She and the colonel had beer
out for one of their numerous drives
They had been unusually merry, the
colonel behaving much like a young
boy. On bringing her home he came
in, ostensibly to ''get warm" Stand
ing with his back to the fire and hi
feet wide apart, he regarded Hazel il
an distracted way as she threw off he