Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1886-01-07

er with click and raising himself up
on his toes and letting himself down
again, he said:
"Come here child, want to tell you
something"
Hazel came over where he was
standing, and, Cropping into chair,
looked up with expectation in his
eyes.
The colonel took a step, wheeled
around facing her, and said ia de-
preeating way:
81 don't know how to tell you, I
am not an eloquent nam = not much
of a man, anyway-but II love you
have loved you since you were wee
child. Perhaps-I do seem old to you
but I feel you niger than [ did at 90. [
do so long to devote the remainder of
nay life to you, my darling. Gould
you = do you think you could be my
wife?"
Hazel, at first dumbfounded and
feeling a strong inclination to laugh
and cry both, tried in vain to collect
her wits. Her first offer! And Col.
Baker, with his queer ways and bald
mead standing there with that ridicu-
lous CULVER IN his voice! It was too
much!
mo" she cried, springing up.
Glow could you ever think would
ever consent to such a thing?"
Then a sense of all his goodness and
worth-it mingled feeling of pity at
his distress = came over her, and
cIasping the palms of her hands to-
gether, she said brokenly: "Ohi you
are SO good. I like you. [ arm very
sorry, but I am sure-no-I don't
think I coHld make you happy"
My dear child" he said, with sud-
den courage, taking her clasped hands
IN his, lis there any one whom you
care more for?"
mo, oh, mol" she said, blushing;
and then suddenly paling. '"There is
no one.
'"Then let nae have an opportunity
to win your love. I can't give you
up. The thought of you has entered
so entirely into my life that I cannot
GO away without little hope. You
do not hate me, little one?"
"No, mol" she said in distress; shut
/"
"Never mind; don't try to explain
yourself or your feelings. Let every
thing be just as it always has. Re
member that I love you, and let me
come and see you oftep." Pressing
two fervent kisses on her hands be
shot out of the door and was off before
Hazel had time 10 turn around.
she gathered up her things and
went straight to her room. Then she
threw herself into large wicker chair
and began rocking herself viOlenely
and screaming with laughter. This
was succeeded by fits of crying, and
again more laughter and tears, until,
exhausted, she dropped asleep in the
char, with her head resting on the
broad arm.
When awakened late in the day by
her cramped position and a raging
headache, she was 800 miserable to
think to offer any resistance when
her sister insisted on putting her to
bed. 1t was SO unusual for her to be
i'll.
In the days that followed Hazel
was alternally merry and sad, very
talktive or absolutely silent for hours
together. She ate little and seemed
restless and nervous in the house;
would start whenever the doorbell
rang, and if it happened to be Col.
her room, and was invariably ''enga-
ed' or mot at home"
Hazel was coming up the street one
day from the postoffice. There had
been a storm of sleet and snow the
day before and the walks were
treacherously slippery. She was look
ing over her letters, when suddenly,
right on crossing, her foot slipped.
There was horse coming around the
corner. She never knew just what
happened; she struck something and
felt herself being lifted while we'll
known voice said: ''My God I have
killed her! Oh, nay darlingl Ny
darling' Then all sensation vanish
ed.
Some time later, when conscious.
ness returned, she found herself In
bed, with a frightened, fearful group
around her and DR.. Whitlock calmly
pouring something down her throat.
He had just put her displaced shoul-
der in order, and she felt dizziness
in her head. Then he ordered every
body out of the room and lowered a
window, saying she must have more
air. He wrote out his prescriptions
and was ready to leave. He stepped
to the side of the bed. Hazels eyes
were closed, but the tears were running
down her temples. He set his teeth
together, but it was no use.
Forgive mel" he said. in a tone of
agoniz9d entreaty- ooh, God might
have killed you'll"
Hazel opened her eyes very wide.
She gave him a look which said plain
ly Il love you," and with a faint
smile closed her eyes again.
In a moment he was on his knees
beside the bed, and quivering with
long repressed passion, he exclaimed.
''Hazel, Haas, my darling Do
you love me? Do you? Tell me; love
o." he went on, Il never meant to
tell you this, not until had some
thing more to offer than an empty
hand; but I love you with all the
strength of my being. Do you for
give me9"