Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1886-08-19
AFTER MANY DAYS.

tatherS farm, down tnere IN connecticut
You've seen the place. The church was
near the tavern, and behind the church
was the parsonage; and there lived Dom
inie Wheeler and his daughter Dolly. On
Saturdays, after I had my supper, I used
to dress myself, and tell my mother that
meant to call on Dominic Wheeler's folks.
Mother generally answered that I couldn't
do better; that the dOminie's conversation
was sure to be improving and that Dolly
was not ''hity -tity, like some gals she
could men 5iOn."
Father would add: "and pretty little
critter, too" And armed with parental
approval, would go to the parsonage.
1t was good time to go, for the SER
mon had to be finished, as general thing,
ON that evening, and Dolly and [ had de-
lightful long talks in those solitary mo-
ments, and one evening [ proposed to
Dolly, and she accepted me. The dominic
gave us his blessing, father and mother
said they could not have chosen daugh-
ter-in-law to suit them better, and all
they asked was that we should wait little
while.
my daughter is not seventeen years
old yet" said the dominic. ''You must
lot be in hurry to take her from me-"
"Wait two years, and you will be
Extraordinarily, and TIL give you the
river farm and build you house." said
father.
Our course of true love seemed to be
running very smooth, indeed, and I would
have staked my life and soul, pretty
heavy stake, on my constancy. But, some
how, L think Satan thought we were too
happy, and laid trap for me.
Doctor Robins widow, a managing wo-
man with big house, was in the habit
of taking summer bOarders, and every
year a lot of city strangers wandered
about the place from June to September.
When Dolly and had been engaged
about year and half, the widow had
80 boarders in her house, and Ike and
Edwin, and all the male help slept in the
barn.
There was one young lady there, Miss
Sally Gray, so pretty that every one who
saw her was talking about it. And was
introduced to her. Some women have a
way of making a man act against his bet
ter Judgement. She was one of them. I
did not mean to firt with her, but I did
[ did not mean to meet her in shady lanes
and i'll the quiet wood paths, but we met,
She knew q suppose Ike Robins had told
her) about my engagement, and she teas
neart.
''Such a good, prim little thing" she
would say. "Is she dreadfulIy shocked at
me? Does she think am f1irt? Does
she pray for me in meeting?"
l felt angry, but yet was piqued into
proving myself free to do as l liked. At
little evening party, to which we were
asked, danced five dances with her, and
when at last, my conscience smote me,
and went to look for Dolly, found she
had gone home.
''She said her pa wanted her." said Mrs.
Robins; "but [ tell you plainly, James
Gardener, 1 don't Ebelieve it; and for my
part, don't see what people can find to
admire in that impudent New York girl.
If my lilly behaved like her, I'd shut
her up on bread and water until she re-
formed"
[ hurried away but the parsonage was
shut up when 1 got there, and I spent an
hour walking up and down before the
house, staring at the small, dark win
dows.
The time seemed very long until the
next evening, and went over to the par
sonage very early; but Dolly was not
there.
"She's gone to spend the evening some
where" said the dominic, kindly. Il sup
pose she forgot to leave word for you to
come for her. She isn't very well, either;
cold l suppose. I know I generally
caught cold at a party when I was young
and attended such entertainments. hope
she'll be careful. Her mother died of CON
sumption"
My heart gave great leap.
l thought of Dolly i'll, dying, even
SeaH and T went in bo To
the sergeant if Dolly left any message for
me.
''She said she wouldn't be home to-
night, at least this evening, l mean, and
she did not leave word where she was go
ing"
Nora understood, I saw. felt terribly
injured, and [ made up my mind to re-
yenge myself by spending the evening
with Sally Gray.
She was at home, the servant girl said.
and l found her waiting in the parlor for
me. We had it to ourselves. Mrs. Rob
ms never came in, nor any of the other
boarders; indeed it was now growing late
in the season, and they were almost all
gone away. If I never knew how to iirt
before, SalIey Gray taught me how that
night, and when I took leave of her I was
imprudent enough to tell her should like
to kiss her
"Do it, if you DESIRE" said she.
And then! Yes, / kissed her; and as [
did it the door opened, and we started
apart, and there stood Dolly. She had
seen it all.
II left my bonnet here she said. ''Mr.
Isaac is going home with me, and came
to get it. Sorry to disturb YOU"
She was very cool and cOntem Dtuous
She tied her bonnet on at the glass; threw
her little mantle over her shoulders; and
went out. Next day she broke our en-
gagement and sent me back my ring.
The next week left home and went
away to sea. Some one had told me that
Dolly was going to marry Ike Robins.
Mother wrote to me often; and never
mentioned Dolly and never asked about
her. I lived with men, generally on the
sea, and had no thought of liking or car