Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1888-10-18


eat. I hain't got no manners"
He got her some cake and tea, and then
with real delicacy left her alone until the
minister came. The minister's wife ac-
companied him, and she came into the
front room TO May, leaving her husband
and the man of the house in the kitchen.
Il was determined to come if it did
snow,' she exclaimed, kissing.M efusive.
ly. isn't it SO romantic; just like g
story, your coming away up here. "Well,
think you've done we'll. / suppose
you're little nervous; I was"
Did you ever teach school?" asked
May.
"Why, yes. taught one term once"
replied the visitor, looking as if she con-
sidered the remark irrevelant.
sit was too bad about your trunk,
wasn't it? Never mind, your drass is
plenty good enough. Well, if you're al
ready I'll call in the men. You don't feel
faint, do your"
When the minister came IL May
ross and stood before him like child at
school. Her heart beat so fast and such a
mist came before her eyes that she did
not realize that her host was standing be-
side her.
SE6 G1GC0 q I'D al
the rules of grammar, arithmetic. geogra-
ply, and spelling at once, ana felt tn her
dism8y that her brain was ia q state Of
complete chaos.
Tbs minister cleared kIs thrcat-"The
state" he began slowly.
"Geogra pay is the first thing" she
thought, and tried to get an instantane-
Gus picture in her mind Of the entire
earth and ali its diversions, but all she
could think Of were the names of Mount
Popocatapetel and the river Yang les
Kiang.
"The state OF matrimony is one ordain-
ed by God for tho purpose The min
lister had got so far, when he paused, ar
rested by the look OF horror and amaze.
ment on the girls face, and her compan-
ION thinking the blank was for him to
fill cut, calculated in loud firm tones, II
do"
"step! quick!,' cried the girl, "there is
some mistake"
>"You can't expect me to say it just
right the first time" said her host, really
ing that he hadn't responded in quite
the right place, shut you'd orter make
some allowance SEEM I never was mar
ried before"
Married" she cried, recoiling from
him. II came up here to teach school,
and you know did. I know my aunt
would have said it was Ore dful venture
some thing TO do, but no one has any
right to marry me if 1 did,"
But, my dear young lady," said the
puzzled minister, "Tom-Mr. Hunter,
has made confident of me from the
first and he surely understood that you
were to mary him."
II advertised for wife, you remem
ber," said the crestfallen Mr.. Hunter,
turning to her, San you answered it,
81 did not" cried May Indignantly.
81 wrote to Mr.. Hilliaro of Huntersville
for a school,"
'sThere is Mr.. billiard at Hunters
ville," said the minister.
This is Hunters Point" said the min
ister's wife who had been trying vainly
to get in a word.
II must have got off at the wrong sta
tion," gasped May, sinking to a chair.
81 have made.a terrible blunder."
"It does seem to be dreadful mixed
up mess, but p'r'aps We Gan straighten
if out, said Mr.. Hunter, dolefully. Isn't
your name Maria Smith,"
"My name is Mey Smith, she answer
ed, rather shortly.
Nov look here my DEAR" cried the
minister's wife, "this is rather awkward
[ know; but I think I can find a way out
of the labyrinth. My name is Mrs.
Seavor -we'll begin at the very begin
ning-and Mr.. Seavor is an ordained min
lister, come up here to MARY you, Nay
Smith, to- Tom Hunter, one OF the best
fellows that ever lived. Now" said she,
nj dc +bua Sao 60 h.
can't we have the wedding after all? I'll
vouch you'll never get better husband
if you search the wide world over. I
know you don't know him, but Iii guaran-
tee that you'll never be sorry"
'If you only will" said Mr.. Hunter
pieadingIy; "I've taken such a shine to
YOU"
my friends " said Mr.. Seavor, II DIS
like very much to interfere with the ro-
mantle procedure that Mrs. Seavor has
laid out"
81 never could consent to it, never" in
terrupted May.
"In any csse," he continued, sit is my
duty to remind you all thot Mr.. Hunter
has agreed to marry someone, aud the
ledy IN question would have cause to
think herself unfairly treated il he mar
ried anyone else"
Mr.. Hunter g-oaned Is ne perceived the
cogency of this reasoning.
"I'il do the square thing by her." he
said. ''but was never so disappointed in
my life"
Mrs. Seavor stayed that night with
May, keeping her awake until nearly
morning to listen to the praises of Mr..
Hunter.
"If you can't find her, said Mrs. Seavor
in the morning to Mr.. Hunter and May,
as they started to drive to Huntersyilie in
search of her school and his stray be-
trothed, ''if anything happened to her
though most likely there hasn't-things
never do happen the way we want them
TO, except in books, but if they should,
just bring May right back to my house 80
dinner, and we'll have just the pre.tiest
wedding that ever was-in spite of her"
she added, meaning the absent Maria
Smith.
From which it will be seen that the un-
conquerable Mrs. Seaver, although a min
listers wife, let her sym pathies run away
with her sense of abstract right and JUS
tice.
The morning was bright and mild, but
the ride was very silent one.
Mr.. Hunter wore an expression Of suf-
fering and resolution that would have
done credit to a medieval martyr.
Mrs. Hiilsrd met them at the door.
"Wai, yes" she admitted, 'thers was
lady there who came on the train the
night before the new school ma'am, an
she guessed she'd nav q pretty good
COVER 'ment-she'd got the snap to her."
"Yes, they would see her," and she usher
ed them into the presence of Mays fell
low traveller of the day before.
as this Maria Smith," asked Tom, in
a tone that showed be feared the worse.
l. 81 hot