Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1888-03-15

Whoever frequented the Partisan
opera lately must have noticed a young
lady of rare beauty who was present
at every performance and who seemed
to take keen delight in the music and
the singing. The girl had eyes like
pansies and brown hair of gold-red
hue. and attracted as much attention
as any one on the stage.
She was always accompanied by a
little, dried-up, old man, who re-
sembled Il mummy, SO closely did his
skin stick to his sharp bones,
How old he was no one could tell,
but he might have been either IS or 80.
They were father and daughter,
and came from Calcutta. The
many diamonds of great brilliancy
which he wore made great contrast
to the simplicity of his daughters COS
tune. She was attired in plain white
muslin, her only ornaments some
roses.
The nabob was enormously rich. anC
dying with Asiatic spleen. He was
gradually sinking away with languor
and his doctors in India had ordered
him to Europe in the hopes of saving
his life. But his chance was a poor
one; for Europe is stale, and her civil
lZation monOtonOuS to a man sateC
with the splendors and ecentricites o.
ladia. In truth, nothing astonisheC
him, nothing moved him at Paris; al
astonishment would have refreshed
him, IN emotion might have saved
him.
He would have paid for an astnnish
ment hundred thousand cronins; fol
an emotion the half of his fortune
After Paris the nabob and his daughter
were going to London. At first the
young and beautiful East Indian had
manifested desire not to remain lone
in Paris, but to depart Immediately
for London.
But soon this eagerness to depart
waxed faint, and finally disappeared
altogether. England and the wonders
of London were forgotten, and the so.
journ at Paris indefinitely prolonged,
This is a charming city" said she,
sand | am told that London is fan
from possessing as many and SO great
attractions"
What she did not mention among
the attractions of Paris was a certain
young gentleman who had found the
road to her heart, for the Young Girl
was not rs inscnsiblc as the father; 3
kind look. tender speech had sutficed
to awaken emotion in her bosom.
Nevertheless the nabob, more and
more disguised, resolved to try change
of country, and issued has orders &C
prepare for their departure for Lon
don.
The day before the departure ;
young man presented himself to tho
opulent East Indian and said, without
further preamble: Il come to ask the
hand of your daughter.
The nabob scarcely raised his eve
brows, but fixing on the siiitor Il dull
and Illuminated look, asked: "What
Is your fortune?"
Il have none
''Well, that is not of much import
ance," the nabob said; my daughter
has millions. What is your position
Il am nothing yet Int hope to IFS
tnguish myself hereafter.
"Wh~t is your name, Your title?'
continued the impressive nabob.
4 have no aristocratic title" giving
his name-a common and vulgar one
49," said the Indian, You have
neither fortune, rank, nor title, anG
demand the hand of my daughterp"
.'Yes, sir"
The nabob had no idea of such I'M
paralleled impudence, and for the frs
time in an immemorial period he fell
astonished-but not excited. After
enjoying his astonishment for few
moments, he said to the young man.
with all his habtual indifference