Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1888-08-30
THE MERCHANT.

ST am sure, SIR" said Mrs. Outwood,
with sort OF elastic clasping of the
hands, "se never can be grateful enough
for the honor you think of doing our
Geraldine
Mr.. Southmayed sat up q little straight
or, drew long breath, and looked down
at his neatly trimmed finger nails, with
an air of conscious superiority.
''Shs's young" said Mr.. Southmayed.
eighteen next week." apologeticallY
remarked Mrs. Outwood; but dear me,
air, she's growing older every day."
"Your remarks, madam, are character
lied By TRUTH" said Mr.. Southmsyed.
"She is also uninformed and expert
enced, but time works wonders. [ am
willing TO take the esponsibility. As
for this girlish fancy of hers for young
Appiegate-"
"She Will get over H." hurriedly inter
posed Mrs. OutwoOd. "Henry Apologize
never can have the audacity to stand in
your way, Mr.. Southmaysd."
And when that fat elderly shipping
merchant had taken his departure, Mrs.
Outwood made haste to call Geraldine
down stairs and communicated to her the
unexpected ray of good fortune which
had beamed upon them.
Outwood, her red lips apart. her soft vel
vet brown eyes beaming unqualified sur
prise. "What, Old Southmayed"
"Mr. Southmayed!' corrected her moth
er. eyes, Garaldine; he really and truly
has oondescended to admire YOU"
"But / don't admire him!'" saucily re-
marked the young beauty. "Baid- headed,
long bearded! l would as soon marry
the smoky old picture Moses Blessing
the Children of Tsreal' that hangs in the
back parlor."
~Gersldine," quothed Mrs. Outwood, i'm
pressively, "do you want TO do fine sewing
and take in boarders for a living, as l
have done all my lifetimef"
81 needn't do that, mamma" chirped
Geraldine hopefully. "Harry Apple
gate"
''There," curtly interrupted her mother,
81 don't want to hear anything about Mr..
Apologize. Hereafter ne will be nothing
10 you, nor you to him."
"Mamma, how can that be when we are
engagedF"
"Engagedr' oroaked Mrs. Outwood, in
voice like the cry of an astounded raven.
Geraldine, if 1 hear any more of this
boy and girl foI-de-rol, shall be serious
ly offended with YOU"
"But, mamma"
"My dear, he has given me five hun
dred dollar bill to get any little neces-
saries as he generously expresses himself,
and we must go out at once"
Geraldine's eyes flashed, and her slendid
figure straig htened itself.
''We are not beggars, mamma"
''But for all that, a little ready money
may not be unacceptable; and only think
how much of it will be at your disposal
soon, if"
"IfP" echoed Geraldine. Mamma, 1
never, never will consent to-"
Hold your tongue, missN sternly com
manded Mrs. Outwood, with bending of
the brows which had quelled Geraldine
many time during her childhood and
had nos entirely lost its efficacy yet. "You
will consent, or I will know the reason
why. am not one to allow you in your
mad folly to let this golden opportunity
slip through your fingers. If young
Applegate makes any difficulty send him
to me. | can find ways aud means to
settle his scruples. Mrs. Southmayed
you shall be before you are three months
older, SO put on yoar things at once and
let Us go OUT
Geaaldjne obeyed in silence; but she
who not entirely subdued, as Mrs. Out
wood might have known by the glitter
beneath her eyelashes, and the burning
red spots on her cheeks.
Mrs. Outwood WAS woman of indom-
liable resolution, and Geraldine was q
true chip of the old block.
az won't marry him." Geraldine said,
10 herself, mot if | smother him with
pillow, like Othello and Desdemona
Horrid old wretch, what business has he
TO come proving and purring about af-
ter young wife. II he wants 70 marry
anyone IT ought to be mamma. / won't
give Harry up for all the old bald-heads
in New York, SO there
It was the old story, written anew each
day upon the tablets of life. Mammon
versus Overwhelming old age against