Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1889-09-12

whenever found an opportunity. which
was pretty often Whether this course OF
conduct took his fancy, or whether he
/ hoped TO be able TO repay me in my OWL
coin, cannot say; but certain it is that in
the seventh month of his bereavement he
laid his hand, his heart, a rather precari
Gus income in the stockbroking line, and
Susie's two babies at my feet
''And you refused them alI?''
eyes; l refused them at the time-at
least mother did so for me-but so deli
cately and gently. with such infinite tact
and tenderness, that it could scarcely be
called by that harsh word You see. y
continued Kitty, cycling her attentive aud
itor askance, Pat, my boy, / was toe
young, too inexperienced to assume the
responsibilities OF matronhood [ desired
TO see a little more of the world, to know
my own heart and mind, etc. Well two
years have gone by in that interesting
study, and now Mr.. Thompson is about, ]
believe, to give me another trial"
And you mean to reward his fdelity?"
queried Pat.
Il don't know. IL suppose so,' re-
piled Kitty, languidly. ''You see, Pat, he
appeals to me from childIess solitude
Poor man, he is now quite alone in the
worldi Susan's two little ones died few
months ago of scarlatina; and-and all her
money, which had been settled on them,
now reverts to the disconsolate father. So
mother and the girls-in fact, every one
agrees that I am quite ripe for domestic
bliss, that am bound to reward Grisby
Thompson's fidelity, and cheer his lonely
freside with the sunshine of my youth.
What think you, Pat?''
Il think, my DEAR" said Pat, with rather
grave emphasis, that Susan's shoes would
never fit you; and, if / were you, [ would
strong the pressure"
'They are Pinet's. might do worse?"
''And you might do better"
'How?"
''Take ship and sail across the seas with
me-" he replied promptly.
"Pat-Pat, take care! By a more So
phisticated damsel than your guileless
cousin that airy invitation might be in
terpreted as nothing less than an offer of
marriage"
''Please interpret it as such, for hereby
beg to state that | enter the lists against
the widower and his twenty thousand
pounds"
"a formidable rivalp' laughed Kitty,
looking with cool saucy eyes at her cousin,
who was smiling placidly down on her,
exhibiting none of the bashful tremors or
agitated emotion which are supposed to
be called forth on such an occasion.
Are you serious, Pat? Because, if so,
do not at all admire your demeanor;
there is a Sdngfrojd, a want of anxiety, a
lack of emotion about you that is not fiat
tering to me and that savors of expert
ence.''
For all that, [ mean to marry you if /
can," replied Pat, leaning his elbows upon
the rustic table, and favoring Kitty with
flash of his bold blue eyes which spoke
more of determination than tenderness.
Kitty shivered slightly, her eyes dropped
and the mocking smile faded from her
lips.
Pat, I am honored indeedr' she said,
after few moments silence "And so
you think that | am of the stuff likely to
make bushman's bride-you think that
l would be useful as well as perhaps or
addition to the furniture of your
bungalow, shanty, wigwam-what do you
call it?''
"Come out with me, and you'll soon
learn"
"And, if did, bold bushman and af-
forwards found that the climate, the soci-
ETY., the primitive institutions of the coun-
try, did not suit me, and [ were to long for
a villa by the placid bosom of the Thames
what them"
''You wouldn't have time to think about
it.''
Not time? Should have such a busy
life of it as your squaw? Should | have to
cook the dinner, clean the house, feed the
pigs, milk the COWS, bake the bread, darn
socks-and polish your boots perhaps?"
''Bravo, Kitty" laughed Pat. ''You
have a capital idea of bushwoman's do
nestle duties, with the exception of the
last item, which would be a superfuous
attention except perhaps once or twice
year Christmas Day and Easter Sunday,
for instance. Your programme is a cor
rect one"
''You are at least candid, SIR" replied
Kitty, with a strained smile 'FYou GER
tainly make no effort to gid the pill. Now
let us glance at the other side of the pic
ture.''
1.-THE Thames side?"
EXACTLY A pretty house newly draped
and furnished, two or three neat attentive
servants, a smart little brougham unlim-
tied afternoon-teas, a succession of little
dinners, dances, and other festivities in
comfortable stockbroking way-a life of
pleasant commonplace ease, a happy moth
er, delighted sisters, congratulating
friends, husband hope to turn round
my finger, six-button gloves, and a couple
of dresses from Paris every year! Pat,
my boy, I fear my little cup would be full
to the brim. I fear I must trample upon
your affections, which | do not think are
very deeply rooted-are they, Pat? Those
fingers, alas, were never made to polish,
bake, darn or cookr' concluded Kitty,
critically examining her hands, of which,
being small and shapely. she was rather
vain.
Pat leaned across the table, coolly took
the hand under examination, and laid it
fiat across his own broad hard palm.
you're right enough, Kitty-it's a use
less-looking little fist indeed; but where
there's will there's a way, you know,
my dear. And, if ever that little fist be-
longed to me, do you know what my first
act of ownership would be? You don't?
Well, it would be to strip those tapering
fingers of every ring that now encircles
them Yes he continued, firmly grasp
ing the struggling hand and looking mis-
chievously into the flushed face-''yes,
they would all have to come of-pearls
amethysts, rubies, sapphires-the whole
precious collection-to make room for the
plain gold band"
LET my hand go!-let my hand go, sir.
hava bad unite enough of yoT1r in1Derti-
hence for the" She began painting with
anger; but he. needless of her appeal, in
terrupted her in grave, almost pleading