Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1889-01-10
HIS RIVAL.

''She certainly is a charming little
grip thought Mr.. Eugene Lorillard,
as he turned away from the open win
dow of the hotel at which he had been
standing, and from which he had been
gazing at dainty little figure in plain
white lawn that went fitting down the
board walk toward the beach and the
sparkling waves in the distance. 81
really wish some of our girls in society
were half as pretty. as supplemented,
or as womanly. GirlsP We have no
girlsl In society women are only
ladies, and how tired one gets of them!
But pshaw! a man can't marry out of
mis- 'set,' and | must proceed to forget
Miss Amy Fellowes as speedily as
possible, especially as she tells me that
she goes away from here next week,
anyway"
And in order to facilitate this effort
of memory Mr.. Lor;llard picked up his
hat, crushed it hurriedly on his hand
some blonde head and fastened out
that ne might overtake the disappear
ing figure of the pretty girl in white
lawn.
She was picking up pebbles from the
beach and letting the silyery sand slide
through her slender brown fingers
when he came alongside of her.
''Is is true that you are really going
TO run away from us. Miss Amy, so
soonP" He asked as he flung himself
down on the sand beside her.
Amy Fellowes started slightly, and
her pretty peach-bloom cheek flushed
deep pink as she looked up at him
lot
and dark under the shade of her wide
brimmed bat.
Eyes," she said, in her simple, direct
manner, my holiday is over. 1t has
been very pleasant-the most so of any
have ever known. | never was at the
sea side before, and | am here now
only by the kindness of Miss Gibson.
She was patient of papa's. you know,
and as she had to stay at our house a
few days after her accident she in
sisted on giving me a holiday when
she was well enough to come here, be-
cause she faucied / was tired and
needed it, / don't know that l did,
for / was not more tired than usual,
and am always busy; but | have GER
tainly enjoyed my holiday But l
must 90 home tomorrow, because
mother needs me. Poor, dear mother!
She's more in need of a holiday than /
was; and not likely to get it either"
she added, with sigh.
Then, quickly bethinking herself
that her family affairs might not be in
teresting to Mr. Lorillard, she turned
the conversation on other subjects; and
though he would really have preferred
TO keep her to the affairs of her own
personal history, Eugene found it i'm
possible to make her talk any further
about herself.
he already knew from MuIiel Glib
son, who belonged to his own '.set,"
and was, indeed, a far-off cousin, how
she had been thrown from her horse in
front Of Dir. Fellowes' house; how she
had suffered severely from her fall,
and how little Amy" as Miss Gibson
called her, had tended her with the
devotion of sister-''only no sister
was ever so sweet and unselfiSh before, y
and the patience of an angel; and how
she declared pain, the worry, the ennui,
and misery of those three days would
certainly have brought on a brain fever
but for the tact and cleverneSss of the
doctors little girl. 1t was but small
return that she was able TO make in
carrying off little Amy" for a brief
rest beside the summer sea.
All this was on Mr.. Lorillard'S mind
on the next day when he held Amy's
brown little hand in saying "Good-by'
to her, and perhaps more as he met
her wistful, farewell glance.
''How | wish | might write to you
occasionally Idon't like to think that
our acquaintance stops here,n he said,
suddenly lowering his voice, and feel
ing almost as if some one else spoke
the words. they came SO Unexpectedly,
and he was the moment before so I'M
conscious of any intention to speak
them.
20. / should love to"' exclaimed
Amy, as her peach bloom deepened tc
rose-pink. Il never wrote TO a
gentleman, and think it would be
fun"
And then there was piercing shrek
from the steam-whistle, a call of .'Al
on board" and Eugene had just time
to press her hand again, to wave his
hand in good-by, and hurriedly scram
bic over the gang-plank while it wa:
already being drawn away from the
moving boat.
Il wonder if ought to write first,
thought Amy when she had been home
about week "But no, that couldn'
be right, for Mr.. Lorillard said he wa
going to the mountains in a few days
and | wouldn't know where to direc
my letter. If he really wants TO writ
TO me be knows my address Perhaps
it was only just his politeness, after all
City folks are so queer! They seen
to think they must say lots of polit
things they don't mean one bit.
don't think it is really polite at ALL"
And, with sudden, unaccountabl
feeling of depression, Amy began dust
ing and tidying the little parlor.
1t was the finest little room, Blu
natural taste and love of the beautiful
had enabled the girl to give it touc
of real elegance.
"There's letter for You, Amy,
said DR.. Fellowes that evening as Ii
sat down to tea. Il believe I've bee
carrying it around in my pocket TO
several DAYS. It's such new thin