Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1889-12-26

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"HoW do goa do. my dear?'
father and there he had met his cousin,
Hanna Rafferty,.
Hanna nodded, and extended a
plump hand, which Will came forward
nd shook awkwardly. Then ne re-
treated to the fire and covertly survey
ed her.
A round young figure clothed in a
dress, skirt rather, of bright blue CASH
mere, which was s~urmounted by a
snugly-fitting Jacket of scarlet flannel,
dark hair, parted straight1y and brush
ed back from a full, fresh-colored girl
ish face. a face with thick black brows
and brilliant eyes, and a mouth which,
if a trife too large, held firm white
teeth and was quite mirthful and risi-
BILE. ''S'posin' you take Hanna to the
dance, William" suggested Mrs. Raj
ferty.
Can't" (more CURLY than courte-
ously) 'I'm engaged" and he carried
his fine, erect handsome young self
coolly away. His father followed him
out. The door remained aiar.
William, why can't ye take her,
tooP"
Herr" in calm scorn, "to dance in
Bubble! Why, she amt got gloves
nor no style in her-a freckle-faced
little thing whose words curl up at the
end like a shoat's tail-no. sir!" The
women within heard. Hanna GRIM
soned.
Don't mind, dear. Set down and
drink this tea. And now, Pat. ask
Hanna if the boy obeyed you when he
was in Co~olathogle."
q want to know, Hanna, did William
see Sarah Sheehy's daughter much
when he was home?"
His father told him if he spoke to
one of them he'd leave this farm, which
we homesteaded before the Indians
were out of Nebraska, to some one
else"
Should she tell? HoW he had spoken
of her! Why not?
He wasn't ever away from young
Sarah Sheehy while he was in Coda
'tAh, nowr'
THE young desaver!'
He's engaged to her."
"WhGt.m
He's a-goin' to go home next sum-
mer an marry her,"
'Never!!''
Old Rafferty, leaped to his feet. His
wife sank weakly into a chair.
A queer, hard look came into the
girls face. The did not hesitate.
though. She put her hand in her
pocket and drew out a letter.
Sarah Sheehy gey me this to give
William she said.
"Hand it here!'' roared old Rafferty,.
He was fairly furious, stamping, foam
ing. "A fit descindint she of Tim
Sheehy-thryin' to inveighle my son
into marryin' her. Hand it here!"
He snatched the letter from her. She
sat there white indeed, with painting
breast and glistening eyes, while old
Rafferty, and his wife perused the brief
but loving epistle. When they had
finished they turned to Hanna. Both
were trembling with excitement-act-
nallv speechless- But suddenly old
Rafferty, jumped up Il went spinning
around the kitchen like one possessed.
81 have it!'' he roared. 30, Ellen
Jane, o, I have it! Wen make him
marry Hanna-faith we Wilt"
The blood came back with a rush to
the girls face. She half rose.
20, no, sor; 0, mop
He must" still keeping up his
frantic dance of delight. "Ye must
make him, Hanna. Yen have the
farm n of these days, an yell live
here with the old woman an me, an
well show the Sheehys they can't come
any of their thricks over the Raffertys
NOT by George Washington an the
banshee of the O'Rourkes! Well show
'em Hannai
The day after New Years old Raj
ferty told his son he must marry Han
na. In vain the young fellow protest
ed, entreated, refused. But his oppo-
sition added fuel to the flame. If he
wouldn't he must starve, be disinherit-
ed-and the farm was worth S7,000i
But finally, the father succeeded in
wringing from him a most reluctant
consent. A blizzard blew up. The
roads were blocked, almost impassa-
BILE, but no excuse would avail old Raj
ferty. Go to Hebron they must. And
so they finally did, both silent, both
pale. both evidently in utter protest
against the world, the Rafferty's, and
each other. The sixteen miles between
Bubble and the county seat were
traversed. They were married. They
drove home. At the kitchen door they
were welcomed by bright lights, the
congratulations of invited neighbors,
the steam of roasting turkey, and cd OF
of pumpkin pies. More than all by old
Rafferty,. He was positively wild with
pleasure. He was capering around the
room, laughing, shouting, explaining
now putting his head back to oar the
better; now bending double to slap MS
leg and writhe in ~ecstatic and speech
less contortions.
Now, William. now! Well let the
Sheehys see = now! Thinkin' thew