Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1889-08-01

in wild manner and then cast them
to the floor in a reckless way. JUS
what | feared would happen some time
now took place.
"A breath of wind, caused, perhaps
by sudden movement of Mile. dEs-
terre's trailing robe, fiicked one of the
papers close to her; the dying flame
gave one last flicker, bent forward, and
seized a diaphanous frill or founce oil
something on her skirt, started into
new life, and was fain to clasp my
darling in its fiery embrace.
''But love is more ardent than fire.
In an instant | darted forward and
crushed out the flame with my hands.
Lawrence, who had not seen the
fire, thought [ was improvising some.
thing to spoil his situation, presume.
for he grasped me by the shoulder and
swung me forcibly into the flies. How
the audience Kissed him! Most OF
them had understood the unexpected
scene and many were breathless with
terror. The orchestra leader whis-
pered to Mile. d'Esterre that it was
all right and she went on with her re.
fusal:
Sooner would L dieI Sooner, q thon-
sand times sooner, would starve with
my dear Jack-and here he is, to learn
how [ love him and detest you,' were
her lines.
'And how the audiance applauded
nowi They did not seem to notice the
rather disheveled condition of dear
Jacks wig and collar and necktie,
result of his sudden and unintentional
exit at Lawrence's hands, and they cer-
tainly did not know that the hands
of dear jack so tenderly clasped by
the heroine, were smarting and bis
tered.
"Of course she knew the condition
of my paws, and it was when she in
sisted on dressing and bandaging them
how | loved her.
You say you love me and want to
marry me, she said by and by in tone
of surprise, yet you know nothing of
me, not even my name, for | am not
French
s. Il know that you are a sweet, no.
BILE woman, be your name what itmay,'
[ made reply. But before insist on
an answer to my question must tell
you my story
(Which | did, accidentally emitting
all names.
"'How very strange! My father,
at the instance of my ambitious step
mother, turned against me because
would not agree to marry some one he
had selected for me. Perhaps / was
g, r II -
young man. | said [ would be loved
for myself alone and would give my
hand only where my heart went
"'Had you seen the fellow maybe
you would have liked him, and then I
should never have met you,' | said,
iealously.
8 Il could not have fancied him! In
ali the country there is not an idler,
gayer, more useless man than that
young Henry Maxwell! A devotee of
tennis"
'Whop' | cried, excitedly.
Henry Maxwell. Did you ever
hear of him in New York;
We'll, rather | answered, smil-
ing.
"'Tll warrant you never heard any
2OOu VI HILL
81 have the impression that he once
risked burnt fingers to extinguish the
flames on a young lady's dress-that of
a Miss Anna Gordon, l believe; did you
ever hear of herP
Who are you?' she asked abruptly,
in open-eyed amazement
Henry Osmyn Maxwell, billed as
Max Osmyn, very much at your SER
vice. A foolish fellow, who angered
his grandfather, Col. Maxwell, be-
cause he refused to marry one Anna
Gordon, sometimes now known as
Mile. d'Esterre.'
''How perfectly absurdr was all she
said.
ut may have been perfectly absurd,
but it was all quite true.
Eve closed our engagement with
Gus Bailey that spring, and he, who
had known my wlfe's story, was the
only person taken into our confidence
and the only witness at our quiet we'd
ding.
''Of course, our respective families
received us with open arms; to be
sure, they laughed at US, but at the
same time they showered gifts upon
US and my delighted grandfather pre-
sented me with charming villa up the
Hudson.
Here's our address-come and see
us on your way home and tell us wheth-
er you, too, think our conduct was
perfectly absurd, as our relatives ex
press it, Chicago Times.