Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1889-09-19
"It's all nv fault" said Mary

"It's all my fault" said Mary.
NO: it's all NINE" said Walter.
And so they blamed themselves, and
grieyed over each other, and vowed that
come what might they would never Part
again. But, 10 and behold Walter went
ON from that to say:
And that we may never part again
let us marry at once. and put our hap
piness out of the reach of accidents"
what" said Mary. defy your faith
er upon his dying bedl"
"Oh no." said Walter, "that l could
not do. mean marry secretly, and an
nounce it after his decease, if | am to
lose him."
"And why not wait till after his de-
cease?" said Mary.
Because, then, the laws of society
would compel US to wait six months,
and in that six months some internal
obstacle or other would be sure to oc-
cur, and another would be sure to fol-
low. | am great deal older than YOU.
and I see that whoever prOcrastinateS
happiness, risks it; and whoever shilly-
shallies with it deserves to lose it, and
generally does"
Where young ladies are concerned,
logic does not carry all before it, and so
Mary opposed all manner Of feminine
sentiments, and ended by saying she
could not do such thing.
Then Walter began to be mortified
and angry; then she cUnningly shifted
the responsibility, and said she would
consult Mrs. Easton.
"Then consult her in my presence"
said Walter.
Mary had not bargained for that; she
had intended to secure Mrs. Easton ON
nd fob ha1-
However, as Walters proposal was fair,
she called Mrs. Easton. and they put
the case to her, and asked her to give
her candid opinion.
Mrs. EaSton, however, took alarm at
the gravity of the proposal, and told
them both she knew things that were
unknown to both of them, and it was
not SO easy for her to advise.
well, but" said Walter, eff you know
more than we do, you are the very per-
son that can advise. All know is that
II we are not married now, / shall have
to wait six months at least, and if /
stay here Mr.. Barley and | shall quar-
rel, and he will refuse me Mary; and i'll
go abroad again / shall get knocked on
the head, or else Mary will pine away
again, and BARLEY will send her to
Madeira, and We shall lose our happi-
ness, as all shilly-shallying fools do"
Mrs. E2StOn made no reply to this,
though she listened attentively to it,
She walked to the window and thought
quietly to herself; then she came back
again and sat down, and after a pause
she said, very gravely, Knowing all I
know, and seeing all | see, advise you
two to marry at once by special license,
and keep it secret from every one who
knows you-bUt myself-tilI a proper
time comes to reveal it; and it's borne
in upon me that that time will come be-
fore long, even if Colonel Clifford should
not die this bout, which everybody says
he will"
"Oh, nurse" said Mary family, 'I lit
tie thought that you'd be against me-"
Against you, Miss Mary" said Mrs.
5East0n, with much feeling. Il admire
Mr.. Walter very much, as any woman
must with eyes in her head, and I love
him for loving of you SO truly, and like
a man, for 1t does not become a man to
shilly-shally, but | never saw him till he
sUdS man, but you are the child Inurs-
ed, and prayed over, and trembled for
III sickness, and rejOiced over in health,
and left good master because IsaW he
did not love you so well as [ did"
These words went to Mary's heart,
and she flew to her nurse, and hung
weeping round her neck. Her tears
made the manly but tender-hearted
Walter give a sort of gulp. Mary heard
1T, and put her white hand out to him.
He threw himself upon his knees, and
kissed it devotedly, and the coy girl was
won.
From this hour Walter gave her no
breathingtime; he easily talked over
old Baker, and got him to excuse his
short absence; he turned his hunters in
to roadsters, and rode them very hard;
ne got the special license; he squared a
was an old friend of his and fond of
fees, and in three days after her consent,
Mary and Mrs. Easton drove four
wheeled carriage Walter had lent them
to the little hotel at the lakes.
Walter had galloped over at eleven
O'Clock, and they all three took a little
walk together. Walter Clifford and
Mary BARLEY returned from that walk
nad1. and aCife.