Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1890-02-27

had not the heart to be cross, SO I
merely said, Indeed" and coughed,
aud laughed and choked, and swal-
lowed, to keep back burst of grief
OF course the first person | saw on
entering the room was Cousin Harvey,
with Bessie Baker upon his arm; but
affected the most supreme devotion to
POINTER and utterly ignored Harvey's
presence. | was perfectly wild that
night, dancing, flirting and laughing
as though never had care, inasmuch
as | heard a gentleman remark to an
other: L think Miss Lewis is the most
ight-hearted creature | ever saw,
what sunbeam she must be at home.'i
After while Harvey and l met face
to face, and he said Good evening"
with careless smile and turned to his
partner.
So the winter months passed, and
POINTER was usually my cavalier,
though now that Harvey's attentions
ceased. other gentlemen began to make
advances. But none of them pleased
me- and Pointer disguised me so that
l could hardly treat him with necessary
civility. In fact | was often excess
sively rude to him, which had an effect
the reverse of that desired, and his
visits and attentions increased every
day.
Harvey, in the meantime, was as
attentive to Miss Baker, and it was
soon reported that thew were engaged;
and even l was compelled to believe it
when she displayed an engagement
ring.
Harvey had not been to the house
since that last day. over three months
ago; and now mamma and papa did
not mention him. | never told them
the cause of our quarrel, and they soon
| ceased to question me, though | could
not help suspecting that they knew.
At last, one day, Poynter Smith
asked me, in stupid, laundering sort
of way, if | would be his wife; where
upon | informed him, in manner suf-
ticiently positive, that [ most assured
ly would not. His surprise was i'm
mense, and he seemed to think | must
have made mistake; wanted to know
if | really meant it, and said that /
shouldshaye everything | wanted. But
the more he insisted the more emphatic
l became; and he at length took leave,
mind | must let him know.
As soon as he was gone l told man.
ma all about it; and then she drew
from me the story, told with many
tears, of Harvey's declaration, and how
l spurned it, and how miserable had
been ever since; and now he was en-
gagged to somebody else, and | would
never marry anybody. After sobbing
little with my head in her lap | felt a
great deal better, and that it would not
be so hard to be an old maid after all.
My only regret was that, old as | might
consider myself, no one else could pos
sibly consider me so for ten years yet,
and vet during all that time | should
be obliged to 90 into society.
A few days after this mamma and
papa went out one afternoon to make
call and / was sitting alone in the par
lor. Suddenly some one pronounced
my name and looking up / saw Cousin
Harvey, who, when sprangup in dis
may, caught me in his arms.
But shall not tell any more, save
| that when papa and mamma came in
they found us sitting very costly on the
sofa where Harvey held me fast, though
| tried hard to assume more dignitied
| position at a distance when | heard
them coming.
There were a great many explana-
tions to be made, and it finally appear
ed that had been the vic tim of con-
| spiracy.
Papa and mamma had suspected
something all the time, but had known
nothing for certain until my confession.
Papa had Immediately seen Harvey,
and had brought about this meeting.
As for the latter, his attentions to
Miss Baker were intended solely to
bring me to my senses, if | had any, as
she was soon to be married to gen
tleman who was then abroad.
We were married after a short en-
gagement; and, though my short mar
ried life has had some clouds, they
have resulted, generally, from my own
pettishness, and they are becoming
| more rare. But of this am sure, that
l never was so happy before, and am
extremely gratified that l missed the
very narrow escape | had of losing the
man of my heart. ]. EUeniaag
! WOTtd.