Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1890-06-12
MISS PROPERTY.

She was a decidedly pretty girl. Jack
Meredith had noticed her for several days,
and each time he saw her he viewed the
slim girlish figure with increased favor.
As he lay on the sands, idly smoking a
cigarette, and with his hat tilted we'll
over the bold blue eyes, which the grace
less young man was wont to use nth good
effect upon the girls who passed and re-
passed him, his thoughts were fixed on
the fair unknown.
He INDUCED In prodigious yawn, for
Slocum-cum-Podger although undou bted-
Iy healthy, was not a place remarkable
for it's whirl of maddening dissipation,
and the truth must be confessed that
Jack was in the incipient stage of bore
dom.
Presently his eye frightened as he
caught sight of the girl strolling along
the sands. He put himself in position,
and as she passed she looked at him with
the largest, sauciest pair of dark eyes that
ever attempted man to make fool of
himself.
Her rosy mouth was tremulous with
barely concealed laughter, and, altogether,
her glance was so full of cOquetry that
Jack made up his mind that he must find
some excuse for speaking 10 his fair I'M
known.
IF this had been fiction something I'M
pleasant would have happened to our
heroine Her hat would have blown off,
she would have been suddenly attacked by
a ferocious dog, surrounded Ly the incom-
ing, tide or have been In some other prediC
ament from which she would have been
rescued in a thrilling manner by the brave
and gallant hero.
Alas! these are facts, so | must record
the sad truth, and that was that nothing
happened to her. and Jack, fired by the
glance just alluded to, sprang to his feet,
shook the sand from his ''blazer" and
fastened after the fair unknown. If she
heard his footsteps she took no notice,
for she kept ON walking in the same
leisurey manner till he got right up to
her.
81 beg your PARDON said Jack, raising
his hat with Il smiling grace, but | think
that have had the pleasure of seeing you
before?"
Yes" was the response, given in a
sweet but rather drawing voice.
This was not encouraging, but Jack
was an old hand, so he plunged into dis
QUESTION on the natural beauties of Slocum,
but bis flow of eloouence was disturbed by
his compGnion remarking in a polite but
frigid manner.
Il don't think that have had the pleas
ure of being introduced to you
No" said Jack freely.
And, ~ she continued, II am not in the
habit OF speaking to strange gentlemen
without an introduction
my dear girl began Jack.
Sir" quoth the unknown in such tone
that Jack began to mentally anathematize
himself
Perhaps had better wish you good
morning." said he.
Perhaps you had" she answered
frigidly So there was nothing left for
Jack to do but to raise his hat again and
retire.
1t was decidedly provoking, and the worst
of it was that she was even prettier than
he had thought her. She had little pale
languid air with her, that the young man
felt very attractive and he thought with a
sigh how good and pleasant thing flirta
ton would have been with his dark eyed
maiden. After the first feeling of chagrin
wore off, Jack felt rather amused
He stood in a good position and this
fact combined with the reputation of be-
ing rather wild, made him a much-sought-
after parsonage; so it was a new expert
Gnce to be so Enthusiastically snubbed, for,
as a rule, he found that unprotected young
ladies by the seaside wer, apt to be by no
means conventional on the score of intro
duction.
This little repulse fired Jack tremendous
ly. He was seized with great desire to
know Miss Propriety,' as he mentally
dubbed her, but how was it to be manag-
ed He saw her continually but she was
always by herself and he fancied that she
looked at him rather wistfully as if she re-
GREETED giving him such rebuff How
ever, he wisely determined not to speak
again.
Two or three evenings after this fortune
favored him. The band was playing on
the pier and all the inhabitants of Slocum
had turned out en- masse. Jack had mon
opolized one of the few chairs and was
amusing himself with staring at all the
pretty girls when Miss Propriety" passed.
she was trying to find seat and he could
not help noticing how fragile and wan
she looked.
Size glanced at his chair so longingly
that he jumped up and asked her whether
she she would have it. She accepted CRATE
fully, and smiled so sweetly that Jack was
quite charmed. He made some trivial re-
mark, she answered, and socn were con-
Fersing gaily.
need not trouble to repeat what they
talked about, for at the seaside. on a fine
hot evening, when you have pretty girl
with mystery about her, for your COM
panion, the conversation, although inter
esting to those concerned, is apt to be de-
cidedly commonplace to the public.
When the band had finished Jack escort
ed Miss Propriety' to her apartments,
and then she bowed gravely, thanked him
for his courtesy, babe him good evening
and went in.
Jack was rather mashed" on the girl, so
the next morning he provided about till
he saw her coming. and then he FASTENED
to meet her. She flushed up, looked quite
pleased to meet him, and held out he1
little hand In friendly welcome. He grasp.
ed it warmly. and as he sauntered by hel
side she prattled to him in a fresh and art
less manner.
This was the commencement of theil
friendship. and every day saw Jack more
in love with Miss Propriety and more puz
lied as to who and what she was. Sh,
was very, very pretty, and there was
dainty neatness about her, a trim
precision that was as quiet as it wa
strange. He had never met any one lik
her before. she was totally different t
the girls he usually came in contact will
In society.
He quickly found out that she was NJ
hnguist, and she herself confessed that sh
neither played nor sang, so she could no