Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1891-08-20
A MODERN wOOING.

home. 1t looks like a shower"
The young man thus appealed to made
no reply. Clothed in that fantastic CARL
which the liberal college education of to
day render necessary to the moral stand
ing of gilded youth he was reclining IN d
studiously graceful attitude beside the
speaker.
His eyes were fixed upon a fishing fleet
fast disappearing beyond the horizon. A
meditative look adorned his sun-burned
face
Hal, | spoke to you"
Still the recumbent figure moved not.
Henry Richardson
This proved effectual. The young man
quickly raised himself upon one elbow.
"Oh, beg your pardon, Dorothy" he
said. "What was it that you asked me
Why yes, think that you are quite
right y
at is very evident that you are not
quite right in your mind, " the young girl
retorted, gazing compassionately at him.
what is the matter, Hal?"
Nothing
eyes, there is, too. You can't deceive
me, you know, so there is no use in trying.
What new scrape have you been getting
into?"
None at all. That is, you wouIdn t
''In fact, I've been unusually good of late,
as you might have observed had not your
thoughts been dpon other scenes intent
"Oh, indeed Well, the fact that you
have been good is sufficiently cause for d
revulsion of feeling of some kind. Now
want to know what is troubling you?'
1o1;r,,o 70 ho I,,4o
mental condition?"
"Celtairly. Have | not the family good
at heart? SptuE - once.
Thus brought - ia.e the tribunal of an
avenging little goddess clothed in a scarlet
gown, and in righteous anxiety for her
family S welfare, Hal was silent again.
Selling little stone, he crushed to atoms
a shell that lay beside him.
Then he raised himself suddenly to a
sitting posture and gave his companion
the benefit of his cognitations.
Il say Dorothy, let's get married.
Dorothy Hall came of gallant race, and
she had the repose of princess. For a
second there was silence, while the pretty
color left her cheeks. When she spoke it
was in voice that rivalied Halls own for
GOODNESS.
And why, pray, should we do that?"
You know ! am going over to London
in about two months, > the young man con
tinued unheeding, land | don't see any
reason why we can't be married and go to-
gether.
Dorothy's dignity nearly forsook Ter;
nevertheless she managed to put consider
able surprise even r3proach, into her ejecu-
latiOn:
"Why, cousin Henry
For heavens sake, child" cried Hal.
don't air that cousin illusion any longer.
1t is worn threadbaro."
IF you object to me for a cousin |
shouldn't think you would want me for a
nearer relative" There was mischief in
the girls brown eyes.
Il should think you might see. - replied
Hail. You know, MY dear, that it is the
proper thing for a man to be engaged as
soon as he leaves college, and as long as
we've no need to consider the question OF
bread and butter, don t see why we should
not be married.
You know as well as ! do, Dorothy, y
he went on, warming up to the subject
you know perfectly well that this thing
has been planned ever since we cane into
existence. Imagine the worthy grand.
mothers ire did we cross her in this res
pect. Mother wants it, Aunt Jane wants
it-every man alive of them expects it
And | want it, too, Dorothy" he added,
by way of afterthought apparently, as lie
paused for a reply.
Dorothy's mind moved swiftly, and the
stages through which it travelled during
Hal's little speech were many. Anger was
its last hating place Very evenly, but in
tones Enthusiastically suggestive of icebergs
and glaciers, she SAID:
Il don't suppose it makes any difference
whether want it or not?''
This evidently inspired an entirely new
train of thought in the young man S mind
He raised his head in surprise. Was ii
possible that any one else had been making
love to his little playmate?
"Why, Dorothy?' he asked, soberly, as
his honest blue eyes met hers.
The girl dropped her lids quickly. He
should not read her thoughts He should
not see that she was waiting for him to say
The very thing it had not occurred to him
thus far to say.
Dorothy, look at me-ls there any one
else?"
The amount Of incredulity that Ha
managed to put into that single sentence
touched her girlish pride.
1T does not seem to have suggested
itself to you, Henry, that when a man ask
woman to marry him it is sometimes fo1
another reason than because everybody
expects it. If you desire success l SHOULD
advise you to take that into consideration
in any proposals you may make here
after"
So that was the matter.
"Oh, is that ALI" cried Hal, infinite re
! lief that affairs were no worse showing
itself In every line Of his face. why
bless your little heart, Dorothy. Of cours
| love you, but it isn't the thing nowaday
to say much about that. One shouIdn
gush. 1t isn't according to our philosophy
Ohe should discuss even love calmly am
dispassionately, and accept the result
whatever it may be, calmly, as a part O
his individual destiny"-and Henri
smiled kindly and complacently.
Dorothy looked at him curiousIv. A
hystericai desire to laugh or cry seeme
suddenly to have taken possession of her
but she controlled herself
We'll, she said, finally, IF you are :
calm and collected now as lover, wha
would you be if were so too-if were t
marry you?"
All" replied this nineteenth centur
lover, eagerly, there is where the beaut
of the whole thing comes in. If 20
should marry me, yod would find that In
stead of retrogarding, as it were-becom
ing inditferent-and everybody does i
time, you know, Dorothy-no one ca
keep strung up to concert pitch forever