Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1891-10-29
HER LECTURE.

The Inconsistencies Of Love-" repeated
Jessie Jermyn. "What a funny name!
And how strange it seems to have our
Clicks name printed up in big, fat, black
letters at the Lyceum door, with Admit
lance fifty cepts, under it. Well, she
always said she was determined to make
herself career, and it seems she has sue
ceeded. | wonder how much she gets a
night! / only have twenty dollars a
month for drudging away, six hours a
day, at that miserable district school in
Turtle Valley. And then think of the de,
light of having ones name in the news
paper, and being referred to as our dis
tinguished towswoman!
Jessie stood as if transfxed before the
big double doors of the Turtle Valley Ly-
ceum, her eyes wide open DIS two blue
moons, her rosy lips apart, Harry Jermyn,
towering at least ten inches above her
head, also took note of the legends in
scribed on the bulletin board In
alternate rod -ena- black limos, with
full complement of exclamation points.
II wonder how she does it?" said he.
81 suppose it's very simple" observed
Jessie.
'Not so simple as you suppose" said
the young farmer. 81 know that time |
rose to address the Agricultural Club |
felt exactly like wooden dummy. All
my points had gone out of my head and
| couldn't think of mortal word to say.
And Click is such a gentle, sweet-voiced
little thing
Clari8sa Courthope--Jess Jermyn's
Cousin Cilck-had left her uncle's kind
ly roof at the age of eighteen, determined
to make name and livelihood for herself
She had stumbled by accident as it were
into the lecturing arena. She had enlist
ed as Companion" to strong-minded
woman, who addressed her sister woman
from the rostrum, and ON one occasion,
in solitary little mountain village, when
Miss Cackieton had unexpectedly euccum-
ed to an attack of hoarseness and influ-
-e,e.a, CIa~ieaa had ralIiuntiy studied up
her notes and addressed the assembled
audience in her stead.
She was so successful that thence-for-
ward she had decided ON the sword where
with she ould open the worlds oyster
and she had achieved the fruition of her
hopes.
Uncle and Aunt Jermyn marvelled at
her success. Harry shrugged his Shout
ders and observed that he had never sup
posed SO strong minded a bird could have
been injured in the old farm nest. Jessie
sighed deeply as she constructed her own
slender earnings with the prices COM
manded by the young lecturer: and this
was Clicks first return to the home of her
girlhood. She had been an ugely duck
ling in those days-a peg which seemed
round ones-only ''our Click" She was
oil II
crowding to see and hear her.
Il could write lecture, I'm sure, ~
said Jessie, half admiringly, half resent
fully.
$50 could l." said Harry.
Let's try, proposed Jessie.
Nonsense, said her brother.
But the idea fingered in his brain for
all that. Click laughed merrily at the
fancy.
.Anybody could write it." said she.
I'm not so altogether sartin O. that"
said the old farmer, patting lis niece's
smooth, seal-brown head, covered with
masses of shining braids.
Click was not pretty, but she had soft,
pleasant eyes of the deeper wine brown.
a good healthy color, and teeth whittier
than Aew milk. Her dress of plain black
silk, fitted her like glove, and the mar
row frill of lace she wore at throat and
wrists was of the finest valenciennes, and
fastened with dead-gold bar.
'She looks lady all over" said Mrs.
Jermyn, proudly.
''she is lady," pronounced the former.
''One O natures turning out"
Listen, Click" said merry Jessie,
'sl've written lecture. Do you want to
hear it?''
I'm all curiosity. declared Click.
And Jessie read it-a heterogeneous
tumble of fact and fancy, fun and senti-
ment.
How would that do for an audience ?"
cried the little school teacher, auda-
ciously.
Il am sure they would be amused
said smiling Click.
And Harry has written one, too per
sisted Jessie. Where is it, Harry? A
regular burlesque-all about love and its
inconsistencies. You see there is nothing
to prevent two preaching On that topic!
Oh! it's capital!'
''Nonsense!' said Harry, reddening.
Don't chatter, Jessie!'
But it really is so funny! Conceive
let Click hear mine; it's only fair that
you should follow suit. Give it to me,
Hal: let me read 1t to C6ck!' coaxed
Jessie.
But Harry rose and went out of the room
he thought the joke, if joke it was, had
been carried far enough.
The next day was the day of the Lyeeum
lecture. All the Jermyn family were to
drive into the village to witness the ora
torical triumph of their little girl. Mrs.
Jermyn had arranged for cold supper,
served an hour earlier than usual, so that
she and Grandma Jermyn might have
time to dress. The house was locked up
and left, for even jeremiah. the farm hand,
and Arabella. the bend girl. were to be
privileged to go. Jessie came flying to
her brother room.
u"Harry," she cried, sob, Harry, Click
has gone in the wagon with father and
mother! thought you were going to drive
her with the covered buggy and White
Lightnipg?"
.'No," he said CURLY. "Why should l
obtrude myself-upon her2 am going to
1rive you"