Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1891-08-13
THREE YOUNG OLD MAIDS Oh
NANTUCKET.
By barley Dare.

mo, | shall never marry, said Enid.
Nor ], - said Grace.
Nor |, :" said Sophy.
81 am welded to art, " continued the
first speaker.
"And | to literature, said the second.
"And to science" said the third.
They were all young, they were all rich,
they were all pretty, so that the chances
were against the above resolution being
fulfilled, even Ill this 18th century, when
brides are scarcer than they used to be, and
the votaries of science and art and litera
ture more numerous.
Sophy and Grace were sisters, Enid was
their friend Grace was the eldest, Enid
the Youngest of the three. The sisters were
both tail, fine girls, with dark eyes and
hair, and white compilations, smooth and
spotless as marble Grace was beautiful,
Sophy handsome; Grace was the paler, ner
features more delicately cut, her eyes
softer. Sophy was the more vivacious,
her eyes brighter, her smile more animat-
ed, her laugh merrier
Enid was not the least like her friends;
she was small and very fair, with blue
eyes and quantity of pale golden hair.
most Of which was coiled into a crown on
the top of her head, and the remainder
curled about her forehead. She was
dressed in the aesthetic style, and was one
of the very few who can do so with i'm
punity.
Max Leslie, brother to Sophy and Grace,
was hopelessly in love with her, but he
was a lawy er, while Enid was the bride of
art, and what have law and art In common
with each other?
MEN are so prosiac," said Enid
And so stupid, " said Sophy.
And so wicked, " said Grace.
well have none of them" cried the
trio.
Girls, l have q plan, listen" said
Enid
1--WE three will go away to a lovely isle
i don't mean desert island but to
Nantucket, or the Shoals. "
1t was to Nantucket that they deter
mined to go, agreeing to tai e house
for three months, and sOlemnly vowing
that not man should cross its thresh
hold from the day they entered till the day
they left.
Only fortnight later and they were
settled in a big Old house overlooking the
sea.
There had been obstacles to overcome in
the form of protesting fathers and scan
dalized mothers. but the proposed exclu
sion of the stronger sex pacifed the
fathers, and the fact that Ends old nurse,
a veritable duenna, was to make one
of the party, allayed all material fears,
and In the end the young people got
5heir own way, as young people mostly do
nowadays.
The first month passed away without
anything more exciting than a thunder
storm occurring. The three aspirants to
celibacy led very simple life. They
preakfasted at 9, dined at /, and tea
when they felt inclined, and supped at six.
In the mornings the bride of art sketched
from nature, or painted in her studio; the
bride of science shut herself up in the IL
brary with the skeleton and studied medi-
cine; while bride of literature lay in a
hammock and evolved the plot of three
volume novel which was to take the world
by storm.
On Sunday they drove to church where
they attracted SO much attention that
after the second Sunday people began to
call upon them; they were prepared for
nurse, met all visitors with very solemn
face and the same information, namely:
That the ladies were at home, but they
4
their stay on the island.
This reply did its intended work, in a
little place like Nantucket it soon reached
the ears of everybody, who was anybody,
and, as few people cared to be snubbed IN
this style. the besiegers retired, and the
besieged were left in peace.
No doubt they were delighted to have
gained this victory, though their shouts of
triumph seemed to grow weaker weekly.
I'VE won t receive men, so we can't re-
ceive women" was their first watch
word; at the end Of fortnight bhis we
changed to
I'VE can t receive men, so we won't re-
ceive women;" at the end of the month it
1--WE would receive both. but they won t
give us the chance" but this was not
spoken, it was not even whispered, yet
deep down IN the heart of each maiden it
was the secret cry.
Outwardy. the bride of art was as true
to her spouse as when they left Boston, the
bride of science was apparently as devoted
to study, while the bride of literature was
more absorbed than ever IN the ina glnary
world in which she lived.
This seems rather a long three months,
said Grace one day. :.
They seem like three years to NE, >
said Sophy, yawning. =,
1t seems three centuries to me, said
Enid, signing,
LET US go and climb to the top of the
rock we noticed the other day, and have
tea on it this afternoon, and Grace aloud
~ am sick to death of pen and ink, she
added inwardly.
Anything for variety" said Enid
aloud, 4 hate the sight of my paints and
brushes, was her thought
ut will be new sensation; anything
for that, y said Sophy; she thought, IF
don't escape from that skeleton l shall be-
come one."
So to the top of the rock they went
there they drank tea, and from thence they
intended to return home as they came
namely, on their 10 toes; but In descend
ing from their lofty position Grace fell ant
hurt her foot so badly she could not stand
II have broken my leg, | think" sale
Grace
81 wonder if there is lady doctor Oh
the island?"
IF there is | won't have her; am no
going to run the risk of being lame TO
life; | don't believe In lady doctor" salt
Grace, decidedly.
Nor do l, dear; you are quite right, an.
| only hope sophy will agree with you,