Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1891-09-10

oh O1LC otcbALS ciS L w GO OC1bS ohOH Il up
to her husbands room. Poor mani
he is not well enough to leave it.
"And you gave her my little birth
day gift and message?"
Kind regards wasn't it to be? Yes.
l said something of the sort l know
replied Mr.. Rowlands.
And was she civil-quite civil to
you?'
More than ciTil. my love. for when
I was going away she came into the
hall to bid me tell you she would never
forget your delicate attention, and that
you should hear from her in the course
OF the day. Mrs. Blenkinsop is not a
pleasant looking woman, Nettie.
Though she smiled as she spoke, there
was something in her eyes and man.
ner that-that-b perhaps this was
my fancy"
Indeed it was not, D." and now Net
ties exc. tement could be suppressed
no longrr. while she was speaking
you fair she must have been doing her
best to embitter her brother against
me; or else you, father must have said
or done something that has affronted
both of them"
Mr.. Rnwlands sat up in his chair.
+ astonisbed at the charge.
My dear child, did not see Mr..
Osterly at all, and have repeated to
you, word for word, all thatpassed be
tween Mrs. Blenkinsop and myself"
'.But Marmaduke has broken off
our engagement Here is the letter
he has written. After the gratritous
insult | have offered to that excellent
woman, his sister, he feels that our
union would be impossible. If [ am
incapable Of estimating her worth he
is Justified in doubling my ability to
fill, with satisfaction to himself or the
other members of his family. the pos
ition he has offered me; and, there
fore, though with much regret, he was
compelled to say that he can never be
more to me than my sincere friend and
well wisher."
And you think that is my fault?"
cried Mr.. Rowlands NO no, my
dear, it cannot be. Give me my boots.
I'll go and have an explanation with
Mr.. O5terly at once"
But Nettie gently forced her father
back into the chair from which he
had risen.
You shall do no such thing. am
not bit sorry that this has happened;
it is only the dread of being called q
jilt that has kept me from breaking
with lover | was learning to thor
oughly despise. He says truly that 1
am not fitted for the position to which
aspired. Ny ambition would have
been gratifed, but that was all. Still.
should dearly like to know what has
given rise to the accusation brought
against me of insulting his pompous
sister. / have wasted hours of careful
work on that little card-case."
Mr. Rowlands echoed the words
with look of perplexity.
Case! It was book you put in
my pocket, wasn't it?''
Nettie threw up her hands.
"Yes-yes. a yellow-backed novel.
to be exchanged at the bookstall at the
station. Don't say you gave that to
Mrs. Blenkjnsop."
Il am sadly afraid I did, my dear.
/ must have been very absent-minded
this morning to make such ridiculous
mistake; but it's not too late to rectify
it. I'll go to Mrs Blenkinsop this
very minute"
sit down, you dear old blunderer:
there's no rectifying such a mistake as
this, for nothing either of us could say
would convince woman like Marina
duke Osterlys sister that it was not
made on purpose"
but why? but why?" demanded
Mr.. Rowlands; and Nettie replied by
asking another question.
Don't you know the name of the
| book you handed to her? Then, lei
me tell you. 1t was Marrying for
Money, and she regards it, and always
will regard it, as an insolent allusion
to her own marriage. Kiss me, daddy,
darling. and congratulate yourself that,
without intending it, you have saved
your foolish daughter from following
her example,"
So Nettie Rowlands did not fret at
the loss OF her rich lover
If, for a while, the attention Of a
moneyed man, and the worldly advant-
age such a match offered, had blinded
her to the folly, nay, wickedncss, OF
marrying without love, her eyes were
opened now, ard she has endured, with
much patience and sweetness. the i'll
natured comments of so-called friends
and acquaintance on the sudden rup-
ture Of her engagement.
Perhaps she will have her reward.
Mr.. Rowlands has confided to Charlie
Willett the true version of the affair,
and though Ncttic declares that, after
the way she treaued him, he cannot
help despising her. he seems quite will
ing to condone the past and renew his
addresses. Saturday Evening Post.