Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1892-03-24
EXPLAINED IT ALL.

Il
and I'll put on that very pretty scarf
pin somebody gave me and one of the
new silk handkerchiefs, and III have
just a faint suggestion of that violet
perfume about me, and in short | shall
be simply stunning"
Mary laughed gayly.
i Go not doubt you will be very
fine" said she, "and do not dare to
forget and call here, for all of us eX-
pect you, and | want to see how you
pass in crowd"
oh, I'll be here!" said Tom, "for l
want to see Miss Elkins; she helps you
to receive, does she not? and though
there is something of a discrepancy in
our years, still am rather impressed
and the Discrepancy doesn't count"
No" said Mary, ironically; 81
wouldn't let that worry me, since it
cannot be over five or seven years at
most"
Tom whistled softly.
Make it year, Mary; it can not be
more than that, SURELY"
You had better 90 and dress; YOU
will be late" said Mary, GROSSLY. "She
is every bit as old as l."
THAT may be true" replied Tom,
"but no one in the world would dream
that you were more than a year older
than l.
Happy remark! Mary kissed him,
and peace reigned once again.
That afternoon Miss Harkins and
her intimate friends received calls, and
the long parlorS were thronged. In
vain did the sister look for Tom, and a
close observer could have read the
in her face. The doubt and
fear that had arisen to perplex her,
however, she could not bear to even
suggest to her mother. Tom carried
out from somebody's house, overcome
with champagne, and Imply deposited
in a carriage to be taken to a hotel to
recuperate, was the awful picture that
haunted her.
She could even imagine him iabber-
ing in muddled English, and as still
the callers came, and still Tom was
missing, her suspicion and fear be-
came more firmly grounded.
1t seemed as if the hours dragged
intolerably, and as if every young
man who called had grown to be big
ger boy than he had ever been before,
aud still she smiled and talked nom
sense, and still Tom did not come.
1t was , o'clock in the morning and
the Hardness were contemplating the
ACCESSIBILITY Of securing a private de
tertiye to look up the errlng member
Of the family, when the bell rang
iiercely. and in walked Tom, looking
worn and excited. He sank down in
5hc nearest chair and looked about
aim.
"Well, I didn't get up to call New
Years" he said grimly. Il got at one
place and circumstances over which |
had no control and all that, prevented
me from carrying out my original
plans"
All the time he was speaking his
sister and mother were lowering near,
and regarding him somewhat suspi
ciously, it must be confessed. He
noticed it, too, for he looked up all at
once and said, "Sit down, and | will
tell you about my call"
Wouldn't you like some lemon and
hot water?" ventured Mary, who prided
herself on being quite advanced.
Tom looked at her quite curiously,
and shook his head.
There seemed to be nothing to do
but to sit down and listen to his story.
"You see," began he, "when | left
the house | went out to meet Dick and
the other fellows, and we were going
~ +a1r Of II +O
gether. On my way | passed a poor
little girl of about or years, with
the yellowest curls and saddest face |
had ever seen, l stopped and asked
her name and found it was Mary"
looking at his sister, "and so | gave
her silver dollar, and the poor little
thing looked as if she would drop with
JOY. 1t was awful, that expression of
relief in the face of a child. Well, I
hurried on and crossed down to meet
the boys, and we took a carriage, and
all went merrily for time. But the
driver was evidently gay and festive
fellow, who had taken cup too much,
and he had some difficulty to manage
his team.
LAS we debated upon the practical
bility of changing driver and carriage,
he turned sharp corner, there was a
cry, and looking out l saw little heap
in the. road, with mass of yellow
hair, and felt, before I knew it, that it
was Mary
1--WE got out and I lifted her in my
arms. The dollar was clutched in her
hands, and she was hurrying home,
for as ] lifted her up she
opened her great blue eyes and said:
little head fell back and she became
again.
"We took her to the hospital, and
the doctors worked over her long and
earnestly, and at last she was out of
danger. | stood with her, for it seemed
to help her to hold my hand, and she
stood it all so bravely.
And about u o'clock she opened
her eyes, and seemed to know me.
Then | asked her where she lived, and
she told me. Late as It was | went
out there, for | knew. they must be
worried to death over her. 1t was an
awful place. Awful, The father lay
drunk in the corner of the room, where
he had fallen. and the mother was put
ting sick baby to sleep for perhaps
the tiftieth time that night, and when
I told her little Mary was safe she
threw her arms around my neck and
burst out crying, while the poor,
scrawny little baby stopped from sheer
wonderment and was nearly dropped
TO the floor in her excitement.
s.Then I came home said Tom "and