Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1892-03-31
SHARING A BACHELOR.

positively, you won't have any
thing more-another cake or cup of
cocoa?" And pretty, brown-eyed Miss
Kittridge, standing by the tray in her
fathers cosy library, glanced inquir-
ingly around into eyes grey, blue,
hazel and brown, like her own. You
are leaving the big chair for me.
Though | be the hostess, since I have
taken the liberty of appointing myself
speaker | viii take it can cut short
my peroration if you will kindly call
to mind that your notes ran some
thing in this wise:
Miss Kittridge will be at home
Wednesday, Oct. z, at 3 p. m. The
favor of your company is especially
requested, as a matter of interest to
all will be under discussion
For a moment viii you be so kind
as to take an inventory Of yourSoIf9
Before to-day, have more than three
of YOU ever been under the same roof
together? Have more than two of
you, except in the case of the Misses
Cube? Now, who will be first to sur
mise what matter can be of common
INTEREST,""
"A mani" cried the unconventional
Miss Salter, with one of her sparkling
little trills of laughter.
The man. amended Miss Norwich,
with her usual directness of speech.
why not say Mr. Grange and be
done with it?' said Miss SODIUM,
sourly. "A handsome triher who has
,11oJa TO,-o tC oyo,.,- o,,,.iaJ ,,-o,,,,,
in the place"
Miss Kittridge smiled, then waited a
moment as she glanced around.
All, thirteen of uS-an unlucky
number for Mr.. Grange! Young ladies'
they say woman can keep her own
secret better than that of another. As
the proceedings of this little conven-
ton are Of interest to each Of us,
think that we shall find no trouble in
holding them strictly contidcatiaI.
Now the next condition l would i'm
pose is not as easy as it locks at first
blush. Hands up, all of You, Who
Will tell the exact truth for the next
half hour? Come, Miss D2yo, wear
your heart on your sleeve for once in
your life; it may ease it"
The smile on the speakers face was
so sympathetic, so sweet, so reassur-
ing that though Miss Dayo's tender
brown eyes showed that her heart
stood still midway in its beat like a
frozen WATERFALL" yet she raised her
hand.
Nov set aside all self-depreciation
while you answer this question from
your own private point of view: How
many of you believe Mr.. Grange at
some time showed marked symptoms
of being in love when in your pres
ence? Come, Miss Delno, they had
you engaged to him"
so have we all been," sighed Miss
Salter.
Miss Dayo, you need not put up
your hand. l read your answer in
your eyes"
AS she looked around laugh shone
in her own bright, brown orbs.
Gracious, girls!" she exclaimed,
"what mighty fountain of love must
be yelling up in that heart of his that
he can reach us all"
at may be one of those parlor fount-
aims" suggested Miss Norwich, using
the same water over and over again. "
"Or his love may be like the wind, "
said Miss Cube. at bloweth where a
girl listeth, and no one knows whence
it cometh or whittier it goeth."
oh" sighed Miss Salter, "the wind
or wave motion moves on, but the
calm depths so tossed and torn must
fall back in the same old place
squeezed lemon fashion"
~Oh, Miss Salter, beg of you do not
tell me that he pressed your hand too!'
cried Miss Fair.
Would you have me accuse him OF
Partially? Is not the language OF
true love ever the sameP"
"Then, l suppose" said Miss Ellis
worth. that he popped out of his office
like a iack-in-the-box at all of YOU"
'Come, girls, l must call you to or
der" said Miss Kittridge, at this iunct-
ure. Il have another question. How
many of you have had an odd moment
or two in which you have fancied
yourself in love with Mr.. Grange?
Miss Fair and Miss Ellsworth, your
hands are not up. Lucky girls! You,
too, Miss Lynn!'
You see," said Miss Lynn, in that
big, CHEEKY voice of hers, L was not
engaged, though if Mr.. Grange had
begged me quite hard but go on,
Miss Salter."
WELL" said that lady with laugh,
might after night 1 spread before him
my engageless hand, but to no pur-
pose. He seemed to take no real heart
interest in me till | wore Tom Mar
tins ring; then he found value that
SI