Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1893-07-27
Kisses said Reeks, solemnly. Zen

and, doubling it in a ball, threw it fa1
over the waves. Opposite the lookout
Shelah rowed ashore.
Now" said Reeks, us he jumped out.
! III stow away, lad. Go you up 10 the
, Ship. It's about time you an Jen
came TO an understanding Pluck up.
Shelah. and remember there's allus
ways an means Of winnin' Il woman s.
He Winked and nodded
( Shelah drew his fee out OF the wet
sand and with sad smile moved up
| lifebOat and the yawl his face settled
into gloom. There was a big sandhill
on his left; he turned aside and mount
ed it. Ten Kisses he groaned. and
! looked vacantly around him.
He slowly descended the mound
and walked toward the inn. The
Ships sign could be seen long before
the inn. Within Il few PAGES of the
inn Shelah halted. He could hear a
horses hoofs paving the ground. He
was soon RECALLED with a little whist.
ling, then the softly hummed verse Of
ii song. The words came to his ears
with aggravating clearness:
You've all heard of Larry OToole,
OF the beautiful town of DrumgoOle;
He had but one eye
To ogle We by;
Och, murther, but that was a iewl!
A fool
He made of the girls, this O'Toole
There next sounded some loud laugh
ter, a step on the tiled path of the inn,
then the singer spoke. L drink your
health, my charmer," he said, lin the
Rivington brew After that he spoke
lower, but the words reached Shelah's
ears: You got my note, Jennie, but
you never came. Why was that?'
Il was afraid. And, oh, what would
father say if he knew that you sent
me that note with all thOse-those-
The musical voice ended suddenly.
Kisses, Jennie finished the horse
man. well, [ don't know. 1 don't
particularly care. Love is altogether
reckless. And for you, my gypsy, I
would risk anything. Now tell me,
Jennie, when can you meet me alone?
1t is a small favor for lover to ask.
When shall it be?''
Jennie was silent.
Jennie said the rider, seriously,
do you love me?''
Holding his breath, Shelah waited for
the answer. 1t was inaudible
Come a little nearer, Jennie" said
the hOrseman gaily; kisses ON paper
are nothing to kisses in"
Hush cried Jennie; ''some one is
comingr'
1t was Shelah. He rounded the cor
ner in time to see Cyril Rivington
riding away.
With his head bowed Shelah crossed
the threshold of the inn door; he was
met inside by a pretty, brown-cheeked
girl, whose face had a heightened and
rather unusual bloom. At the sight of
Shelah she looked disconnected.
''Jen lass he said, Il want to speak
to you; want to ask you somethin'."
Jennie started and there was a sensi-
bic diminution Of the color in hel
cheeks. Not now, Shelah," she said
nervously. I'm busy now. Wait till
father comes in
No" said Shelah, II can't wait If
1 don't speak now I shall never speak.
I wont stop You long"
well, them said Jennie SAY it
quick. What is it - She seated her
self with her face to the window and
her foot nervously tapping the sanded
floor.
Its this said Shelah, and his voice
shook little: I'VE ha' been sweet
heartin' for long time, and l want to
know when we are going to get mar
ried, Jen?"
Never" she said, softly.
''Never?" he repeated, huskily.
Il should only make you Wretched.
want you to give me up. to forget
me, Shelah.'
lass! Give UP my life-ask me for
that, Jen, but don't ask me to give up,
sweetheart, for [ do so love you, my
dear"
Jennies lips quivered and her eyes
began to fill with tears but she kept
her face to the window.
1T would break my heart to marry
YOU she saiG, 'for [ love some one
else"
You love some one else?' said
Shelah, mechanically.
yes, and he is going to marry me.
So you see, Shelah, it would be wrong
for me to marry you. | should be al
ways miserable and Wretched and /
should make you miserable and wretch
ed, too; so please, dear Shelah, let me
go and-and forget me-" She ended
with a sob.
White and still sat Shelah; then heavi-
ly and YEARLY he rose. Jennie I'M
covered her face for moment. At the
sight of his she hid it again. Forget
you, lass he said. Il never can"
Moved perhaps by the thought of
what might have been, he leaned
down and gently pressed his lips to
her forehead But if giving you up
lass" he proceeded huskily, will make
you happy, Jen''-there was an agon-
izing ring i'm his voice-"why, 1 give
you up"
When she looked around again he
was gone.
All that night it froze hard and the
calm sea lay moaning like a dog on it's
chain Shelah heard it as he stood in
the lonely sentry-bOX Of the lifeboat
lookout In the morning the frost
bowed blades Of the seagrass had
changed the dunes into a great glisten-