Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1893-09-07


walking at her side while he resumed
his condolences.
We'll, [ don't know whether you've
heard, but I've Il godfather"
a godfather.' was echoed in reply.
Yes; he's Mr.. Green" And San
made a feint of opening his necktie as
: if it was due to his godfather that tt.
acknowledgement Of this fact should
make him puff out visibly. He's al
awfully rich old chap. I'm called after
him-because | suppose when he dies
he means to leave me all his tin. moi
that | wish that. | hope he'll live as
long as he can; but they say the WOO
der is with his complaints and his
doctors that he's alive noW,'
Fancy! And you're so fond of him:
and I'm sure he's fond Of you. He
must be-
What an artless darling it was No
wonder Sam thought that he worship
ped her.
Il WISH" he said, and he tried to tell
her with his eyes the reason which
made this wish come, that he would
show his love by giving me something
substantial nOW-tWo or three hundred
a year, say. Why, it would be nothing
to him. He wouldn't feel it out of his
income"
rs it so big them"
MY mother says she's sure he doesn't
know what he's worth-welI, to show
you, years ago, before his wife died,
he owned to their having three thou
sand year"
And he lives all alone-nobody with
him, no wife, no children? What a
pity"
There are servants, you know, and
a Miss Sphinx; my mother recommended
her. She reads aloud to the old buffer,
and writes letters for him. Poor
Spinky! I've promised her an annuity
because she keeps on there. 1t wouldn't
pay, you know" and Sam Winked
knowingly, ito let anybody strange in
don't know what we should do if
Spinky broke down. She has been out
of sorts lately-says she wants a
holiday"
The complaints Of the unhappy
Sphinx seemed to have no interest for
| Miss Denman. A more mercenary girl
might have followed up by the ques-
tons the information given of Mr.
Green, but, as her sister often said,
Cissy was just Il child and nothing
more, therefore it was only in keeping
with this simplicity that she should
eXclaim after few minutes medita-
! ton
"Oh, Mr.. Brodie, will your mother
like me? That is what [ keep think
ing; do hope so. | know how | shall
love her."
Naturally, after the Introduction
was over, this butterfly little sentence
was repeated, and gradually by degrees
Mrs. Brodie felt that her scruples, one
| by one, were withdrawn, and finally
Sam had the happiness of hearing her
say that if he felt sure that he had
found a girl who would make him hap
Ply she would not say nay, provided
only that there was no opposition from
! Godfather Green And matters being
settled thus far, mother and son put
| their heads together as to the best way
of prOpitiating the old gentleman.
! Should he be told before the offer or
after That was the first question and
still under discussion, when, luckily
or otherwise, Mrs. Brodie, by the way
of gaining time, for no shadow of doubt
occurred to her, said: "Of course, you
feel sure that when you ask her she'll
accept you, Sam?'
A minute before Sam could have an
Swered yes most readily, but the
mere thought of rejection, or, perhaps,
a sudden rush of that fear so closely
connected with love, seemed suddenly
to unnerye him. ''Motherr' he said, re-
proachfully, but all the same a sense
Of torment took possession of him so
/ that, do what he would, he could not
throw himself heartily into the dis
cussion again and Selling the first pre-
text he could lay hold of, he framed
an excuse which would take him out,
and then, with no settled plan, rushed
off, to find himself very soon in the
presence of Miss Cecilia Denman.
through the winding ways and devious
paths which led to loves declaration.
Suffice it to say that when Sam laid
at Miss Denman'S feet his heart and
hand, though she did not spurn them,
| don't tell you that she picked them
UP; she figuratively babe them stay
while she and Sam had a little discus
sion.
L cannot help thinking what you told
me about your godfather" she said,
I'VE must do nothing hastily. Tell
your mother that / think all she says
so sensible that whatever happens she
can rely on my never permitting you
to sacrifice so much as that" and she
showed the measure of her rosy fin
ger nail, for me-"
But Cissy," for Sam felt overcome
by such generosity, 'he will love you
he must-he shall. Only wait until we
can manage for him to see you
Yes, but don't let him know what
we are to each other, if So something
here" and she pressed her hand to her
bosom and looked at the ceiling tragi-
cally, tells me it will be fatal; intro
duce me as a visitor, a mere acquaint-
ance, almost stranger, nothing more
beseech of you
This conversation being repeated to
Sans mother greatly influenced her in
Cecilia's favor. That her son had been