Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1893-03-09
HIS CHANCE.

bu1IGIU NEWS. SHE was IOf some
time rs certain-and as wrong-about
her feelings for him, as she was assured
and right in her assurance of his love
for her.
As for herself. she considered herself
merely his friend. conddante and adviS-
.er general upon al subjects, but especi-
ally upon the subject of his neglect
of his profession-Jhe law.
Had he not been So desperately in
love with her he might have laughed nj
this grandmothering OF him, as he
laughed At most things; for, though the
kindest hearted man perhaps in London.
he affected a light, bright, breezy cyni-
ciSIn.
Socially he was equipped TO perfec-
Tion-a brilliant taIker, 4 graceful ana
interchangeable dancer and an admirable
player OF al games. even whiSt-in 81
Young d man so singular distinction.
1t was his Recommendation to her
father, the emient baI7iSter Weldon
WraXau. Q. c., who shook his head
over BERTHE Rayburn's frivolities.
Hell end up like old Singleton" he
said sometimes OF BERTHE to TriN's in,
tense evaporation; for old Singleton
was a despicable club Ioafer
But this evaporation of TriN's was
not with her father alone. She was
also annoyed with BERTHE, and yet more
with herself, because of the depth Of
this annoyance. Why should she be so
interested in him? Was she-was She
Well, she WaS-aS she discovered for
herself at Lady Weevl's ball. In an
interval between the dances she had
allowed him to lead her into the con
seIyatoTy off the ballroom in order that
she might give him an unusually severe
lecture.
Are you going down to Ribchester?
she asked. with abrupt rrelevance.
chichester? Has an expedition been
organized to explore darkest Ribches
ter?"
10 the assizes," she explained, with
out smile, but with almost impetulant
Impotence.
u? No. 1t would be no use my go
ing I've got nothing to do
But how can you expect to get any
thing if you never so circuit"
Il shall go down tomorrow night. lie
said meekly.
1T does seem such a pity with your
to be Industrious
Here he shook his head.
"Oh, but [ know Mrs. Meltham told
me how you sat up night after night
doing her husbands presswork when he
was i'll Of typhoid. Well, you see, when
you've a motive to drudge you can
drudge"
81 cannot tell you how kind l think it
of you to pitch into me like this
It's not much USE
Yes, it is: indeed it is. | shall go
down to chichester tomorrow night,
and shall go circuit always in future,
and I shall drudge like Il dray horse
if drudging can do it. l shall; l give
you my word Of honor"
This new expression of earnesness
gave a new beauty to his fine face, and
it was in her looking up into it now
that TriX made her discovery. She
blushed. lowered her eyes under his
inSupportabie gaze and said only and
humbly, Il have been very imperti-
mont"
'Impertinent! You do not know how
much your interest means to me. I'm
always thinking of what you think of
me, and wishing to be what you wish
me; and | believe I could be and do it
all, n-if L had any hope. TriX,'' he
said, taking her hand. and looking his
hope into eyes which answered to it.
There's father" she family urged,
but they soon forgot everything and
every one and time and place and cir
cumStaceS, and all but each other and
their love The last thing she said to
him at parting was.
Don't go down to chichester. I shall
write tomorrow after l have told father,
to let you know what he says, and ii
| can see YOU
Next morning at breakfast TriX in
geniously brought the conversation
round to BERTHE. Every one says he's
so clever" she replied to a dispara ging
remark upon him made by her father.
Every one! Did you ever hear a
solicitor say it,"
But, my dear father how can soil
citors know whether he's clever Or not
till they try-tilI they give him brief?'
Let him marry d solicitors daughter. -
pronounced her father sententiously
But he can't
He can't Why can't he? I'm sure
Because he's engaged to me- she
replied with sublime audacity, rising at
the same moment to get behind her
fathers chair and hide and cool her
burning bushes against his parchment
cheek. He had dropped his knife and
lain back speeches. in his chair before
she got behind it.
There, you dear old father, don't be
cross. | couldn't help telling you, you
know. [ can keep nothing from you, -
S though the confession was the offense
Engaged to fellow without a penny
Engaged" he burst out at last.
or the prospect of making a penny. A
mere man about town. An idle
There, father. that will do" she
said, putting her hand before his mouth.
II don't want you to feel miserable
afterward for saying hasty and nasty
things
This delicate and exclusive cOnsidera-
ton for him was too much from his
adored T1ix. Upon my word," he
cried as he managed to unmuZzle him
self from her hand with a jerk of his
head, you are considerate. It's a pity