Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1894-03-29

eff you please, Miss Latimer," she
said, tive had quarrel with Tom my
my sweet-heart-Tom Byrnes, yor
know. He wants me toto leave here
and marry him right now; and, you
see, miss, just can't go until my
month is up, and it's just begun, only
yesterday. You see, miss, I'm right tc
stay till the middle of next month
now amt I, Miss Nora?"
Il think so-yes. Surely Tom car
wait little longer, if he really loves
you. Well, Nora, what do you want
me to do?''
Nora blushed and fidgeted uneasily.
well, l was thinking miss, as you
know [ can't Write-not a woodland
if you would be good enough to write
to Tom for me-a real, loving letter,
miss-Pd send it to him as a valentine.
Tomorrow's ST. Valentines day you
knowr'
$50 it is! I had forgotten. Well,
Noa, just give me an idea of what you
wish to say to Tom, and I'll do it with
pleasurev'
'Thank you, miss. l knew you
would. You've always been good to
me. Well, then, please" as Miss
Latimer drew sheet of note paper
toward her-a thick, cream sheet, with
dainty letter l. at the top, "just
| please tell acknowledgements me,
miss, but I'm bound to tell him the
whole truth love him-and will be
his wife when my time is up here, but
not before, because I've given my
promise to Mrs. Stone to stay, you
seer
Exactly"
Miss Latimer had dipped her pen
into the ink, and was writing at full
| speed. A few moments of busy appli-
cation and this was the result.
My Dear Friend:-Do not be angry
| with me for my decision. l am acting
for the best. [ love you dearly-too
dearly to live apart from you, if it
were not right for me to do so.
Please be patient with me, and believe
that my heart is yours for + me and
eternity. Come to me, and tell me
! that you are not angry, but will love
me and wait for me- Your valentine,
Nora"
"Therer'
Miss Latimer sighed unconsciously,
as s. laid down the pen. Everybody
had his or her pretty love story, but.
like Glory McQuirk, she was not
Sin it,
Listen, Norav' she said, and then
she read the little valentine over,
greatly to Nora's delight.
It's just beautiful, missr she cried
land it's all true; [ mean every word
of itr'
Miss Latimer's thoughts were far
away. She was thinking of this pretty
little love story being enacted right
before her eyes, and sympathizing with
blue-eyed Nora, and wondering if any
one would ever love her as Tom and
Nora loved each other. And so pre-
occupied was she that she did the
very thing that you, would have ex-
pected of her, under such circum-
stances-an old, oft-repeated blunder
She placed Morals valentine in the
envelope already addressed to MI
Mansfield and the note to her en-
plOyer found it's way into the envelope
addressed to Tom Byrnes! Then, blue
eyed Nora carried both letters to the
nearest mail-boX and deposited them
therein, in blissful Inconsistencies of
the true state of affairs
Miss Latimer had decided to leave
EaStcliffe early in the morning. SO
she packed her trunk that night, and
had her last evening with pretty
gOlden-haired FloSsie, to whom she
had not the heart to speak of her in
tended departure.
After a sleepless night, morning
dawned-clear, crisp, and sunshiny-
st. Valentines day Miss Latimer
thought of pretty Nora and her stall
wart lover, as she prepared herself to
take the early train. All ready at last.
The trunk was strapped, and Mrs
Stone had received instructions to for
ward it to Miss Latimers destination,
and Miss Latimer herself, choking
back the sobs, which would arise in
her throat, came softly, but swiftly,
down stairs, and found herself-in Mr.
Mansfelds arms.
He held her close to his breast for
a moment, then put her away, gazing
full into her pale, frightened face
Where are you going?" he asked
softly. Mora! Nora! what do you
mean-after sending me this valen-
tine?" And he held up-could it he
possible-the identical missive which
she had written for Nora Lynn!
The truth dawned upon Miss Lati-
mer. She tried to speak, but a storm
of sobs choked her utterance.
Little by little, Guy Mansfield got at
the first of the mystery. He led her
into the library, seated her before the
fire, and, with his own hands, re
moved her hat and wrap.
you shall not go away" he said,
firmly. you will remain here forever
my wife! No, Nora darling! are you
blind, that you can not see how 1
love you? 1 have loved you for
months Will you be my wife?'
But Mrs. Stone said you were soon
to be married." murmured Miss Lati-
mer, brokenly.
! True; I told her so; but it was con-
ditional 1 did not know that the WON
an L loved would be my wife-will
she, Nora?'
So it was all settled. And Nora
Lynn and Tom were also made happy,
as soon as Miss Latimer's blunder was
explained. And Mr.. Mansfield to this
day declares that he owes his wife to
/ the kindly interDOSitiOn of good ST