Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1895-03-14

Soh IoL N-SHIHS 10 hlIVN, ai dOOu7
Meredith, and his marked attentions t.
Miss Dale.
Yes. she is quite beautiful. If yoT
will 60 with me to a reception this
evening, | think we shall see them"
Harry accepts gladly, and they sally
! forth. When they arrived Miss Dale
is there, smiling and beautiful as ever
Harry Vane is duly presented by his
friend, and they W. quite pleas.
antly together. Still Frank Meredith
does not make his appearance. 1t is
growing late, too. Harry looks in,
quiringly at his friend: his friend
looks perpleXed. At length there is a
stir. Harry Vane and his friend move
quickly away, and are rewarded by
seeing Frank Meredith come into the
room and look around. With as little
delay as possible he finds Miss Edith
! Dale and takes his place at her side
as if it We're his ~unquestioned right.
and bends down to speak to her. Yes.
he is welcomed by a smile and bright
ened eyes. Harry and his friend stay
until after they see Frank Meredith
and Edith Dale leave the room to-
gether, then they also go: and Harry
decides to call on Frank Meredith
the following day and speak his mind.
n tell him he thinks Of him.
And why was Frank so late to-
night! He had called on Edith Dale
the night before. He thought he had
read in her eyes that she loved him.
4 it was with the greatest difficulty
NE left her without betraying his
state of mind. He took a long walk
on the way home, although the air
was cold. Then he went 10 his room.
and got out the two pictures, and
Niolet's last letter.
Dear Frank:-It lis as | have feared.
You have ceased to care for me. I
told you it would break my heart.
But | forgive you. Perhaps some one
else has made you forget me. 7 for
give her, too. Be happy, dear. l wish
you to be happy. Be happy and fo"get
me. I am sorry I am causing you
sorrow, for if it is as | fear you
must be very sad. Good bye, Frank.
| wish You happiness, and may You
never know what it is to love and not
he loved in return. Good bye,-and
God bless you. The winter is here.
The frost has come and Killed.
your little Violet"
Meredith buried his head in his
hands, and grOaned aloud. Why had
he paid so much attention to Miss
Dale? He knew when he first net
her that he was interested. Why had
he allowed himself the pleasure Of
being near her, Of hearing the music
OF her voice, of seeing her enchanting
smile. He Thought he was strong. He
thought he could safely enjoy Eer
society, have 4 pleasant winter, and
come out unframed. How many
times before he had tiled a like ex-
pertinent and had come out all right.
There was no asting impression made
a passing fancy. He haC thought this
would be likewise. O., he was not 80
strong then as he thought. This is
what he had prided himself on. What
was the reason? Perhaps Mss Dale
was as worldly-wtse as himself. She
had a great many admirers. Perhaps
She was as much a coquettn as he
was a firt. She knew better how to
gain his regard than the others had.
Well, then was it serious On her part?
Perhaps he was paid now for all his
fiirt ationS. Perhaps she was merely
coquetting with him. The thought was
maddening. What should he do? He
must find out if she cared for him.
But then if she did what of Violet?
Then suppose Edith did care for him?
For n moment he allowed himself to
think of this. What happiness. In
that case it would be cruel to leave
her, after letting her see how much
he cared for her. Well, there was
but Die thing to do and that was to
find out if Edith loved him. Then, if
she did not, he would go back to
Violet. She need never know. and. as
for himself. he fully merited all the
suffering that could come to him He
was a brute. He would go to the
reception and see her. But if Edith
did care for him-what was To come
of it ali? Why had he fingered near
her. when to be in her presence was
such an ~enchantment, when but to see
her was to love her. He was like a
moth lowering round a light. OF
course the moth gets hurt, but it still
stays ON, preferring a positive hurt
with the light than to live a negative
life in darkness. That is why he is
late to the reception. After reasoning
it all out the night before. at the
last minute he cannot make up his
mind to sc.
When they leave the reception he is
fully determined to tell her how he
loves her and find out if she really
cares for him. This he must know
whatever happens. AS they are being
rapidly driven home he is silent for
sometime. Edith rallies him on his
pale face and preoccupied manner
Then he can contain himself 10
longer, and he tells her how much he
loves her, and pleads with her to tell
him if she for him. At first she
starts, and the laughter dies out of
her face. It is not until they reach
her own door, that she has an OPP
portunity to speak. Then she turns
10 him detiantly and replies:
Frank Meredith, you know you are
Il desperate firt. Did you suppose I
was not aware of it? Do l care for
YOU? No. | did it deliberately to pay