Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1895-04-25

! the next lady of your choice will nat
| urally come to me for references
"Um-that will be awkward A gen
uine widower is snapped up by the sex
! without inquiries-out Of sheer sympa-
I thy-but this widower, by arrange
mCnt, must needs be armed with first
class testimonials from his previous
| partner.
of course" said she, with a mis-
cnievous SMILE
still, there is this to be said;
couples will have all the more reason
for renewing the lease with esch other,
because of these unpleasant conse-
quences we have been discussing. In
fact III the majority Of cases it seems
proba bic that the partnership would
be lifelong one, just as it is now"
only they would, to make that GER
! tain, ainays be obliged to be nice to
each other" said the young lady
no kingIy.
How dreadful"'
However, there would be an entire
II lev theme for tea table gossip.
( Tha- would be at least one advantage
Of th3 new matrimonial method. Mr.
and Mrs. So-and-SC'S lease will shortly
expire. | wonder if they intend to
renew? Neither Of them has said a
word yet. How are they behaving?'
Evidently there were elements Of
strong mindedneSS in Miss AIuIgrove's
, character. But she possessed beauty
and grace of behavior to neutralize
these. She passed as an "Odd girl
among her female friends-nOne of
| them ever said worse than this. With
men she was distinctly popular. Her
personal charms no doubt partly ac-
counted for the fact; still it was. I
think chiefly due to her ready COM
prehenSiOn Of the masculine tempera-
mont. AS her own brother said-he
was naval officer and WaItOn's in
innate Marina makes fun
enough of us poor wretches: bat at the
sam time we arc not such a blind
puzzle TO her as to most girls. She
came to understand by instinct what
mans notions are like, aud to ac-
commOdate herself to them in what
she saws
that Miss MulgrOve was in the habit
of cOnversing with all her male ac-
quaintances with just as much free
dom as she did with Richard Walton.
Him she had known for many years.
He and the brother referred to began
their naval career together. When on
shore, they, as lads, We're in the habit
of spending part of their holidays to-
gether. And although now both of
them were lieutenantS, and serving on
different ships, it was an understood
thing that friendship with their re-
Spective friends should be maintained.
ON the present occasion, Lieutenant
NaltOn'S visit had been somewhat
longer than usual; for unfortunately he
had been invalided home from the
cold Coast.
But his months stay at the parson-
age-Marina's father was rector of a
small parish in a remote part of Essex,
near the LaidOn Hills-his months
holiday was just coming to an end.
In another three days he would have
to report himself to the admiralty.
And yet [ am afraid he had only re-
covered from one malady to become
the victim of another. Gold coast fever
/ had been succeeded by the fever Of
love. Readers who are skilled in the
! diagnosis of the complaint will already
have discovered in his talk about love
and marriage indications of his true
state, a state of mild delirium. when
! the tongue is charged with bitterness
! for that and for those commonly held
most dear.
Another cOntlrmatOry symptom, us it
seems to me, was that the young man
still chung to the theme which his com
panion had SO oddly started: for after
another interval of silence he remarked
rather soherly:
! L cannot help thinking after all the
lifelong arrangement is the best one
! The true difficulty lies in finding a sat
! iSfactOry method of cOurtship.''
Can you suggest any rules and reg
ulations?" inquired Marina, still in
that calm and slightly sarcastic tone
| which gave no clue to her real senti-
ments.
W. SdI1oi - are prov eLDItAIlR uIShIil-
full in navigating the ocean of love"
Very prettily said, Mr.. Walton. You
certainly must be the ships poet when
II sea
| The young officer blushed. He had
! occasionally ventured into verse, and
was wondering whether that wretched
! brother of hers had ever played the
false friend by revealing the fact.
! Possibly Miss Mulgrove observed his
confusion, and sought to make atone
ment for causing it by being merciful
to his ignorance about courtship, for
she said, with a gracious smile:
Il will tell you what seems to me
absolutely the best method of making
love. on one condition"
what is the consideration -
why, that both of us-as soon as I
+. have enlightened you-keep absolutely
silent until Tommy's boat is finished.
You promised to have it ready for him
by eleven, and it is now a quarter
past ten"
Agreed. Your condition is harsh
but practical" said Walton, applying
himself With fresh energy to his task
of rigging a mainmast for the said
4 vessel
We'll. [ got my ideal IOye-making