Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1895-02-07

IoNeheT. there NOu De du ell-
tirely new theme for table gossip.
That would be at least one advantage
for the new matrimonial method. Mr..
and Mrs. So-and-So'S lease will shortly
expire. l wonder if they intend to re-
new? Neither of them has said a
WORD yet How are they behaving|"
Evidently there We're elements of
strong mindedness in Miss Mulgrove'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
accounted for the fact; still it was, l
think, chiefly due to her ready COM
prehension of the masculine tempera-
ment. As her own brother said-he
was naval officer and Walton's in
innate friend-'Marina makes fun
! enough of us poor wretches; but at the
same time we are not such blind
puzzle to her as to most girls. She
seems to understand by instinct what
a mans notions are like, and to ac-
commodate herself to them in what
she says"
4 1t must not be supposed, however,
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, were in the habit
1 of spending part of their holidays to-
gether. And although now both of
them lieutenants, and serving on diff
ferent ships, it was an understood
thing that friendship with their re-
spective friends should be maintained.
On the present occasion Lieutenant
! WaIton's visit had been somewhat
| longer than usual; for unfortunately
i he had been invalided home from the
gold coast.
But his months stay at the parson-
! age-Marina's father was rector of a
! small parish in a remote part of Els
sex, near the LaidOn Hllls-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 al
ready have discovered in his talk
about love and marriage Indications
of his true state, a state of mild de-
lirium, when the tongue is charged
with bitterness for that and for those
commonly he'd most dear.
Another confrmatory symptom, as
it seems to me, was that the young
man still clung to the them which
his companion had so oddly started
for after another interval Of silence
he remarked rather s1berly:
Il cannot help thinking after all the
lifelong arrangement is the best one.
The true difficulty lies in finding a
satisfactory method of courtship."
"Can you suggest any rules and
regulations?" inquired Marina, still in
that calm and slightly sarcastic tone
which gave no clew to her real senti-
ments.
"No; sailors are proverbially I'M
skillful in navigating the ocean Of
love-"
every prettily said, Mr.. Walton.
You certainly must be the ships poet
when at sea-"
The young officer b,ushed. He had
s,,4o
was wondering whether that wretchcd
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 clusing it by being merciful
to his ignorance about courtship, for
she said, with a gracious smile:
{ II will te | you what seems to me
absolutely the best method of making
love, on one condition"
"What is the condition."
"Why, that both of us-as soon as l
have enlighten you-keep absolutely
silent until TOmmy's boat is finished.
You promised to have it ready for him
, by II, 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
vessel
well, got my ideal of love-making
through Mrs. Simpson"
"Hush! you are not to speak, re-
member. Mrs. Simpson is the grocer's
wife down in the village; she used to
be our nurse years ago before dear
mamma did, and she and I have al
ways been great friends. One day
in a frolicsome mood 1 inquired If
Mr.. Simpson was very, very nervous
when he asked her to marry him--he
is a dreadfu,ly timid man, l may say.
She laughed and said:
''I don't think he ever did ask me
to marry him, Miss Marina. It isn't
our way. He used to tease me and 1
used to tease him for long time when
he came to the parsonage for orders.
Then one morning he said, quite Sc
rious-like: "Will you walk out with
me, miss? pit was "Polly" at other
times. 1 said 1 didn't mind; so we
walked out together for nearly a
twelve month and then began to talk
about furnishing
"'But supposing in the meantime
you had changed your minds"
"'Well, we should have had tiff
most likely and shouldn't have walked