Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1895-03-07
Bonest Bob.

'Or 49, N1--C IL L" AN III
said TO himself: Now, there's the
girl l should like to marry"
She was just his sort, but it was the
old story of the attraction of opposites,
a story as old as the hills. He was
big, she was small; he was dark, she
was fair; he was quiet, she was lively;
and so on, ad infniuIm. She certainly
was a very raking little girl, and she
had a penSive way of contemplating
one with her great blue eyes that was
altogether fascinating. Bob Helm
sleigh went down before that look like
a leaf before the wind.
Bob vas not particularly clever or
amusing, or, indeed, particularly any
thing but honest. Honest he was from
the crown of his c~lose-cropped head to
the soles Of his military boots, and as
supplemented as a child. Hitherto he
had never beer in earnest about a
woman, but he was in earnest now,
and it was a sober, solemn, downright
earnest. Hencefcrth there would be
but one woman il the world for him.
He would have liked to take her in
those great strong arms of his and
tell her so, but such a course of action
was out of the question, for she was
engaged to his old chum, Phil Mars
den.
Now, Phil Marsden was the sort Of
man that lady novelists describe as
zone of Fortunes favorites." In plain
English, he was good looking, we'll
off, a thorough sportsman. a good hand
at all games, and popular with men
and women alike. A lucky mortal
all round, but it never occurred to Bob
to envy his friend until he saw Gwen
Warrington. Then a new, strange
feeling stirred in Bob's honest heart.
1t was not exactly jealousy, but rather
a Wistful, patient wonder why one fell
low should have all the luck and
everything else, while other fellows
were left out in the cold.
Well, one summer the officers of
BOb'S regiment took it into their heads
to give a ball. 1t was a final flare-up
before they moved into fresh quar-
ters, and they spared neither trouble
o expense to make it a success. AT
this ball Bob was introduced to the
future Mrs. Phil Marsden, and they
d'nced a good deal together. Bob had
a splendid swing, and Gwen was the
lightest Walter in the room, so they
went like clockwOrk.
, Gwen gave Bob more waltzes than
she gave Phil. but the latter did not
seem to mind, and that, of course,
was rather q queer state of things.
Bob noticed it, which was remarkable,
for in an ordinary way his perceptions
! were just as blunt as most mems.
Il say, Miss Warrington" he OBJ
served, tentatively, as he and Gwen
went out together yet once again, "its
awfuliy good Of old Phil to let you
give me so many dances. Shows he
isn't selfish anyway, doesn't it?'
Gwen shrugged her shoulders and a
change came over her expressive face;
a change that Bob did not quite like
to see. "SelfiSh!' she echoed. "Oh!
Phil is never selfish where | am con
cerned, l al sur you, Mr.. Helm
sleigh. He has no desire to keep me
all to himself"
] There was no obvious answer to this
speech, and so Bob said nothing. AS
4 matter of fact, the situation was q
little bit beyond him. He thought Of
Ovens words afterwards, though, and
of the family bitter tone in which
they We're uttered, but he did not
venture to breach the subject again.
1t was ticklish ground.
/ He saw nothing more either of Phil
or Gwen until the autumn, and then
he met them at the house of a mutual
friend, where he had gone for a weeks
shooting. This time the idea that all
was not right between the lovers
struck him more forcibly than before,
They were apparently on good terms
with one another, and they never
disagreed, but Phil had lost his old
genial spirits and become moody and
Disconnected. He was always either
in the clouds or swearing at his C
! Gwen had changed, too. Her n
had grown tired and l~istless, and there
was a wistful, wondering hook in her
eyes that it hurt Bob to see.
Poor old Bob! He could tell that
something was wrong, but he could
not make out what it was, though he
puzzled that honest head of his until
he Thought he was going to have brain
fever. The new look in Ovens eyes
haunted him. 1t was always in his
thoughts in the daytime, and it kept
awake at night. He felt impelled to
do something-but what? That was
the question.
At last one day he found Gwen all
by herself in the library, crying over
the fire, and that was the climax.
He never could bear to see a woman
in tears. and when it came to the
woman he loved, why
"Miss Warrington he said, hur-
riedIy, "Miss Warrington, you are in
trouble of some sort. Will you tell
me what it is?" Then. as she did not
answer at once, his hand fell heavily
Gods sake don't cry"
on her shoulder, and he added: "For
Gwen checked her sobs with an eff
fort, and raised her tear-dimmed eyes
to his face.
ooh! Mr.. HeImsleigh," she ex-
claimed, Il am in great trouble, and
and you are so good and kind. If
only you could help me-"
"Give me a chance" Bob returned
shortly. I'm a stupid sort of a chap,
l know; no good at talk. But if there's
anything in the world l can do for you
III do it. Do you believe me"
sob, yes,' answered Gwen, putting