Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1896-02-13

Siue Tue uOOT OoIOkoneQ the presence
of the mail boy. He slowly rose and
crossed the room, smiling ironically
as he caught sight of his own image in
the glass. There were three letters in
the boX-one from his mother, which
he laid aside as treat to be leis-
urely enjoyed when the others were
disposed of. The second was a brief
business communication of no mo-
ment and the third was the comic val
entine. Slowly he unfolded the sheet,
smoothing it out with trembling fin
gers.
so that is how l look to my pupils,
to the world, to" but at that moment
something hard in the envelope that
he still retained in his hand caused
him to further examine. A biz of
broken visiting card fell cut OH the
table bearing the one word-"Bernica.
In an instant the caricature, with it's
low, silly doggerel, was crushed into
a shapeless mass, and Russell Ward
lay on the carpet literally writhing in
his humiliation and wounded love, for
now he knew that he did love Bernice
Hilton. What the next few hours
were like only the guarding angels
knew, but it was we'll toward morning
when merry voices under his window
aroused him to a consciousness that he
must not longer yield to his agony:
that a new day was almost at hand:
that life would go on whether he
willed it or no.
Even Dosia, Ina and their compan-
ions felt thrill of anxiety when Rus
sell Wards white, haggard face con-
fronted them in the morning.
He must be Sick some one sug-
gested. Maybe penitent," laughed
Ina, but there was no mirth in her
voice and she nervously fingered Ber-
nice's curls.
"If it should be that valentine"
Dosia whispered.
What was it Iike?" Bernice sud-
denly demanded.
80, it was a mana man with long
hair and limpy, and there was some
not very bad poetry" answered Edna,
as no one else seemed likely to reply.
"Limpy," repeated Bernice, turning
white. You surely did not do that,
girls?"
1--WE only wanted little fun, Bernie.
Of course he took it as joke. Don't
make a mountain out of molehill.''
said Dosia.
There was a peculiar silence in Mr..
Wards recitation room all that day,
something in the mans appearance
holding the most mischievous in
check. No one had to stay that night,
but Ina Sturgis found, upon reaching
home, that she had left some of her
belongings and must return to the
school building. Secretly she hoped
Mr.. Ward would be gone; somehow she
did not want to meet him. Quietly
she pushed the door of the recitation
room door open, then stood mute and
dismayed. Russo II Ward was wildly
pacing the floor, hair disheveled and
hands clinched, and with look on his
white face that seemed to chain her
to the spot. Pausing suddenly, with
face turned to the window, he cried
hoarsely:
eff anybody but Bernice Hilton had
sent the gruesOme thing!'
She didn't, Prof. Ward; O, Berniee
didn't; it was DOsia and | chiefly. and
we didn't mean any barmr' burst out
Ina, never doubling that it was the
valentine he meant.
Russell Ward, at the sound of a
voice turned like a wounded creature
at bay. Ina never forgot the look.
'Bernice hadn't anything to do with
it, She did not want us to send the
horrid thing; but we were angry and
and" Here Ina broke down and
beat a hasty retreat.
The assistant principal was not in
his place next morning and some one
else had ample time for repentance in
the weeks following while he tossed
on his fevered pillow and raved de-
liriously, yet not so deliriously but his
widowed mother learned the whole
story.
He did not die, and the day before
he was to be removed to his own home
he sent for Bernice Hilton, when, for
the first time, she learned of her sup
posed part in the transaction. 1t
seemed not hard to believe with her
truthful, fearful eyes looking into his,
that the presence of the broken BIZ OF
card was an accident, she and Dosia
having their possessions quite in COM
mon; neither was it possible for Rus
sell Ward to stife the love of his
manly soul, end when the mother
came in and saw the joy on both faces
she silently pressed the gentle girl 10
her heart.
ct didn't turn out so dreadful after
ALL" said Ina, with a shudder, but it
might have, and I'll never be guilty of
sending comic valentine again"
The assent of her companions was
unanimous.