Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1896-05-07

red rose, who, apparently not noticing
the similarity of attire of Johns lady
friend, marched straight up to John,
! and put out her hand, saying:
Good evening, Mr.. Bateman! I
think you are rather late, are you not -?
But pray, who is this?" she asked in a
tone Of the most genuine surprise,
g-ancing at Johns companion as sht
4 spoke.
As for my brother, he could make
neither head nor tail of the business, so
he looked simply from one to the other,
I as he said to the newcomer:
May | ask who you are madam"
Certainly, sir" said she, with a tone
of injured innocence. I'm Miss Kate
Learoyd, whom you agreed to meet
here at 7:30 tonight! And this is how
YOU mock me, is it, sir? But don't
think it will end herer'
Mock you, Miss Learoyd.' said John.
pathetically. Il assure you took this
young lady to be you. By a curious
coincidence, you see, she wears a sim
liar token to what we agreed on
1t was now evidently time the other
young lady put in a word, which she
did; and to see Johns face during this
pantomime was a treat not to be light
~ foregone.
You, Miss Kate Learoyd?" eiacu-
lated she, in perfect establishment and
anger. why, that's my name, and
it's this gentleman [ was to meet here
tonightr'
+ [ ought to say that by this time one
or two porters, not to say a passenger
or two, had gathered within earshot.
and were Immensely enjoying the de-
lightful comedy, whilst poor John was
as red as a turkey-cock, and so utter
Iy nonplussed as almost to have lost
speech. In talking they had moved
along until now they were almost op-
posite the entrance, and I thought
John was meditating fight, for he was
about three yards in advance of the
rivals, when, just as he faced the gate
who should be coming in but another
lady with q striped handkerchief and
a red rose in her bodice!
!. Seeing John standing, as if expectant
she went boldly up and introduced her
self as Miss Kate Learoyd! John
Bateman, I presumed"
John put out his hand in sheer help
/ lessness but was no doubt thinking bv
this time that he must be either half
lUnatic or that somebody was having
him. CHANGING round in utter desper-
atIon as to what to do in order to avoid
the scene which was now uDon the
tapis, he simply took the first opening
which offered and rushed a. full speed
dCWn the entrance road to the station,
away through Doncaster as fast as his
legs would carry him. The last we saw
OF him that evening was of a figure in
the distance still rushing on with coat
tails flying in the breeze. as if seven
f1ends pursued him.
When we, Martha and 7, reached
home, some time after ten o'clock that
night, he had gone to bed, and mamma
informed us that John had been lust
as queer after he came home as be-
fore he went out, which, you may be
certain, amused us both very much.
1t transpired a long time afterwards
that John had gone along the country
roads to station three miles off in
order to avoid any further meeting
! with more Miss Kate Learoyds!
! The climax of his downfall from
vanity was when, next day, a boy
brought to our house, and left with
mamma, three striped handkerchiefs
and three red roses, all unwrapped,
with label which said, For Mr.. John
Bateman. With Miss Kate Learoyd's
kind regards
How had it been managed, do you
ask! Why, I had got Mr.. Blair-my
friend, you will recollect-to see three
female members of an actors company
which was in Doncaster, and tell them
how to act [ had put the ADVERTISE
ment in the paper myself, and the three
actresses had entered into the fun with
enthusiasm. 1t just suited them! Yes,
| you are right; my brother John never
answered any matrimonial ADVERTISE
ment again, and half of his vanity, at
any rate, disappeared. Moreover, he
ceased taunting me about that fellow
Blair" who will soon be my husband.
/ Did he ever find it out? No, not my
share in it, and I don't want him tn