Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1896-10-15

corning the station in life to which it
had pleased Providence to call him.
It's beastly, you know" he ex-
planned. Il may hang on for years and
never be nearer marrying than l am at
the present moment. AS for proposing
to her nOw-as the mater said-it' s
decidedly low to get a girl to bind her
self to any promise until one has decent
prospects,"
Arkwright reflected with a Pickering
smile that Johnnie had probably caught
rather the spirit than the letter of his
mammals admonitions. However, it
was sign Of grace that he remembered
them at all, and he felt sorry for the
woebegone youth.
You're young to think of marrying
yet, you know he said. Am | right, .
he continued after a pause, in suppos-
ing-Blake is my informant-a certain
Miss st. Clair has occasioned all this
trouble?"
'Oh, if Blake has told you And the
aunt is awfully decent to me-
But you are not proposing to marry
IL.
She
"Oh, well, fellow never knows that
sort of thing, you know, till he tries
his chances" said Johnnie in manner
which betrayed that he thought he
knew quite well that his affections were
returned, as indeed they WERE and
Audrey st. Clair was far too frank to
take any great pains to conceal it,
"Oh, ArkWright, what am l to do?" he
said pathetically.
Open your letter, Johnnie" he re-
piled and the tone in which he said it
caused the wondering youth to obey
promptly.
He looked seraphicalIy happy till he
remembered that he ought to look be-
reaved. Johnnie's ship had come
home in the nick of time. He had al
ways had shadowy expectations from
his uncle, but he had been too pessimis-
tic TO count too much upon them.
However, govt had claimed a victim,
and the canon's widow limited to her
son that he had to some extent bene-
fitted by the event.
The vanity of riches was eXemplified
to johnnie, when after a decent inter-
val, he returned to town the richer by
$4,000 year, but, as he speedily found
minus Mrs. LeversOn's good graceS.
Another was reigning favorite with
her now, Lester, a picturesque but not
very talented painter, who was deep in
converse with Audrey when he made
his temperance.
Mrs. Leverson greeted Johnnie with
out effusion. Audrey was more friend
ly, but inopportunely asked him if he
had seen Testers latest picture.
Johnnie's soul was already geen with
jealousy.
Who's Lester?" he said, that fellow
with the untidy hair?" Audrey re-
proachfully changed the conversation,
but Johnnie was out of humor and con-
tinued to sulk.
The lasted for some days, and it was
noticed that Mrs. Leverson continued
to treat him with as much indifference
as she becomingly could.
why does she quarrel with a chap
for coming into a fortune?' said Tom
my Blake, the close observer of human
nature. And why does he hang back
when he must see that that little girl is
over her ears in love with him?" But he
found no solution to these problems.
Johnnie sulked for month. Then
one afternoon he jumped into a cab,
drove down to Chelsea and Mrs. Lever
son being alone presently found himself
| blunderingly declaring that he would
! like to bestow his hand upon her
niece.
The good lady looked very grave.
| You are both young, you know
! Mr.. Madison" she said. Her mother
ly. Perhaps that has set me against
early marriages"
But what has set you against me?''
said Johnnie reproachfully.
| Nonsense, that is only your magma
ton" But Johnnie was not strong in
that quality, so \ \ Leverson was prob
ably misstating the case
| Audrey was, on this occasion, i'll and
! invisible.
She is too fatigued to bear any ex-
element just now. Come in three
days time said her aunt, land l will
think over the advisability of sounding
her on the subject in the meantime"
Three days later Johnnie came tc
Arkwright in a state of great perturba-
| ton. Mrs. Leverson had left her
house, and Chelsea knew her no more
1t was only by bribery and corruption
that Johnnie discovered that she had
gone to Scarborough, but probably
would not stay there, her plans being
unsettled.
She'll surely write to you said
Arkwright
But no letter came within twer y.
four hours.
Wed better go to Scarborough,
said Johnnie's counselor.
The truant lady was discovered by
johnnie in a staticner's shop on the
very day of his arrival.
! Audrey was so i'll the doctor advised
instant change. In the furry l forgot
to write to you," she said after a gasp
of surprise.
johnnie decided in his haste that al
women were liars, and asked when he
might hope to see Audrey.
You may come and call tomorrow
morning-she may be better then. But
l think it most undesirable that you
should make any proposal to her yet, OF