Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1896-12-31
Under The Lilac Boughes.
By F. Marie Imandt.


village on the Clyde a girl was stand
ing Above her the lilac boughs were
bending in full bloom. Ever and anon
her eyes wandered from her knitting.
At last a brighter light suffused her
pretty face; her fingers forgot to work,
she just watched the approaching
form
How late you are, Will. 1 thought
you could not get away perhaps
What a mean soul met her fond
eyes gazing out through eyes fine in
form and color!
Il was detained" was the reply
''Nettie, I have something to tell you"
Something serious, is it, Will, dear?
You seem full of it,
We'll, yes, l am" he answered. 1T
is very serious for me. 1t will change
my whole life"
Tit will not change you, WIZ
she faltered.
He looked impatient.
Yes, it will, Nettie. l may as we'll
tell you at once. 1t must change me
altogether. l am destined for some
thing higher than clerk
Nettie stified an exclamation, but
she grew deadly pale.
Her eyes, her pallor made him I'M
easy, but he spoke again impatiently
Il don't see why I should beat about
the bush" he said. MY luck has
come at last. l have as good a right
to il as another surely"
"Will!'' she cried. You are going
to college at last! You know that no
one will be more glad than L.
Il know, Nettie. I know how good
you are. 1t is kind of you, Nettie, very
kind. Indeed, indeed. you are too
good for me-
What do you mean, WHIP" she
asked, struck by the tone of his voice.
In all the three years we have been
engaged you have never said that be-
fore. Indeed, you have sometimes
made me feel [ was not good enough,
not clever enough for man as am
bilious as you
His eyes did not meet hers.
That's just it, Nettie," he said at
last Il am ambitious. | have always
felt a call to something higher than
the stool Of clerk. | am just cut
out for a minister feel it in me.
1 was meant ito bring the hight home
to thousands. [ have always felt that
as minister of a city church I could
really do good. Now my chance has
come. I am going ito college"
ooh, Will, but how"
Sir John Smith, he said, heard
me address some of the factory lads
He sent for me. I have just come
from him. He offers to send me to
college, and to prepare me for the min
istry''
WILL" Nettie replie1 in low tones,
''are you quite sure he will keep his
word? He is known to be tickle and
boastful Will, dear, he is the hardest
taskmaster in the place.
Il can't help that he replied
What have I to do with that? He
has made me a generous offer, and,
of course, I take the man at his word
He has promised to make me a
minister he said a few moments later
in jubilant tones, land that alters all
the world for me!'
"Nettie," he went on, for she did
not speak. Il mean to deal fairly with
you. l can never ask you to wait ali
those years for me. 1t will be seven
at the very least
She shivered, but he did not notice
it.
Il shall not act as some fellows do
who sneak out of such engagements
l made up my mind to be honorable,
and tell you plain out. If you won't
hear reason, I shall do the best I can
for you
What do you mean, WHIP"
The ring of passion and indignation
reached the soul that was in him some
where, dulled though it was.
He fiinehed before her.
Il mean, Nettie, | mean, you know,
it's seven years; it's too long to ask
you to wait. You are a clever girl,
and a pretty girl. You want to make
the best of your life, too
Her eyes swept him contemptuously.
AT the end of the seven years YOU
will be a minister, and you will want
TO marry a lady. That's what you
mean. WHIP"
Her calm voice deceived him; it even
piqued him to think how little she
seemed to care.
He was about to speak.
! 'RPSi6oS - che went on GI yro,1Id he
old too, as we'll as plain, after teach
ing all that time in a country board
ing school I should not be fit for a
minister's wife You want to break
our engagement, WHIP"
For a moment there was silence.
You won't be nasty, Nettie?" he
asked anxiously. You won't demand
money from me- even if people urge
you to it? You'll keep it between our
selves?''
Have no fear" she replied calmly.
Il kept everything else between our
selves, all our hopes and our dreams.
l shall keep that too
You were always a good girl, Net
tie" he said ''You-you really are
too good for me. You'll easily marry
and forget all about me-"
'I'n easily marry and forget all
about you Oh, yes And again he1
calm tones piqued him.
She spoke mechanically; mechanical
ly, too, she tried to pull a ring eff hel
finger