Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1897-07-15
FOUND WAITING,

ances itself on the sWaying boughs of
palm tree, for the carpet was of
green and the window draperies were
green, and the walls were just tinted
of that delicate sea-green that shines
translucently through the rolling bill
lows of the deep; and she herself cur
1ously carrying out the unity of things,
wore a dress of soft green cashmere,
with silver lilies in her hair.
Her real name was Flora, but people
called her Tiny; it was pet name and
she had ever since she could remem-
ber-perhaps because she was small
and dimpled and fairy-like, and had a
fashion of nesting down on low otto
mans and little footstools instead of
perching herself on big, stiff chairs
like full-sized mortals.
She was very fair, with a transpar-
ent skin flushed with pale roses, and
hair like fiOss-silk, where the bur-
nished shadows came and went in
golden glimmers; while her blue eyes
were full of sweet, wistful expression
human lily of the valley, in short.
At least, so Earnest Sargent thought.
as he sat looking at her, with his heart
in his eyes
you will not give me the answer,
then, which is to seal my fate?''
Not this morning, Mr.. Sargent"
why not? I have surely the right
to ask the question:"
I am not altogether certain that I
have made up my mind, Mr. Sargent -
Earnests eyes frightened
you will give me the benefit of the
doubt, them"
L can't tell you just yet; I don't
know myself. Can not you compre-
bend, Mr.. SARGENT" she added, with a
sudden spark of impatience in her soft
eye, that this matter of marriage is,
with us women, something more i'm
portant than the selection of a favorite
shade in silks or the color of the spring
ribbon?"
II stand rebuked," he said, rising
and bowling somewhat tremendously
Tomorrow morning, then, I am to get
my answer"
Eyes, tomorrow morning, if you
like"
So Earnest Sargent bent his head
over Tiny Clarence's little roseleaf of
a hand and went his way.
"Well my dear" said Mrs. Clarence,
as Tiny came slowly upstairs, twisting
the green tassels that hung from her
waist, what have you decided?"
"T have decided upon nothing at all,
as yet, mammal"
Don't you like Mr.. Sargent?"
Eyes" answered Tiny, after a mo-
ment or two of grave consideration, ST
suppose I do"
Gle is very rich, and, your father
says, in a business whose profits are
continually increasing. You will be
wealthy, my child"
''Ts wealth the first object in life,
mammal"
mo; but it is more or less import
ant; and then Mr.. Sargent is very
handsome"
ST know it, mamma"
And then Tiny Clarence went further
still upstairs to the room where
Bridget was sweeping and busting in
a frenzy Of energy.
Bridget" she said, will you lend
me your black cloth cloak this after
noon, and the black silk bonnet?
want to wear them"
rs it fun yere making of poor girl,
Miss Tiny? Sure, We wouldn't even
yourself to the likes O. them. And
you. wild all the fine clothes a queen
would wear!"
But | am in earnest, Bridget. I am
going to see a poor woman who lives
in a tenement house down town, and
would rather dress so as to attract no
particular attention
Bridget still stared, but she made no
further opposition.
"I can't understand at all, at all, so
can't" she said, shaking her frenzied
head as she carried the aforesaid gar
ments into Tiny's room. "Sure, miss
it's like dressin' the queen of the fair
les up in a cabbage leaf Your bonny
face is lost entirely in the old bonnet
let alone the cloak covers you from
head to foot, entirely"
Never mind that, Bridget. Now
NenQ me the veil. There, IudG VIII w.
Tiny Clarence felt curiously unlike
the aristocratic little queen of fashion
that she was as she rode down town IL
the extreme corner of a Second avenue
car, and alighted a. length at a eros:
street, whose narrow purieus anc
swarming rows of tenement houses OF
either side betokened it the residing
place of the poor.
Turning neither to the right hanC
nor to the left, Tiny Clarence kept OF
her way until at length she entered ;
dwelling somewhere in the middle o
the block, and assembled the long f1igh
of carpeted wooden stairs which wa
the common property of all the inhabi
tants.
Pausing at a door on the fourth
story, she knocked softly.
s'Come in" was tie reply, and open
ing the door Tiny Clarence entered.
1t was a small room comparativel,
bare of furnIcure, but very neat. A 1t
tie bed occupied the further corner o
the room, and the smallest possib1