Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1897-06-10
A Dangerous Experiment.

A Dangerous Experiment.
What an idea! You'll never get
! anyone to do it, Lii"
girl"
who? Do tell me-"
Cant you guess"
NO"
"You!"
! Mel" l fairly screamed.
Yes, you. Now listen, Bertha
You're just the girl for Duncan; I've
always thought so, and I know you
both well. Duncan is"
'Oh, my dear girl! Just as if l
didn't know everything that Dun
can is, and isn't and was and will
be! And just as though any girl
would take that sort of thing on trust,
and not judge for herself, before she
went all the way out to India to mar
ry mani"
Bertha, darling, don't get excited!
Please do think this matter over, seri-
Cusly, and try and see it's advantages.
| will give you his letter to
read, and leave you for a little, do try
and like the idea"
L read the letter, and can't say was
much impressed, but as it explains the
position of affairs, here it is:
Dear Old Lii am writing to ask
a favor of you, but first you must
promise you won't think me perfectly
rad, as l sOlomnly assure you am in
earnest. We have always been pals,
haven't we? And I think you know
exactly what sort of a fellow I am.
Do you remember you used to saw
that the reason so many people are
unhapp1ly married is because the man
always persists in choosing the girl he
falls in love with without CONSIDERING
whether she has the qualities neces-
sary to make him a good wife? 7 re-
m&mber you once said: Men would
be far happier if they would let their
sisters choose their wives for them
Well, [ want to get married and [
have resolved to give your wise
maXims a trial. Perhaps I may be
rather cold sort of fellow, but, any
way, I have never wanted to marry
any Of the girls about here. Will you
choose a wife for me from among
your English girl friends, and place
the case clearly before her? Tell her
all you know Of me regarding character
disposition, ETC.; also that I am %
years Of age, we'll off, tall, and, I be-
lieve, passably good looking. l should
like her to be presentable in appear
ance, the rest I leave to you. We
might exchange photos; only mine
would be no good. as they are all Old
ones, and ! know you have no decent
ones at home. | need hardly add that,
though it is a dangerous experiment,
l will do all in my power to make it
turn out a success, and whoever trusts
herself to me snail never have cause
to regret it if I can help it. Let me
know as soon as you can, and believe
me, your affectionate brother,
Duncan Eastwood
After all, it is rather a good idea,
[ think, original, if nothing else: but
somehow I wouldn't like to take the
risk. On the other hand, I've no
home, now that dads gone, and only
a poor little f40 a year to live on.
Lis awfully good and kind but I
can't stay here forever, her husband
must think me a nuisance as it is /
shall have to go out as a governess,
and here's a chance of marrying a man
who is rich, handsome, kindhearted,
and of whom everyone speaks well.
I don't care for anybody else. Shall
[ chance it?
Well, I did after all. I had no one
in the world to advise me but Lii and
her husband, and they both thought
it a desirable match. They said we
were made for each other, but I be-
lieve in their innermost heart of
hearts they think Duncan q bit too
good for me. My photo was sent out.
and my future husband deigned to say
that eff [ was anything like my photo,
he loved me dearly!" I think it was
rather sneaky of him not sending one
OF his, but he has been infinitely de-
scribed to me, and is going to wear
white gardenia in his buttonhole
when he meets me at Calcutta. He
has a good post in the Indian civil
service, and lives in Calcutta in the
Geld weather and Simla in the hot,
SO I shall have a good time. Lii rig
ged me out, and packed me off, and as
for Newell, think I shall like him,
and [ mean to try anyway
We have passed Port Said, and
very soon We shall reach Alden; every
one on board is so kind to me.