Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1897-07-01

mo, we really will have a day UP
the river together before we die, !
promise you" she said. Its one of
the things I've set my heart on
The 9th came and Arthur Walton
! dropped his Egyptians and picked up
a very pleasant little pile in their place.
! Hurrying to the George and Bull in
order to thank Miss Beaumont for his
good luck, he met Max Alden, who
also owned to having made very nc
thing out Of the same stock
Then" said Walton, well go i
and have a drink on the strength of it
! Whyr'-he stared in establishment at
the where's Miss Beaumont"
She's lett us" said the newcomer.
! Now, that's too badr' said Walton,
and then, thinking that Alden took the
desertion far too cooIly, you don't
seem to mind" he added
81 thisk we shall survive it, old man, -
said the imperturbable Max quietly.
'fNo affection in that fellow" Wal
! ton decided. "Only cares for his bust
ness" And, lacking Miss Beaumont's
bright presence, their glass of luck fell
quite f1at-they might have been drink
! ing at a meeting of their own creditors,
said Alden-'at our own liquidation"
/ he added, looking in vain for Walton's
approved of the wicked pun.
Never mind, old man, you'll soon get
over it," he said.
you don't understand, old Max, !"
said Walton. 81 know she was only
barmaid, and all that, but-dash it!
so different from the usual run Of
them. / call her lady'-Alden was
all attention-"I do. She may have
had a few bad tricks fearful
| rarely for instance-but she was a
little brick
What a pity she can't know Of your
good opinion" said Alden.
'TIl tell her-if ever see her again. -
said the other, and the two men parted.
Arthur Walton did not forget Maggie
Beaumont and the following SUNDAY,
as he rowed lazily along by Streatly
his memory of the superior barmaid
was painfully acute. 1t was too bad
for her. after promising him day on
the river too! But-here followed re-
Elections on the feminine character in
general, all to scathing to set out in
black and white. Suffice it to say that,
Just as he reached that stage when the
whole sex is given over to the lord of
enigma, he suddenly sat up with the
exclamation:
"By Jove! There's Old Max with a
girI-a jolly pretty girl too! All, those
quiet ones! Ill go and get introduced.
He paused to reflect.
Yes" he declared, chats the best
way-run them down.
The boat thus threatened was mO0red
to the bank, but 50 carelessly that it
had drifted out several yards into the
river, thus facilitating Mr.. Walton's
charitable purpose. And another thing
in his favor was that Max Alden and
his g0lden-haired companion were sit
ting in the stern seat with their backs
toward the enemy.
I'm so glad I needn't go any m02er'
the young lady was saying, when. hear
ing the splash of the oars. she turned
her head.
ooh, Mr.. Walton,'' she cried, edo be
carefulr' and, leaning forward, she
caught the nose of his boat and turned
it aside
Arthur Walton padded back in great
surprise Who was this girl with the
short golden curls that seemed so ready
with his name? Surely, surely, he
could never forget the name of the
owner of such a face!
keep quiet, Iris" growled Alden.
|I shall tell" whispered the young
lady so addressed.
Walton bowed to her rather sheepish-
ly
"Indeedr' he protested.
Il cannot have forgotten your name"
Perhaps the accent was on your"
Its very evident you have" she an
swered with feigned pique, and looking
down, smiled into a lunch basket
Glow are you, old MAXI"
How are you, WaltOn?"
The two young men shook hands
and then waited, rather awkwardIy.
ct won't go until he introduces me-"
said Walton to himself stubbornIy.
, Besides, she knew me already.
81 was wondering where I should ge
lunch he said to fill an uncomfortable
pause. The girl raised her head as
, though to speak, and Alden, trying
hard to make it appear an accident,
kicked her foot What could these
signs mean? Walton looked sharply
from one to the other and continued:
'All these river side houses charge so
high and give one such a wretched
feed
"Rarely?" The girl looked up, her
blue eyes yelled with lazy lids.
What? No! How can it be?" Wal
ton stared help1essly at the girls COL
den curls; but for them it might have
been
Such a delicious little thrill of
| laughter! Walton swears he can never
forget it, and in the midst of his in
t0xication a dim sense of old Max
growing, Iris, I'm very angry with
you!' and the girls answer, "dear oil,
Maxi" And then he, "Iris-Mr. Wal
ton; Mr.. Walton-my wifer'
"Oh, how could" But Arthur Wal
ton did not finish his question: he was
not certain whether it might not appear
rude
Come in" said Mrs. Alden, making
room for him in the boat. "and I'll
tell you all about it during lunch"
Then. in spite of her husbands looks,
Mrs. Alden told her little tale. Things
had been going very badly a wear he