Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1897-01-14

Suo IOdCuou up Oll llploC lilac ihSeAS
woman-and clasped her small hands
on his shoulder, and his hard hand
softly stroked the tired little head that
nestled so trustfully against his arm.
But, after all, the little woman
showed that she, too, could be indie
pendent. Reno had insisted that the
ceremony should take place at once,
but she refused.
Il must have time to get my trous-
seau," she said.
He sought to supply the money for
it's purchase, but she refused.
You must let me have my way,
this little woman had said. 81 will
provide all for myself. 1 have little
money saved, for your sister pays ne
a generous salary. Then | will come
to you 1t will not be at all hard for
me, Jack, for you know | have taken
care of myself for 50 long. And
when it is all over how pleasant it
will be-almost 1t glimpse of paradise
to know that 1 need never face the
world again and fight the bates of
life unaided."
And then this little woman, in spite
of all her bravery, found herself cry
ing, with her head on the broad breast
and the strong arms around her. But
her independence did not desert her,
and still she held out against the Of
fers and entreaties that Jack made all
over once more.
And as he went back to the prairie
ranch again he was forced to content
himself with the little woman's prom
Use to come to him as soon as she had
added to her small store of wealth SUI
ficient to pay the expenses of her
trousseau and the trip westward.
His sister, reconciled to the match,
now that she could not have it other
wise, insisted upon all sorts Of proper
things, but the little woman Wou ID
neither give up the care of the chill
dren nor accept increased wages.
And now she's comingr' Jack Reno
told Miggles ''She is 10 come from
Pioneer on Bob Slaoker's buck board,
on the next trip after today's. I'll
meet them there, and-Well, then her
| troubles will be over for as long as
Jack Reno is above grass. Her life
has not been all brightness, but,
please God, it will be now, if [ can
make it So
81 reckon you kin, Jack" said Mig
giles, earnestly You're mighty good
/ to me, anyhow. / allus reckoned on
sorto repayin' you, but-wal, [ never
( have nuth'n', an l don't reckon I ever
will"
Never mind, Miggles, said Jack,
/ heartily. when [ think of the trou-
+ BILE that little woman has gone
/ through he added, continuing the
/ subject he, lover-like, enjoyed so well
lit makes me feel that if | could meet
the man-lher husband-who caused it
I'd kill him in his tracks, like a dog
/ But he's dead now-she wal ed long
time for his return, but he never came
back and-well, he is dead now"
Briefly, the story of the little
womans life of trial was THE same oil
hackneyed one that, with few varia-
tions, has been told over and over
again-oh, so often!
The little woman had been arcety
more than the little girl when she haG
been married lowell, he had been g
scoundrel, whoever he was, Jack Reno
told Miggles. But, now that he wa;
dead, the ranchman felt that he could
afford TO let him rest.
He had deserted her That was al
A common story, truly. Ever since
u, ho1> !
against the world-.he hard oil
world. And
well, it'll be all over now sait
Jack Reno. And Milly-'
'MillyH' echoed Miggles. ''My-I-
nuth'n'! Minded me NV sumpn'
That's all. Go on"
There was more animation thar
usual in the accentless drawl.
Anything troubling you, M Cycles p
'Noap." The drawl was as &C elt
less as ever. Since I've begun to fee
pindlin', | git to talkin' sorto queer,
reckon. Head hainit right"
If
Hello, thar" cried THE voice o
Bob Stacker, the mail-carrier, as hi
brought his rusty-red blackboard anC
team of rascally-lOohing ponies to
halt in the prairie road, little dis
lance away. were, Jack"
There's Milly!" cried Reno, hurry
ing toward the rickety stable wner
he tied his clean-limbed cayuse pony
Good by, Miggles! FL send Bo
over after you with the blackboard
Wedding will be tonight? i"
Come one day quicker than sh
lowed she Would!' shouted Bob. IAN
wal, we've got to hustle right smar
to get preacher an everything read
fer tonights weddin'. Jack, l reckon
your cayuse kin ketch us. Git dap!'
And, in response to a pistol-4lk
crack of the mail-carrieris blacksnalk
, whip, the rascally-looking ponie
leaped away, jerking the rusty-re
blackboard along the prairie road a
a rate of speed that threatened to fore
the wheels completely off from tn
; vehicle
, Good by, Migglesr' and JAG
Reno's cayuse was rapidly oyertakin
o the rascally-looking ponies of Bo
Stacker.
r Miggles, who had risen feebiy, san
t back again on the doorstep clutchin
at his heart. His characterless fac
7 was gray beneath its tangle of bearC
= Solomon, the woolly mule, shuffied u
/ and wrinkled his dirty old nose il
: quiringly at his master.