Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1898-09-22

There was stir in the ivy in the
corner of the yerandah, and the pref
tiest voice in the world said to him:
This is Mr.. Ruggles? Well, Jack
only just telegraphed back his stupid
arrangement. And I thank you very
much, but I prefer not to be arranged
for, and the boy has gone with a note
to you now. am Leonore Benedict.
Ruggles looked down on the tiny
figure in white, and wished reflexly
that the hall light could be a little
broader in its inclusions.
Il am extremely sorry" he said.
will you not reconsider that? 1
wish I could tell you how much I
hope you may
You are very good" she said
gravely, I thank you. If Jack comes
down by twelve we shall come over
for the rest
She half bowed as if the matter
were ended. Ruggles took a step
forward.
IF you come" he said, will You
let me have the last extra-at least?
Because, he told himself as he strobe
back to the carriage alone, amy OF
the fellows will be glad to take that
extra off my hands"
Then he leaned back on the
cushions and smiled to himself in
glee.
skipping a dance with Miss
Morthallow," he summed up in
amusement, ''for one with-the
Leonore"
He felt more amusement and
dash of iispleasure when he noted
after supper how he was watching
the door. And his comment on him
self at nearly one was nothing short
of severe when his heart beat faster
a. sight of Washington entering, but
he made his way with no less prompt
ness to the blue gown beside him.
Now who would have thought" he
put it to himself fairly when he had
made three bold RS on her card,
that cousin from away could show
UP like that?"
Then came the skipped extra, for
which Lusnington had been COM
handed brusquely to beg Miss Mort
hallow, and to brook no denial. Miss
Morthallow gave it him, and Rug
giles forthwith found her and got
through the proper thing about be-
ing allowed half, and threaded his
perilous way past that permission
and smiled indulgently at Lushing-
tons yelled merriment Then he
went about the last extra with
1 eonore.
Yes, he admitted critically when it
was over, Jack was right in his judg-
ment; she was like nobody else And
yes, he conceded just as impartially,
he was more glad of it than he had
been of most things in his life, and
could he get through the intervening
dances with decency until a two-step
marked with a monumental white
stone, two numbers away? The
event of his senior year by present
lights, and indeed of his whole col
lege course, seemed to be the looking
up of that sweet, fresh little face,
and her asserting, or taking clever
exception, or the brown eyes flashing
some denial, and the being conscious
Of what he denominated the 'sympa
thetic go" in what she said.
There are more things on earth,
Ortheris,' he misquoted at the end
OF that two-step, than your squidgy
little eyes have yet looked upon"
Stay here the rest of the week?'
he put it to Washington briefly in
the crush at the check-room
"She?" nodded Jack; "yes-at the
Percy's. Not a sou to her name" he
volunteered cheerfully. Better anchor
where you were"
"Lushington, described Ruggles
with severity, ''you approach your
dotage. And you are a flint-souled old
match maker besides. Good night"
tits funny thing" Ruggles held
communion with himself three days
later when he had put Miss Benedict
on the train and had pocketed her
town address and that of her sum-
mer home, chow things turn out"
When he threw Miss Morthallow's
picture in his box an hour later, he
commented again:
Il believe" he said frankly and
openly, that I come much nearer
loving her than she ever will me-
speaking in ensembles
And the her was in no wise Miss
Morthallow.
And one day at the end of the
summer when he took a certain train
far too impartially happy to be
promiscuously at peace, he feebly at
tempted to take a final observation
Il believe things like to go by
confounded contraries," he said ex-
ultantly, "and things show mighty
good taste. IONA Gale in Penn
sylvania State College Annual.