Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1898-02-10

BY Cora Whittlesey Gregory.

CjOn 10 QeclQe, mourning more nor less
than whether | shall be Mrs. William
Wilson, Jr., or remain Kate Marshall,
spinster. 1t is something to be con-
sidered seriously, and as mother would
say, reasonably. I wonder how it
will end, how it ought to end?
Everyone regards VIII as such ia
great catch, that, of course, [ feel
fattered in one sense by his offer and
yet 1 doubt if he cares for what is best
in me, or if he and I could ever under
stand one another as a husband and
wife ought to. He isn't at all my ideal,
but then l am 27, and mother says
girl past 25 has no right to have ideals.
Almost all the other girls are married
and mother is beginning to dwell on
the horrors of a lonely old age, and
to discuss marriage "sensibly," as she
calls it.
viii has money and will inherit
more, and his father will give him a
hundred thousand on his wedding day.
He spoke of that last night, as if it
might influence my decision, and it
made me feel Inundated, and as if /
were benig bargained for, but mother
says that is childish and that woman
ought to consider all these things in
choosing a husband. 1 couldn't sleep
much for thinking Of it last night,
and ! have been reading over the mar
rage service today and trying tc fancy
myself vowing to honor and obey Will
| Wilson. If / made the promise l
| should try to keep it, but it wouldn't
| lie easy. It tries me to think of hav-
| ing him around all the time Now
there is George Farmer, George
| Washington Farmer (what a prepos-
ferrous name). After [ have seen him
l already think Of so many things l
want to say to him, and questions |
want to ask him. 1t is quite different
with Will. Mother says that is be-
cause l have known him so long, but
that as they live together a husband
and wife find a grelt many things of
mutual interest, and grow to be more
congenial. George Farmer and Will
are SO utterly unlike. 1 suppose that
is what made me think of one when Il
was thinking of the other.
Will is well-bred, and always knows
what to do and how to dress, and he
dances delightfully."-; and poor George
Farmer was brought up in little
country town, and he doesn't know
how to dress, and he can't dance, and
he is so honest that it makes him
appear abrupt and even rude at times
At Mrs. Tracy's dance, last night, he
had on dress suit for the first time
IN his life. 1t was becoming. l never
saw him look so well, and l let him put
his name on my card, and set out one
of the dances for him. He might have
taken two if he had b d the courage
to ask for them He is 50 modest that
he only thinks me very kiE1d md con-
siderate-it doesn't occur to him that
find him very agreeable.
For better, for worse, for richer,
for poorer" How should Will and j
get on, I wonder, if l married him and
his fathers bank failed, and we had to
live in little house in an undesirable
neighboI hood CT even in rooms some
where No, l never could stand it,
living in rooms, yet [ remember Ida
kept house in three ROOMS the first year
Of her marriage, and seemed perfectly
happy, but then that was a love match
Mother says George Farmer is prob
ably used to seeing his old mother and
sister do the work at home and would
expect the same of his wife. I dare
say he would be shocked if he had any
idea how little | know of homework.
He is one Of the men whom you feel
has a nice mother. He has told me
something about her, and said once
that he knew 1 would love her, which
pleased me, for l fancied he thought
she would like me, too, but then per-
haTs she wouldn't. Men are never
good judges of what women will think
OF one another. / should like to
show him how to tie his neckties, poor
fellow. That dreadful made satin bow
last night! What would mother say,
what would everyone say, if one were
to marry such a man. [ can i'm
agine mother ringing the changes on
Mrs. George Washington Farmer
However, if a girl really cared for a
man, she ought not to mind a little
thing like that, nor his speaking of
pretty ladies'" as he did last evening.
I noticed him in the supper room
with May Britain. They seemed to be
getting on very well together, and he
looked much more at his ease than he
does when he is talking to me. Her
gown wasn't at all pretty, and her hair
was done most unbecomingly. Will is
so observant and appreciative of pref
ty things. That particular waist Of
Mays is a trial to him She has q
kind of yoke made of silk and lace,
that she hooks on when she don't want
to wear it low, that Will calls a
'1ambrequin. He said last evening,
Your friend George Washington has
blossomed out, Kate. He and May
Britain seem to get on famously Why
wouldn't that be a good match? He
wouldn't mind the lambrequin, and she
would think the satin necklace tie
was all right.
There are some other things about
Mr.. Farmer that she would think all
right 1 replied significantly, and
Will flushed, for we had both noticed
him declining champagne, and Will
was taking his second glass. l Won
dered if that had anything to do with
his proposing to me between dances.
Fortunately he wasn't sentimental. If
he had been I should have refused him