Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1898-12-29

shuddered and thanked heaven he had
not happened to come in there.
The colonel's peroration was COM
mand that Adolphus should marry
Fanny promptly as the only repara-
lion possible for the damage he had
done TO the Pownce family honor. As
Adolphus was entirely unconscious of
the slightest hurt upon the family
honor he was inclined to demur upon
that ground, but, as he hesitated, Fan
ny whispered to him:
Say yes. Papa will forget ell
about it tomorrow
So the young man said yes"
That scene effectually sobered him
as soon as he could get away-which
was not until Colonel Pownce had
ordered him to appear for marriage
the next day "at O'Clock p. m
sharp"-he went straight home. and
there, in the solitude of his room, set
himself TO agonized contemplation Cd
his horrible ENHANCEMENT He was
not one Of those enviable persons who,
upon becoming sober, have no recol-
lection of what had transpired while
they were not so. On the contrary, he
had vivid and even intensified con-
sciousness of the stupendous follies
he had perpetrated and lively appre-
citation of their probably disastrous
consequence.
In his agony of spirit he groaned go
loudly that he was overheard by the
ledger in the next room, Mr. Vree-
land, who, thinking he was sick, came
in to see what might be done for him.
Big, hirsute, Independent and good
naturally cynical, Mr. Vreeland was
heartily liked by everybody in the
house. He had only been there two
or three months, coming from some
where abroad-no one knew exactly
where-yet everyone made confidant
of him, solicited his sympathy and
asked for his advice, as if they had all
known him for years. Adolphus did
not hesitate TO tell him the whole
miserable story, and when he had
heard it through he threw himself
back upon the bed where he had been
sitting, and laughed until the tears
stood in his eyes.
Adolphus was both astonished and
hurt. "I do not see," he exclaimed,
resentfully, what there is in my most
unhappy position TO amuse you!'
THAT" replied Mr.. Vreeland, sis be-
cause we don't look at it from the
same points of view. It may be news
to you, my boy, but know all those
people much better than you do. I
used to belong to their set before I
went a-roaming five years ago In
fact, am Jack Wintergreen'
Husband of Mrs Bezels sister,"
Exactly. She thinks I'm dead-but
she and I never agreed about any
thing. AS she never got any divorce
I don't believe her way is quite clear
to making you my successor. I did
not Intend mentioning to her my re-
turn, but will do so if necessary
That disposes of her, and she is the
only one from whom you would have
had to apprehend any trouble. AS for
Cornelia, she Is ever so much older
when her war paint is on-and, I'll en-
gage, was simply having a little fun
with you Lordi How I should have
enjoyed hearing your melodic proposal
to her!"
Colonel Pownce is an old friend of
mine, and I know things will look
different to him in the morning. They
was hardly out of short dresses when
I went away, but If she has Pownce
blood in her, fond as she may be of
frolic, she, would no more think of
marrying a man who loved some other
girl, than of biting off her own nose.
Anyway, I'll see the colonel in the
morning and will wager thousand
dollars against a cigar he will not ex-
pect or want to see you at o'clock.
It seems to ne the only trouble left
on YOUR hands is that of coming to
good understanding with the pretty
little Kentuckian, and in that / fancy
I would better leave you to yourself"
The next morning Adolphus haunted
the parlor long before breakfast was
f61uy, WILLING vi Lue CHdHCS VI oCclIieo
Miss Dutton, who was, as he knew,
habitua1ly an early riser.
She came in looking just as bright
and sweet as on the preced'0e day.
Taking the hand she offered him in
greeting, he spoke as If just contin-
uing the conversation interrupted by
Miss Narl:
"Such home I offer to You, and
with it the lifelong devotion of an az
fectiouate heart, that beats for you
only, and will know its greatest han
piness in the right to call you by the
sacred name of wife Tell me, dear
Mil1y, will you be my wife?"
And she said she would-said 1t
with reasonable promptitude, too
New York World