Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1899-12-21

| had determined to fathom and so |
proceeded about it in anything but u
diplomatic manner, for | was youns
and thoughtless. My whole soul had
become wrapped up in Grace. She was
the ideal woman | had picture IN my
dreams, and l had determined that she
must be mine at any cost.
| look back to those days with
wonderment, more perhaps at my own
temerity under the circumstances, for
| did not even know that | was loved
in return.
Gene" l remarked, one morning,
after | had lain awake all night plan
ming and hoping, Il want to talk with
you about matter that concerns me
nearly-concerns US both. -
He looked at me in some little
amazement. Then putting his arm
through mine, laughingly pushed me
along, saying, We'll | should judge
from your long face, it's something Sc
rious. Drive it away, old man, don t
consort with your cares during the
holidays. Never worry in December.
January is all awful good month for
broken vows, worrimenJs and all that
sort O. thing
Gene, I'm going to bluIt it out and
have it over with. I'm head over heels
in love with your sister!"
''Walter!"
If | haven't mentioned it before
will say the above is my given name,
although it really has nothing to do
with the story.
There was that in Eugene's face
which fairly dazed me. He seemed
terror-stricken at my abrupt but simple
announcement. All the acts of my life
passed before me, as | was in vain en-
deavoring to find a cause for his con-
sternation, and then | poured out my
soul.
Truly, Gene, there can be nothing
against me. | have some wealth, ex-
! cellent prospects, am not roue--''
Hush, my boy" cried Eugene. ''It
isn't that! why my sister has been
engaged for a year, and do you think
my mother would forego a coronet!
It's impossible,,,'
Engaged! A coronet! What dc
/ you mean" | cried.
! Il mean simply this" he replied
! putting his hands on his shoulders
Grace was abroad with mother a year
ago as you know. At that time-but
, please remember that this is all con-
fidential, it's family secret-Lord
| Deerland fell madly in love with Grace
and proposed for her hand Mother
accepted the young man with alacrity
and l think Grace likes him. The for
NAL announcement is to be made after
! the holidays and they are to be mar
! ried in the spring. That's all there is
to the story, my boy, and now dom,
make a fuss over it, but just accept the
! inevitable"
I presume I looked crestfallen fftel
| this disclosure and for twenty-foul
hours kept to my room, determined tt
get over my chagrin. and not to spoil
! the Christmas party by any hasty de.
J parture.
On the following day, the day before
| Christmas, l summoned all my cour-
! age and went down stairs into the
midst of the gayety. The expression
of Mrs. Kerr's face had undergone 6
! delightful change. She fairly beameC
on me, and a lurking suspicion filled
! my mind. Gene had undoubtedly tolc
his mother and sister all, for in nc
other way could 1 explain the rhap-
sodic expression on the mothers face
and the sadness that seemed to have
come over the younger woman. That
of course was simply pity, l argued
She was like all the others, ready tt
play the coquette though she knew she
would break heart or two.
By most fortunate chance I re.
ceived a message late in the morning
which summoned me to the city for g
few hours on matter of business
Eugene had arranged sleighine
party for the afternoon, and this | was
forced to forego. My train left
shortly after noon, and I was waitins
at the station scanning a paper, m,
thoughts on sweet face in the Kerr
home, when I heard my name men.
toned by the agent as he directed
some one to the house on the hill. Il