Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1899-06-08

to be left all alone" said the cunnin;
Sam.
"Oh, she'll go fast enough if yo,
co. said Jim and I don't care abou
going out with Mr.. Henderson all By
myself
''Oh, he's a muff,' said Jim. Blu
never mind; I'll go to please YOU"
Thank you, Jim; you're a regular
brick"
Jim tried hard to straighten his poor
crooked back for the idea of being con
sidered a regular brick by Sam
Forbes made him feel that he was
after all, something more than de-
formed little mite.
Sam proved himself to be a shrewd
guesser. Mr.. Henderson offered to
take Jim out for row, and Jim
jumped at the offer. Polly, who was
burning to have it out with Sam, re-
fused to go, and Mr.. Henderson. NUT
tering curses, not loud, but deep. had
TO pull out with Jim as his solitary
companion, leaving his rival in pos
session of the field.
Sam noticed that Polly was not her
usual self. She seemed cold and hard
and defiant, and he could not think
what had come over her. Usually she
was frank, yivaciOus, and generous
hearted to a fault, with a ringing
| laugh, and a flash Of mischief in her
sparkling brown eyes, irresistible
enough to play fast and loose with the
hearts OF most men who came under
her spell. Perhaps it was her wee
dash of reckless daring that enslayed
more captives even than the eyes that
ever flashed with some new spirit.
But this evening she looked like an
icicle, to approach which it would be
to be frozen.
But Sam was young man of spirit.
and it took a good deal to daunt him.
AS for Polly. she knew quite well
that Sam intended to propose to her.
and having, as she imagined, counted
the cost, she had determined to refuse
him. He had, as she thought, humil-
lated and disgraced her by avowing his
certainty of a favorable answer, there
by implying that she had been guilty
of unmaidenly conduct in showing she
had given her love before it. was asked,
and she longed for nothing so much
as an opportunity of paying him out
Polly he said, I'm rather a blunt
fellow, and don't know how to get up
sentimental rhapsodies-'
That's a great pity" she said in
tone charged with a freezing mixture
of frigidity and sarcasm.
Sam held on the even tenor of his
way as coolly as if no irrelevant re-
mark had been interjected.
Il came down to Dunoon for the ex-
press purpose of asking you to be my
wife"
Then you might as we'll have stayed
at home" snapped Polly viciously.
Your father has no objection to Of
fer" continued Sam, the imperturba-
ble
''And you had the audacity to tell
him that had none," CRIED Polly, now
fairly reused by his irritating GOODNESS.
''You are wrong" said Sam, quietly.
What said-and it was in confidence
to your father-was that didn't think
you would have. You see 1 had the
audacity to think you cared for me,
and the honesty to say so.''
when did l ever give you reason
to think so?'' she asked holly.
THAT is question it IS useless to
discuss he said. THE point is, was
| right or was | wrong?"
She stood at bay, her lips quivering
anu her bosom heaving.
you never made a greater mistake
in your life," she said.
Sam regarded her a moment in 81
lence, and with something of an amused
look. He noticed the flushed cheeks
and the feverish light in her eyes, and
heard the suppressed tremble in her
voice as she spoke the words. He
saw that wounded pride had blinded
her capabilities of foreseeing or caring
for probable results, and guessed some
thing of the struggle that she had gone
through before she could utter that
lie, and pitied her. But he would not
yield one inch of his ground. "She's
always had the reputation of beir viz
enish,'' he said to himself, "and the
sooner she loses it the better for both
of us"
81 suppose you intend marrying Mr..
Henderson," he said.
Here was a chance, she thought, to
sting him into temper.
Il do she SAID. He at least acted
the part of a gentleman. He asked
me before he went about saying he was
going to marry me, and /"
Suddenly great cry burst from
her.
ooh, Sam. The boat! Jim will be
drowned!"
Sam turned like flash of lightning,
and took in the situation in less than
second of time The boat had cap
sized and Henderson had struck out
for the shore, leaving poor little jim
to his fate.
ooh, you Internal coward" he cried,
ana he rushed along the beach to the
nearest point, divesting himself of his
coat as he ran, and plunged into the
water.
By this time Henderson had gained
| the beach, and, amid the jeers of the
excited spectators MADE Decline for
| the nearest hotel.
Sam was a powerful swimmer, and
soon brought Jim, whom he reached
| just in the nick of time, and who
| looked more like a half-drowned rat
| fo1x