Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1903-05-14
Short Story
Of the DAY
JOHNS TEST.

But, Millicent, can't you see that,
er-that l love you as no man has
ever loved before The black eyes
} glowed with suppressed ardor.
, "Inferring that no man ever has
loved poor little Millicent Bigelow be-
fore. And to tell the truth, John,
: that's just what's the matter-that
, before a certain definite point in my
life no male creature ever deigned
TO cast glance at my insignificance,
that before Aunt May invited me to
spend month with her in New York
and sent me home with carload of
trunks, containing nothing but wear.
, ing apparel expressly designed and
manufactured by New York and
: Paris modistes to set forth and
enhance my previously undiscovered
beauty, that before came home and
i. lost all my girl friends out OF
jealousy for my better clothes, men
were not in the habit of tumbling all
over themselves to tell me twenty
times a day that they loved me-"
She smiled provollingly at the look
of genuine astonishment that her sud
den outburst had brought to the sch.
sitively lined, masculine face before
her.
And now, you, whom | considered
my best friend, have become as non-
sensical as any of them. 1t is true
you have said the apparently enticing
words but once and stumbled over
them at that by the way, but con-
sidering that we have just arrived at
the picnic grounds and that presently
| shall ask you to take me out in a
canoe on the lake and expect you to
ask me to go with you again after
lunch, l doubt not that by the TWEEN
tieth time you will become as fluent
as the Others"
"Millie, | can't deny that | shall
probably keep on repeating the ques-
ton until | get the one answer that
will satisfy me- but when you accuse
me of wanting to marry you because
you may have more or less worthless
finery on; it's beyond"
John Atwood. | don't know what
you designate as cheap finery, but I
would have you know that this gown.
as well as the boa which aiorns my
shoulders, was a special present from
auntie and imported direct from
Paris" The ruffled feelings sought
consolation in re-arranging the fuzzy
creation of lace and artificial lowers
that composed the neckwear in ques-
ton.
you understand what | meant,
Millicent, | can't say you don't look
nice in that thing around your neck,
but l liked you just as we'll in the
brown dress that you used to wear
with brown ribbons and then you
used to let me Put my arms around
you"
An indignant shoulder turned in
his direction was the only answer.
But won't you please hurry and
ask me to take you out on the lake
as you said you would, before I do
the asking and offend you again"
The pouting face, half hidden be-
hind the white parasol, looked almost
as though about to refuse to go out
on the lake altogether, but John
pulled up canoe and quietly began
arranging the cushions. When he
had finished, figure behind a
paraso stepped in and settled down
among them.
Nothing was said until they had
proceed nearly across the lake and
were skirting along me opposite
shore. Then as John was padding
idly, watching a reflection in the
water, a voice suddenly demanded
that he turn aside and enter an opel
ing that the shore made at this point
and through which could be seen a
small pool of water thickly studded
with the white blossoms Of the water
lilies.
Without hesitation, John turne.
the nose of the canoe in the direction
indicated and padded up to the poin
lof entering, when he noticed that tn,
water in the inclosed space was very
lshallow and covered a surface o
dark looking mud.
He stopped progress and waited 70
1.-THE owner of the voice to observe tn,
state Of affairs. but the voice vouch
safed nothing but an impatient com
mand to continue. Then he spoke ii
noncommital voice Of the inadvisabi
ity Of entering where there was in
isufflcient water 10 allow padding
But the flowers cleaned white in tn,
sunlight and a scornful ripple O
laughter was his answer.
Manlike, he gave in to woman
whim and pushed the boat into th'
midst of the lilies. He reaped a re
ward in the lowering Of the paraso
and a companionable face smiled
upon him as the owner proceeded tc
tuck up the ruffles preparatory tC
Iplucking from the water the brown
jstemmed lilies. But even before
the first flower was obtained The
catastrophe happened
A great ugly looking green dragon
fly rose loudly buzzing from the flow