Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1903-03-17
JOHNS TEST.


'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 be-
fore a certain definite point in my life
no male creature ever dsigned to cast
a glance at my insignifcance, that be-
fore Aunt Mary invited me to spend
month with her IN New York and sent
me home with a carload of trunks, con-
tanning nothing but wearing 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 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 provokingly at the look
of genuine establishment that her sud
den outburst had brought to the SEN
sitively lined masculine face before
her.
"And now, you, whom l considered
my best friend, have become as nom
sensical as any of them. 1t Is true you
have said the apparently endcing
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, doubt not that by the TWEEN
tieth time you will become as fluent as
the others
"Millie, l can't deny that l 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, 1 don't know what
you designate as cheap finery. but
would have you know that this gown.
as well as the boa which adOrns my
shoulders, was a special present from
auntie and imported direct from
Paris" The ruffied feelings sought
consolation in rearranging the fluffy
creation of lace and artificial flowers
that composed the neokwear in ques-
ton.
"You understand what l meant. Mil
llcent. l can't say you don't look nice
in that thing around your neck, but
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 l do the
asking and offend you again"
The pouting face. half hidden behind
the white parasol, looked almost as
though about to refuse to go out on
the lake altogether. but John pulled
I'D a canoe and quietly began arrang-
ing the cushions. When he had fin
ished. a figure behind n parasol stepped
in and settled down among them.
Nothing was said until they had
proceeded nearly across the lake and
were skirting along the opposite shore.
Then as John was padding idly.
watching a reflection in the water.
n voice suddenly demanded that he
turn aside and enter an opening that
the shore made at this point and
through which could be seen small
pool of water thickly studded with the
white blossoms of the water lilies
Without hesitation John turned the
nose of the canoe in the direction in
Dictated and padded up TO the point
Of entering. when he noticed that the
water In the inclosed space was very
shallow and covered surface of dark
looking mud.
He stopped progress and waited for
the owner of the voice to observe the
state of affairs, but the voice vouch-
sofed nothing but an impatient COM
mand to continue. Then he spoke in
non-committal voice of the advisable
tv of entering where there was in
sulncient water to allow padding But
the flowers cleaned white in the sun
light and a scornful ripple of laughter
was his answer.
Manlike, he gave in to woman's
whim and pushed the boat into the
midst of the lilies. He ?eaped reward
in the lowering of the parasol and a
colupanionable face smiled upon him
as the owner proceeded to tuck up the
ruffieS preparatory TO plucking from
the water the hrown-Stemmed lilies.
But even before the first flower was
obtained the catastrophe happened.
\ great, ugly-looking green dragon
fly rose loudly buzzing from the flow
ers, directly under the side of the
boat, and. pereeiving the gently sway
ing fiufiiness above the canoe. and per-
haps deceived into thinking it new
mass of bloom yet UNEMPLOYED. Owed
at once in its direction and succeeded
In alighting with a moments dispatch
directly under pink chin. With the
rough wings brushing a dimpled
throat.
Ii was all over in a minute. A
startled cry of feminine terror, panic
stricken spring for the other side of
the canoe. and John found himself
Snee-deeP ia black. Shiny mud. with a
bedraggsed and dripping little figure
weeping Historically upon his shout
der. end an overturned canoe within
his reach.
1t was then he saw his chance. Mil
lic.nt. stop your crying. I never saw
n worse looking creature in my life"
4 white face of astonishment turned
up TO his. And. for heavens sake.
take or that block. oozy thing ground
your nC.x." Unconseiously a muddy
fist stole up and dragged OF the cling
ing mass Of slime and dropped it with
a shudder.
Now. Millicent will You marry
me?s Not till then did the face show
any comprehension Of the words being
spoken. Then a flash of color appeared