Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1907-11-28

Oh Sucn man as ne. But though ne
would not be rash enough to actually en-
gage himself, it was pretty certain that
he would insidiously lead my unsuspecting
little friend to believe that he intended
to marry her, and l feared that he might
obtain such hold upon her affection that
when he threw up the game, as he newt
ably would when he discovered that there
was nothing to win by it, the effect upon
her would be serious. She was not a
tirt; she had never cut up her heart into
morsels and scattered it about amongst
crowd Of admirers; her heart was whole
to be given to one man, and one only. She
was serious and earnest in all things, and
it seemed to be possible that she might
never care to give TO a second man the
affection that had been despised by the
first. For this reason l resolved, il I got
the opportunity, to shake her faith in Mr.
Lynn Yeames.
One day l met her alone in the road
that cuts through the Hazledown woods.
Here is beautiful morning, Miss Dali
rymple," said l, holding her hand.
''Oh, it is beautiful ~ she exclaimed,
looking around her. ''See how the rime
still stands on the brake, and look how
the drops glisten on the gossamer. And
what lovely tints there are on the beeches,
and the brambles down there"
yet you would prefer at this moment
to be in your London hospital You feel
that you are wasting your time here
that's the fact, isn't it,"
Il should be sorry to think that" she
replied, with quiet gravity.
But you are. Here you are saving the
life of one child; there you might be saw
Ing a dozen"
They will be saved without me-
"And little Laure would be lost-that
is true"
Let US talk about the country" she
said, as we walked on.
There is a man worth talking about"
said |, pointing down to the crossroads,
where | spied DR.. Audrey jogging along
in his gig on his beggarly round.
"Oh, l don't think there is a better
man than he in all the world !" she cried.
with enthusiasm.
IF he were only a little more practi-
CAL" said l.
She nodded sadly, and presently said,
Il sometimes think he would have died
d martyr udu ut IlNtu d lOuS WnlI6 ago.
Il don't see what there is in store for
him now. There he goes, to look after a
lot of thankless vagabonds, who'll never
pay him for saving their lives"
She looked thoughtfully before her for
a minute, then she said:
do you think he could ever be happy
in the ordinary sense of the word?"
Yes, if he married"
81 do not think he will ever marry"
she said, shaking her head gravely, after
a pause.
why not?" l asked; 'he is a man
and fine man, too. The only difficulty
is in getting any one to have him. A
man without superficial attractions and
without money, what chance has hep"
do you think all girls are either silly
or mercenary?" she asked.
There's third section; but they don't
care for good men,"
/ have mentioned the girls trick of
blushing; and looking sidelong in the ex-
pectation of seeing this home thrust bring
the color up to her temples, l was sur
prised to see that it produced rather a
contrary effect.
Il don't mean an absolutely bad man,
but one who thinks he is reformed" said
|, land attributes, or leads it to be i'm
agined that he owes his reformation to
the girls influence"
l was morally certain that Lynn
Yeames had not ascribed his change to
the effects of a country life in his con-
versation with Gertrude, however he had
chosen to represent it to me.
1T fatters the girls vanity to think
she has redeemed the man." l added
rs it vanity and nothing else that
makes one delight in doing good?"
Il can't say, my dear-not having had
much experience in that way myself but
this l know, that every GOOD girl must
be doing good, ought to be doing good,
or think she is doing good. 1 speak of
good girls, and no good girl would be
content to- be an idle plaything for a
mans leisure moments. And the wish to
save some man from evil courses too often
leads the girl herself into the evil course
of putting faith in appearances, and lend
ing a credulous ear to empty protesta-
tions. That course may lead to IRENE
dial misfortune and life ong unhappiness"
This was plain enough in all conscience,
yet she did not allow herself to show that
she saw the personal allusion to her own
case. She was a wonderfully self-pos-
sessed young woman, and moreover had
too much principle to suffer the opinion
of others to bias her own estimate of a
trusted friend indeed, l believe that her
loyal heart became only the more staunch
by the defense of those she loved against
an accusation in which she herself found
no reason to participate. OF this she
gave convincing proof later on, as 1 shall
show.
Soon after this a concert was given, in
aid of some philanthropic cause. Lynn
Yeames was a steward and figured promi
nently in the advertisements. Well,
whether it was to please herself, or to
please Lynn Ieames, or just to show
that she did not value my warning at two
straws, don't know; but this is certain,
Miss Dalrymple went to that concert I'M
der the protection of Mrs. Yeames, who,
ever since the discovery at the flower
show, had shown herself mighty civil to
the young lady. l went also. 1t charm
ed me to watch Miss Dalrymple. The
music and gaiety appealed to her feel
ingS as it never could to an old lawyers.
Her eyes black as sloes with excitement,
her face glowing with healthy animation,
she looked prettier than ever l had seen
her yet. No, there was not one in the
room to compare with her. l wondered
how ever l could have thought her plain.
IF they were all like you, my DEAR"
said I to myself, "it would be real pleas
ure to come to these affairs"
She enjoyed it thoroughly, for she was
young and healthy in mind and body. The
music, the light and brightness of the sur.
| roundings exhilarated her; and then she
must have known that she looked well
and was admired, and believe such a be-
| lief as that would set the Lord Chancel-
Tor in a good humor. l think it mattered
| little to her whom she was with, for she
was free from any idea of Irritation, and
just as innocent and pure and sweet and
| good as she looked.
| l enjoyed watching ner until the time
came for Lynn Yeames to take her home !;
and it stirred up all the bile in my ma
| tuas when he took her hand and passed it
| ~ ,rh IL oII