Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1911-10-05


settled beyond doubt that the ed
trolling spirit OF the Gotham Freight
Traction company, against which he
WIS making his great battle, whose
downfall was after all the object c.
his campaign, not for any other rea
sen, however, than that it stood for al
that was bad in municipal administra
ton. was her father.
Whether or not GormIy would have
engaged IN the battle IL he had had
foTeknCwledge OF this alliance be
tween the father Of the woman he
loyea and the powers he was irving to
overthrow, is a question. Az to his
present attitude, he had begun his
campaign with mingled feelings. II
had been at first in a certain sense
and for short time a campaign for
the winning Of Eleanor Haldane: bu;
larger issues had speedily relegated
that as motive into the BACKGROUND
and now the campaign made every
possible appeal to his honor as a man,
to his sense of duty as a citizen. And
while Eleanor Haldane bulked large
before him, he knew that no matter
what might be the result of the cam.
paign so far as she was concerned
he must of absolute necessity press
on to the end OF it. He wanted IN
win for her; but if it became neces.
sary, he would win without her. and
for the peoples sake.
It would make his election prob.
ably certain to reveal to the public
the vast corruptive influences behind
the traction company and the Sachem
society. His agents had been thorough
in their work, and they had discovered
what nobody suspected; that the syn
dicate of which Haldane was the head
practically controlled all the public
utilities and afforded all the financial
backing for the Sachem society and
Its immense corruption fund.
Gormly had meant to carry on his
campaign to the end, and then tell
her that he loved her and ask her to
be his wife. He saw swiftly that with
all the complications before him this
would be an entirely fruitless proceed
circumstances he could have won her
affections, it was probable that now
such an endeavor would be unayail-
ing. He had been wondering since
the knowledge had come to him how
he could get speech with her without
too great publicity, and behold for
tune had given him the chance. At
whatever hazards he intended to avail
himself of it.
Miss Haldane," he began, after
they had been running along for some
time in silence, L said that 1 had
something to say to you I don't sup
pose either the time or the circum-
stances are propitious, but necessity
compels me to say it now"
Il shall be very glad indeed to listen
to anything that you have to say to
me-" was the answer.
Thank you. I meant-it was nv
purpose intended-when 1 had won
the first step to ask you if you would
not help me with the rest of the bat
tie"
Help you, Mr.. Gormly?"
Yes, Miss HaIdane, l purposed to
ask you to be my wife"
Your wife!" exclaimed the girl
1T surprises you doubtless. Pos
sibly it dismays you"
1T surprises me, certainly"
And yet you must have known,
you must have seen-you are woman
enough for that-that I cared a great
deal for your opinion"
Il will not deny it, Mr.. Gormly,'
returned the girl. Things you have
said, not so much that perhaps as the
way you have said them, have led me
to think so. But I really never i'm
agined-You see there is so much diff
ference"
i know that I am almost old enough
to be your father" returned the man
gravely. 81 am no boy. Therefore.
I am the more sure and convinced of
what I say, and you can be the more
sure also that love you"
TT is great honor that you pay
me-" began the woman
Watt" said the man. st am not
through. I did not intend to tell you
tonight. AS say, was going to wait
until I had something worth while to
offer; but things that I have learned
have made it necessary in my judg-
ment to inform you of this fact at
once"
What things, Mr.. GormIy? Is some
one making charges against you or
discovering things about you?"
Not one. It is not of myself am
thinking"
"Of whom! Of what them"
"As l said BEFORE" returned the
man, Il can say no more. It seems to
me that now my honor demands that
put you in possession of the state of
my feelings. I am not asking you if
you care anything for me. 1 realize
that you could not. 1t is easy for me
to have fallen in love with you. in
deed 7 don't see how 1 could have
helped it; but the case with you is
different. And 1 want you to know,
whatever happens in these closing
days of the campaign, that I do truly
and devotedly love you. Great God!
Miss Haldane, I haven't used these
words to soul since I was boy. You
can't know what they mean to me,
what l would like to have them mean
to you. Some day, it may be soon,
I shall ask you to be my wife; but
now all that I want to impress upon
you is that whatever happens to me
or anyone, I am pledged TO you in my
heart forever. Nothing can make any
difference in my feelings. You UNI
derstand that?"
81 understand entirely" she said.
CTO BE CONTINUEDD
Yachting In Olden Times.
Yachting Was little ind11lrnd In IN.