Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1911-10-12

should be disposed Of at once, and
repeat l an sorry that the man hest
tated, for whatever reason / can't i'm
agine, so that the affair might have
been conclusiYeIy settled"
1 an not al al sure, mother" an
sweTed Miss Haldane, that it would
have been conclusively settled in the
way at least you seem to think the
only way possible, If he had asked me
to be his wife"
Eleanor, you could not possibly
love this mani"
q could DO so; but I certainly do
not love him now I certainly respect
and admire him, think he is the lead
ing citizen Of New York today. If he
wins this election and goes on as ne
should, there is no reason why he
should not be president Of the United
States. l believe it would be easier
to be elected TO that Office than to be-
come mayor. And while do not feel
toward him as I should toward the
man win some day marry, yet there
are many other things in the pros
pect that allure"
But you are Haldane, you are a
Stayvesant, you are
Il know, mother, all that my an.
cestors were. As for myself, am Just
an American girl, who likes Ameri.
can men and American institutions.
and who is glad to see people do
things
4 presume" said Haldane, who had
said little but had thought deeply,
that such proposition, If definitely
made, would be made to me-
Wei then, Of course" said his wife,
you will give but one answer"
"And what would you suggest that
should Beg" asked Haldane.
To show him the door"
i hardly think" returned her hus-
band, that 1 should be guilty of that
discourtesy"
There is no USE" interposed her
daughter, "to discuss the matter any
further; for he hasn't asked NE, l
haven't accepted him. I don't know
whether he ever will ask me or not,
and until he does why trouble about
it?"
We'll, what does he mean then by
telling you that he loves you? Lowest"
sneered the older woman disdain-
fully.
Yes" said her father, cit seems to
me rather remarkable course for a
man to address woman in that way,
and yet not complete his proposition"
He said that something was i'm
pending which made him feel that it
was proper to tell me this now"
Something impending?"
Some sort of disclosure, inferred"
answered The girl, that might affect
him or possibly me-"
Haldane started.
Well" he said, ct do not quite
agree with your mother. There is no
insult in the honest affection of any
honest man. But if he approaches you
upon the subject, I wish that you
would refer him to me-"
"Father."
"Beekmani" exclaimed the older
woman, greatly surprised. you don't
mean"
Nov, I don't mean anything, ex-
cept just what l say" answered Hal
dane decisively. 1T is proper that
such proposition should be made to
me; and in short very greatly desire
to be allowed to discuss the matter, if
it goes any further, with Mr.. Gormly
personally"
Haldane spoke sternly, and his wife
at once subsidized, as she invariably
did when he assumed that mood.
Eleanor, however, was not so easily
silenced.
'Of course, in any event you would
be consulted, father" she said firmly;
'Ebut so far as the disposition of my
hand goes, that is a matter that con-
Germs my heart, and it is one which,
although I should be very glad of your
counsel and your approval, I shall
have to decide myself"
quite so, quite SO" said Haldane.
81 have no other idea"
At this moment, which threatened
to grow more tense, Livingston Hal
dane entered the room. He was great
ly perturbed and alarmed.
Father" be said abruptly, 81 want
to see you alone for a moment or two
pleased"
What has happened?" began Hal
dane, rising.
why, Mr.. Gormly-- But would
rather see you alone"
HAS he made proposition to you
for your sisters hand?" questioned
Mrs. Haldane.
What" exclaimed her son.
Eleanor" explained his mother,
has just stated that Mr.. Gormly took
advantage of your kindness to him the
other night, after that disgraceful cpl
sode in the city hall, to make love to
her in the tonneau of the car"
''You don't say!" exclaimed the
young man, apparently neither shock
ed nor surprised. We'll, he's good
one. What did you say to him, sis?"
at is very unpleasant to me to have
these matters discussed in this way"
answered Eleanor, her face blushing.
"As I have explained to father and
mother, Mr.. Gormly did me the honor
to say that he cared great deal for
me- He did not ask me to be his wife,
although he expressed his intention Of
doing so. He said that certain things
had made him anticipate his purpose
and state his feelings toward me now
without waiting, as he had expected
to do, until the end of the election"
dane. Things that concerned him,
Or"
tTO BE CONTINUED.)
Bad Habit Broken Up.