Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1913-11-06


Its none of her business. Say yes,
Mary. I'll pay you anything you like"
She raised her head little proudly.
'sOf course ! viii ask you no more than
I anv one else she began, but he
( broke in gladly:
/ (which means that you viii come.
Thank you. Mary
All the way home job Tanner was
I contrasting the coy little house he had
/ Just left with his own spacious but
lonely abode Meanwhile Mrs. Clemens
was assuring herself that she was re-
/ garded By her late caller only in the
light of a capable servant
She went to her field Of labor early
/ on the Monday morning before Thanks
7 giving. Sally was warm admirer Of
f! Mrs, Clemens and helped in her usual
careless fashion. All things for which
/ Mary asked were provided. even to a
| box of cut flowers from a neighboring
city.
/ Thanksgiving morning dawned, gray
and overcast About s O'Clock Job en-
I tered the house from the barn
Miss Clemens. she said for you to
come in the dinin' room and see how
things looked" was Sally's greeting.
When he opened the door he stood
/ speechless. The old room was trans
formed into a bower of beauty. The
bay window was filed with evergreens
and adorned with yellow chrysanthe-
NUNS and silver leaved begonias from
Mary's home The quaint old mahog-
any sideboard was filed with choice
bits Of china and silver, qUivering
molds of amber jelly, a massive sill
| yer cake basket filled with slices of
. rich. dark fruit cake and a bowl Of
scarlet carnations The long table was
spread with fine linen and ornamented
/ with smilax and roses. On low vine
draped stand between the side win
dows was a pyramid Of apples. oranges
and bananas
1t all looks good enough to eat
And so do you" he went on, noting
her well fitting brown bingham dress,
white apron and pink ribbon at her
/ throat. MARY, you make my home a
paradise. Stay here as my wife"
She grew very pale Twice she es-
saved to speak, but the words died on
her lips 1t was not until he came
nearer that she found her voice.
mo. no You ask me because you
are sorry for me and your home is lone
ly. / cannot be your wife on these
terms"
~ do not see why you cannot I
I l., 70
She smiled. although her lips quiv-
cred pjteously Il know you would.
Job. There is something else"
Not another MANI
oh no Please don't ask any more"
81 have a right to know. You must
tell me why you cannot be my wife"
There was a grave dignity in his
voice that she could not gainsay. She
must tell him the truth,
Because | love you. Job Tanner
Nay. do not interrupt me. You would
indeed be good to me, but l know too
we'll the result of a union where the
love is all on one side, and so l will
not be your wife. Now, not a word
more on the subject L have outraged
my sense of womanly pride, but you
made me speak" And before he could
recover from his establishment she had
/ taken refuge in the kitchen.
The guests began tC arrive in short
time. Job had no opportunity for an
other word with Mrs Clemens. One
fact was plain to him-Niary had re-
I fused him.
hon xHfc
cial intercourse. Then the guests de
parted When Job re-entered the house,
after seeing the last load drive off, he
found Sally washing the dishes.
Where is Mrs. Clemens, Sally?" he
asked
Sally paused, dishcIoth in one hand
and a half washed plate in the other
Where. indeed?' He recognized the
tone as one that marked the height of
Sally's displeasure. shes gone home.
driv off by that sister of yourn!
| Hump! I'd jest like to give Abigail
Skinner Il piece of my mind | come
right near dom it. but Miss Clemens
the lamb-she begged me to keep still"
A little skillful questioning put Job
in possession of the facts Mrs Skin
ner had entered the kitchen and plain
ly expressed to Mrs. Clemens the sur
prise and Indignation of the family
concerning the widows presence
Said as how they were all sayin' as
how she was a-throwin' of herself at
your head" Sally went on. Mary
Clemens wouldn't marry you nonow
If she would you'd be a bigger fool
than you air now not to take her"
Job did not tarry for any more
words. Pulling his hat well down over
his eyes, he opened the door and set off
toward the Clemens cottage.
Upon reaching the home of Mrs
Clemens he walked in without knock
ing. The lamp was lighted, and Mary
was in the sitting room She sprang
up, hastily wiping her eyes.
q know all about it, Mary" he be
gan. There is not word of truth in
Abigail's cruel speech. She is jealous,
and, Mary, there is something else"
she looked at him YEARLY please
don't say anything more. After my
mad words of this morning the great
est kindness you can do me is to spare
me the modification of seeing YOU
But it is what you call your MAG
words that | must speak about once,
Mary" he said gently, yet in such a
masterful way that she could not but
listen. I've made a discovery since
morning. l again ask you to be my
wife not because l am sorry for you
not because l long for the comfort
/ your presence will bring into my home.
/ but because love you"
/ He took both her trembling hands in
/ his firm clasp. I've loved you all
these years. Mary. but never under
/ stood until today what made my life so
/ empty. All. this is real Thanksgiv-
/ mgr And Job Tanner gathered the
woman he loved close in his arms.