Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1916-09-07

and either could have sat for the tailor
shop Autographs of young business men
wearing rich suitings in dark mix
lures"
Jim, approving warmly Of his neigh
boris profile. perceived her access Of
color, which increased his approba-
ton. whats that old Roscoe saying
to you, Miss Vertrees?" he asked.
These young married men are mighty
forward nowadays, but you mustn't let
EN- make you blush"
Gam 1 blushing?" she said. "Are
you sure?" And with that she gave
him ample opportunity to make sure,
repeating with interest the look
wasted upon Roscoe. Il think you
must be mistaken" she continued. II
think it's your brother who is blush
ing. I've thrown him into confusion"
How?
She laughed, and then, leaning to him
a little, said in tone as confidential
as she could make 1t, under cover Of
the uproar, by trying to begin with
him courtship I meant for your
This might we'll be a style new to
Jim; and 1t was. He supposed it a
nonsensical form Of badinage, and yet
it took his breath. He realized that he
wished what she said to be the literal
truth, and he was instantly shared by
that realization.
by Georgew he said. 81 guess
you're the kind Of girl that can say
anything-yes, and get away with it,
toor'
She laughed again-in her way. so
that he could not tell whether she was
laughing at him or at herself or at the
nonsense she was talking; and she
said:
But you see I don't care whether I
get away with 1t or not [ wish you'd
tell me frankly If you think I've got a
chance to get away with you?"
More like If you've got a chance to
get away from me-" Jim was inspired
to reply. Not one In the world, espe-
cially after beginning by making fun
Of NE like that"
Il mightn't be 80 much in fun as
you Think" she said, regarding him
with sudden gravity.
Well" said Jim, In simple honesty,
you're funny grip
Her gravity continued an instant
longer. Il may not turn out to be
funny for you"
$50 long as you turn out to be any
thing at all for me, [ expect I can
manage to be satisfied" And with
that, to his own surprise, it was his
turn to blush, whereupon she laughed
again.
Yes" he said, plaintively, not
wholly lacking intuition, II can see
you're the sort Of girl that would laugh
the minute you see man really means
anything!"
'Laugh'!' she cried, gayly. "Why,
1t might be matter of life and death!
But If you want tragedy, I'd better put
the question at once, considering the
mistake | made with your brother"
Jim was dazed. She seemed to be
playing little game of mockery and
nonsense with him, but he had
glfmpses Of a flashing danger in it; he
was but too sensible OF being out
classed, and had somewhere a con-
sciousness that he could never quite
know this giddy and alluring lady, no
matter how long it pleased her to play
with him. But he nightly wanted her
to keep on playing with him.
''Put what question:" he said, breath
lessly.
"As you are a new neighbor Of mine
and of my family" she returned,
speaking slowly and with a cross-ex-
aminer's severity, Il think 1t would be
well for me to know at once whether
you are already walking out with any
young lady or not Mr.. Sheridan, think
well! Are you spoken for?"
mot yet" he gasped. Are your
'No!' she cried, and with that they
both laughed again; and the pastime
p&ceeded, increasing both in it's gayety
and in its gravity.
Observing It's continuance, Mr.. Rob-
ert Lamhorn, opposite, turned from a
lively conversation with Edith and re-
marked covertly to Sibyl that Miss Yer
trees was starting rather picturesque
~ with jim" And he added, languid-
~, "Do you suppose she would?'
For the moment Sibyl gave no sign
Of having heard him, but seemed inter
ested In the clasp of long rope" of
pearls, loop of which she was allow
Ing to swing from her fingers, rest
ing her elbow upon the table and fol-
lowing with her eyes the twinkle Of
diamonds and platinum In the clasp at
the end Of the loop. She wore many
jewels. She was pretty, but hers was
not the kind of pretttness to be loaded
with too sumptuous accessories, and
1eWeled head-dresses are dangerous
they may emphasize the Wrongness Of
the wrong Wearer.
Il said Miss Vertrees seems to be
starting pretty strong with Jim," re-
peated Mr.. Lamhorp-
Il heard you" There was q latent
discomfort always somewhere in her
eyes, no matter what she threw upon
the surface to cover 1t, and Just now
she did not care to cover it; she looked
sullen. Starting any stronger than
you did with Edith?" she inquired.
"Oh, keep the peacey' he said, cross
~. That's off, Of course"
You haven't been making her see 1t
this eEening-precisely," said Sibyl,