The River Falls journal. (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1857-1861, 1857-09-16

(, she made no reply. e zo
Meanwhile, the brother and sister hac
reached the drawing room. Are you 90
ing to dance the next time, William 2"
"Yes, sister, Tn SO happy as to have Sc.
cured the services of that little witch,
Kate Carlton, to assist me through the
trials of the next. cotillion, unless you've
counter commands for me-"
mo, go back and find her-leave me
here, this is d q seat
4 ssLeave you? What freak is this, to
send some poor swain ON an Arctic expe-
dition through the rooms in search of the
North Star-instead of the North Pole
and when he has ventured within, to play
the iceberg and freeze him out of his Par
adise." .r.r 49,
"An iceberg in Paradise! You've got
beyond your depth in rhetoric, Master
! William. Back to Kate Carlton with
YOU" And with an imperious gesture she
waved him back to the hall; then, instead
of throwing herself on the sofa, she turn
ed to the door and went out closing 1t
noiselessly behind her.
Gliding like spirit down the staircase,
through the dim lighted entry, down an
other flight of stairs, she paused before
the bar-room door. One quick beat, one
strong heart beat, perhaps, and the door
swung noiselessly open under her silken
touch, and she stood before the startled
| group. More than one rude oath was
checked, and more than one eye quailed
before that sudden vision. One quick
glance around showed her the foru, she
sought, Charles Dormer, at the bar with
his hand on the glass, just ready to lift to
his lips. s -
In an instant she was at his side, and
her hand was on his arm. There was not
a snow flakes weight in the touc of those
white fingers; but there was power in
them to hold back the evil dranght from
I his lips that moment and forever.
With start he turned and met those
dark imploring eyes appraised to his. He
had seen them flash with pride, and spar
kle with merriment. Now they bore no
trace of aught save love and serrowful sur
prise, and tenderest pleading. All that
was sweet and womanly within her had
risen up and asserted itself over the mirth,
mischief and coquetry; and she stood in
the midst of the rude crowd in utter self
forgotfulness. .... .,-..-..
| 1t was the sudden out blooming from
the laughing, sparkling waters of the pure
white lily of womanhood, 'wth heart of
virgin gold."- Her voice was low and
cleal,. her words We're very simple. She
might have spoken them anywhere:
Il wanted you, Charles, and come to
look for you here. Will you come with
me, please!" ta.
He drew her hand within his arm,
and very quietly they passed out through
the silent group. Without word the
cousins wendell their way through the
the dark hall. up the stairs to the door of
tho drawing-room. ..4
"Dear Charles" she whispered, 81
came to bring you back to Annie
He touched his lips reverently to the
little hand, with faltcring "God bless you
Louise" and they went back to Annie
The dove eyes were lifted with shy
smile Of welcome and Louise turned light
ly away to join the next dance. Charles
claimed Armies hand, but not for the
dance--he did not care for it this time
he whispered and drew the willing girl
away to quiet scat, where they might
watch the others ifthey chose.-Charles
seemed as little inclined for talking as for
dancing, and Annie wondered little
Once she thought his eyes were filing,
but her look Of timid inquiry was answer
ed with smile so full of tenderness that
she was glad to hide her own-dew, az
ure and all, under dropping lids
They danced no more, and when he babe
her adieu that night at her fathers door,
there was that in his few, low, earnest
words, that made her tremble with excess
of JOY, though she did not understand it
all. She did not know how his manhood
had been stirred to its very depths; her
simple happy though was that he had
been strange and silent, but never gentler,
never tenderer.
With the music that sounded through
her dreams that night, was mingled
swceter tone, to which her throbbing pulse
kept time; and che loves me-" was the
burden of the song.
Time went on, and the young dream
grew into familiar waking reality
That music, fallen lower and sweeter, kept
her daily life "within its number" But
she never knew what delicate hand had
struck the key note to her life's harmony,
and saved the wild discord that might
have been. Louise Phillips danced and
firted, as bea, ties will; wore rose buds
in her hair and laughter on her lips,
through more than one gay Winter, and
then one came, somewhat nobler, some
what worthier than the rest and the brown
head nestled trus,ingly to its BOSOM
Louise resigned her belleship to merry
Maggie, exchanged her rose for the Or
ange flower, and there were many to con-
graduate and some to envy Herbert War
ner the beautiful bride he had won
James Ellis only thought, Eyes, beauti-
full enough, but very heartless; spoiled by
her handsome face. am sorry for
him. But Charles Dormer said, "God
bless her.
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