The River Falls journal. (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1857-1861, 1858-11-24


Having driven Joseph away, locked
myself into my room, and suffered the
torment Of tho damned in as quiet q
manner rs possible, until next morning.
Then Joseph returned, and looked at me
with disinay.
"For Heavens sakeI he said, syou
ought not to let this thing kill you,-and
it win, ii you keep on.
80 much the better, I said, If It Kills
nobody but me. But don't be alarmed.
Keep perfectly. cool, and attend to the
commission am going to entrust to YOU
cant soc Flora this morning, / must
gain little time. Go to the station of
the Lyons railway, where | have engag-
ed to meet her party; say to her that |
am detained, but that | will JON her on
the iourney. GIVE her no time to ques-
ton you, anl be sure that she does not
stay behind.
"I'll manage sit.-trust me9 said
Joseph. And off be started. 1t the
end of two hours, which seemed twenty,
he burst into.n room, crying
'.Good news she is gone! told her
you had lost your passport, and would
have to get another from our minister.
"Whatr | exclaimed, you lied to
her! aa
"Oh there was no other wayp said
Joseph, ingenieusly,-'she is 30 sharpi
They're to wait for you at Marseiles.
But I'll manage that, too. On their ar
rival at the Hotel d'Orient, they'll find
telegraph dispatch from me. j wager
hat, they'll leave in the first steamer for
Naples. Then you can follow at your
THANK you, Joseph
81 felt relieved. Then came reaction.
The next day / was attacked by fever.
know not how long struggled against
il, but it mastered me. The last things
l remembered where the visits of friends,
the strange talk of g French physician,
whispers aud consultation. which knew
were abou. me, yet took no interest H.
ana at length Joseph rushed to my bed
side, in futter of agitation, ana grsp-
ing
''Florar -~r s4s
What of Floral / demanded. rl
Il tolegraphed, but she wouldn't go:
she has come back; she is hers!!'
| WIS sinking back into the stupor
from which had been reused. when
heard rustling which seemed afar off,
yet was in my chamber; then vision
appeared tony sickenei sight,-a face
which l dinly thought ha. seen before.
flood of curls and rain Of kisses show
er;eg upon me- sobs and devsuring
carssses,-Flora's voice calling me pass
tomato names; and lying SO passive,
family struggling TO remember. until my
soul sank whlrling in darkness, and l
knew no more. re ~
s'One morning, cannot tell you how
long after. l awoke and found myself in
strange looking room, filed with strange
objects, not the least strange of which
waa the thing that seemed myself. At
first I looked vague and motionless, Gu
rinsly out of the Lethe from which my
mind slowly emerged; pain'ess, and at
peace; listlessly questioning whether |
WAS alive or dead, whether tho limp
weight lyingin bed there was my body,
the meaning of the silence and slosed cur
tains. Then with succession of painful
flashes. as if the pole of an eectrice bat
terry had been apple d to my brain, mem
DRY returned. -Margaret. Flora, Paris,
delirium. I next remember hearing my
self groan sloud, then see Joseph at my
side. l tried to speak, but could not.
Upon my pillow was a glove, and he
placed it against my cheek. An indies
cribable, exerueiating thrill shot through
me; still | could not speak. After that
came relapse. Like Mrs. Browning's
poet, lay.
'Twixt gloon, and gleam.
With Death and Life at each exsrsTne."
s'But one morning l was better.
could talk. Josopd bent over me, weep
ing for joy.
"Tho danger is pastr he said. The
doctors say you will get we'll"
.sIinve been SO i'll them
l'lll r. echoed Joseph. Nobody thought
YOU eonld live. W. all gave you up,
except her and She
"Sher | said, ia SIZE herc!'
"From the moment Of her ARRIVAL" re-
rlisl Joseph, she has never left YOU.
Oh, if you don't thank God for her. he
lowered his voice, 'snd 1.-Two Nil the rest OF
your life just to reward her, Won are the
tioet uugratoful wr' tch! You wou d
sertsinly have died but for her. She has
scarcely slept. till this morning, when
they said you would recover.
"Joseph paused. Every word he
spoke went down like weight of lead
into my soul. had. indeed, been con.
scious Of tender hand soothing my pr
low, of a lovely form fitting though my
dreams, Of s breath and magnetic touch
of love, infusing warm. sweet l;fe into
me,--but it always seemed Margaret, n u
Flora.
'.The glove!' l asked.
"Here ii s, said Joseph. In your
deiirinm you demanded it; you would
not be without it; you caressed it, and
addressed CIT the fenlerest apostrophes
"And Flora, heerd?'
"FIoraa' repeated Joseph. Don't you
know-heaven't you any idea-what ha:
happenedi 1t has been terribler
TELL me st oneeP l said. Keep moth
ing baekp
"Immediately on her returning from
Marseillos, you remember thatP
"Yes, yes! go onr
Oh. hl,,Io.3 I-,..,ff IL