The River Falls journal. (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1857-1861, 1858-08-18
RIVER FALLS PIERCE COUNTY, WISCONSIN, WEDNESDAY,


want you to look your loveliest this eve
ming for my soiree. There will be most
distinguished company. Count L
is coming this afternoon-Mrs. Jay prom
ised to bring him with her. He only
arrived from Germany the day before
yesterday. George thought of coming
with him: but he wrote to me not to ex-
pect him positively; and of course he is
not with him, or he would have written
to me-"
Mrs. Lawton's drawing room was
crowded that evening with the elite Of
fashion. Nellie, was at the piano, sing
ing, when two young men came into the
hall. They stopped there, listening with
delight to the full rich notes of a power
full voice, which seemed flooding the
room with melody.
"Bravom said one of them, as the
song concluded. Let's see this canta-
rrice."
"George~ cried Mrs. Lawton, as they
came into the room.
Of course, there was rapturous meet
ing, and explanation of how he had writ
ten to her, but that the letter must have
been detained; and while he was saying
all this, George was looking at the singer.
She was changed; and he did not recog-
Mise his cousin Nellie. AS she stood
under the light, leaning gracefully against
the piano, chatting with group of ad-
mirers, her blue silk dress fitting her
small but beautiful figure to perfection,
her rich and abundant hair falling from
a jeweled comb in a profusion of curls on
her white, uncovered throat and should
ers, jewels glittcring on her arms and
bosom, she certainly looked most unlike
the little country lass whose hair was
confined by hat OF a handkerchief, and
whose close kerchief came up to her
throat.
"Who is that. mother--the lady i'll
blue?" asked George.
"That! Oh, that's Nellie Greyson
she replied. "She is here on visit.
There! Mrs. Jay has introduced Count
l. already. Well, she can speak
German beautifully; so she is about the
best person here to entertain him."
Nellie, tn, accomplished singer talking
German to foreign count-Nellie, who,
few years ago, was seated on the old
stile, studying French grammar under his
kind tuitionl George was slightly be-
wildered; but, remembering her old
| friendship for him, he advanced conf
IDENTIFY to meet his cousin.
Nellie's little spice of coquetry had not
died out. There was no blush, no ire
NOR in the greeting of her cousin; the
hand she placed in his was quiet us his
own; the voice was firm, the manner
easy and graceful. George, the coxcomb,
was disappointed.
Nellie saw her power now. 1t was a
long wooing, for it WIS not until poor
George was as desperately in love as she
had been herself, that Nellie gave him
even so much as smile of encourage
ment. Whenever he spoke of love, her
little innocent look of surprise was too
much for him; and accustomed to have
his attentions courted, he was often on the
point of leaving her, and giving up the
pursuit. Then Nellie was belle; the
boquets, invitations to ride, and visit the
opera, and 5illets dour she accepted from
other admirers, drove George wild with
| jealousies. She had, too, the most pro-
voking way of referring to the days pas
sed in the country, with sort of con-
temptuous pity of her own silly capacity
for seeing perfection in n man, merely
| from the fact that he was town-bred, wore
broadcloth and kid gloves, and had seen
an opera; and, finally, Nellie went home
to Towcrville, leaving poor George hope
lessly in love with the farmers daughter.
1t was of no use to try to forget her
George soon found that out; and at last,
unable to bear suspense any longer, he
started for Towerville, determined to have
a EYES," or "No," in answer to an i'm
portant question he meant to put to the
beauty. AS he drove slowly over the
we'll remembered roads, he passed near
the old stile; some one was there. George
fastened his horse, and started across the
| fields. Yes, there she was, seated on the
old stile, actually dressed in the gypsy hat
| he remembered so we'll; there she sat
dreaming over old dreams, and wonder
ing whether she had acted wisely in not
encouraging George as her silly heart had
prompted. There was stealthy step be-
hind her, and before she knew there was
any one near, a pair of arms encircled
her waist, and daring kiss was printed
on her lips. 1t was of no use to resist
Nellie was a cantiye: and the old stlle