The River Falls journal. (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1857-1861, 1859-08-24
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r0i A4'oSh'
She gave little sigh--so faint that
could scarcely hear it-and left the roon.
I had scared her gsicty away for that
morning.
This was the first cloud in our sky.
1t seems strange, now, when | look
back upon the lapse of years, how perse-
veringly I labored to destroy the founda-
ton of peace and happiness on which
might have builtmy life. The remaining
six months of that year were months of
misery to me, and | doubt not to Alice.
for she grew thin and pale, and lost her
gaiety. l had succeeded only too we'll in
my plan, and she had learned to doubt
my affection for her. I felt this by the
look in her eyes now and then, and by
the way in which she seemed to cling to
her dog, as if his fidelity and love wore
now her only hope. But was too proud
to own myself in the wrong, and the
breach widened day by day.
In the midst of this arrangement the
dog sickened. There Was week of mis-
giving on Alice's part, when she sat be-
side him with her books or writing all tho
| time-there was day when both books
and manuscript were put away, and she
| was bending over him, with her tears fall
ing fast, rs she tried to hush his moaps,
and looked into his fast glazing cyes--an1
there was an hour of stiffness, when she
Law on the low couch neither speaking nor
stirring. And when the DOR creatures
last breath was done, she bent over him
with passionate burst of grief, kissed the
white spot upon his forehead, and closed
the soft, dark eyes, that even in death
| were turned towards her with a loving
look.
She did not come to mo for sympathy.
She watched alone, while the gardener
dug a grave and buried him beneath the
study window. She never mentioned
him to me, and never paid her daily visit
to his grave till was busy with my pa
pers for the evening. So the year which
had begun in love and happiness, came to
| its close.
I sat in the study alone, ono morning
in the February following, looking ovcr
some deeds that had been long neglected.
when [ heard Alice singing in the balcony
outside the window. 1t was tho first time
1 had heard her singing since Fred's
death, and / laid down my pen to listen.
But hearing her coming through the hall.
l took it up again, and affected to be very
busy.
1t was warm, bright, beautiful day.
and she seemed to bring burst of sum
light and happiness with her rs she open
ed the door, Her own face, too was ra-
diant, and she looked like the Alice of til
old farmhouse, as she came on tiptoe
and bent over my chair.
We'll, what is it 2 l asked, looking up.
She laid pretty little bouquet of vio-
let's, tied with blue ribbons, before me.
4 have been to the conservatory, and
have brought you the first flowers Of tho
season, Francis. And something elsc,
which, perhaps, you raay not like SO WELL
She bent over mo as she spoke, and
leaning her hand lightly on my shoulder.
kissed me twice. She had been chary cf
her caresses, for some tine; and when sho
did this of her own accord, | wheeled
round in my chair and looked up at her.
! you seem very happy, to-day. Alice
1t is somebody's birth day. she sai'',
stationing herself upon my knee, and look
ing into my eyes. and wish somebody
very many happy returns her voice
faltered little-'and if there has been
any wrong feeling, Francis, for the last
six months, we will bury it to-day, now
and forever
She chung to me in silence and bid h +
face upon my breast. | was moved, in
spite Of myself, and kissed the brown hair
that was scattered over my shoulder, 81 d
said l was quito willing to forget ever. :
thing (as if had anything to forget =
AT which she looked up with brigl t
smile, and dare say thought me very
magnanimous.
.And we will make a new beginning
from this day, Francis
If you will, my child
She carcssed me again, after queer
little fashion of her own, which always
made me smile, and which consisted of
series of kisses bestowed systematically,
on different parts of my face--four, I be-
lieye, being allotted to my forehead, two
to each cheek, two to the chin, four to my
lips, and four TO my eyes. She won't
through this ceremony with painstaking
care, and then looked me 10 the face. All
her love and tendarness eeeme6 fa c,n,s