The River Falls journal. (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1857-1861, 1859-04-27
RIVER FALLS PIERCE COUNTY, WISCONSIN, WEDNESDAY,

she not look upon me in scorn after learn
ing what had passed between Lena and
mes Would she, indeed, be as forgvine
! and as loving as ever9 How | pondered
over these questions, and imagined all
sorts of evil!
And Premonition all the while said
You will never marry either, Tomas
Thompson; the one loves you, but is a
proud-spirited girl-and the other doesn't
love you-she scorns you. Either would
be fool to marry you now.
And answered Premonition by say
ing, with a sigh: Even so.
And so kept away from Bella and
Lena Smith-kept away because I dar-
ed net 60 near them; | despised myself,
and thought they despised me.
One day, oh, joy received a note
1t was from Lena-sister Lena-and it
ran TINS:
Thomas THOMPSON, ESQ., wonder
that you do not come near us any more
| am convinced now that you are neither
knave nor fool-that you was in
fatuated by Premonition, and followed its
advice rather than your own wishes. You
do not love me-you do love Balla. And
no 0 Thomas Thompson have not
told Bella a word of what has passed be-
tween us; therefore, she remains in bliss
full ignorance Of the cause Of your protract
ed absence, and is mourning all the day
long. IF you love her, come and see
her; if not, please do stay away; and, for
her sake, will tell her all. | write plain
ly for Bela's and your own sake. do
love you, Tom, but only as brother.
You will surely forgive if my suppose
tions are not correct, all that would there
fore be lmmodest and un a led for. I
know you are, naturally, noble fellow
and therefore l am bold enough to write
| as uO.' tr sE
d Yours, LENA.
To Brother Tom Thompson.
! Heaven bless that Lena Smith! I
said it directly after reading rhe note,
and emphasized it by bringing my
hand down on the table with such force
that the ink spattered over its bottle, and
the pens and quilts. thereon trembled as if
the wind had stirred them with it's breath.
Heaven bless that Lena! She's true
woman any way and a shrewd woman,
too; and she understands hum9n nature
well. and she has read me thoroughly.
10 love Bella us / would love a wife, and
I do love Lena as I would love a Sis
ter.
Premonition said: Do not go near Bel
la again; you can never marry her.; and
to continue the acquaintance would be
cruel on both sides. Keep away, Tom
Thompson-keep ava r..f...;..
Premonition be bowed [ said to N.Y.
self. It's a great humbug any way, and
has followed me long enough. I bow to
my ghost no longer-I am free! And
| shook the influence off, and was strong
ana proud again.
But it cost me great effort. ] hal
Welded to it so long that | was encha ed
by it; link by link, however, the chains
went off, and with the click of every one
as it fell. | gave shout for JOY, and an
other for Bella and love. Bella-bess
her! 50 d.. Lena-she'sa true woman
added and, placing my hands over my
eyes, l she'd tears Of JOY. And the air
castle that Premonition had broken down
was rebuilt in q moment. And Bells
was more beautiful and lovabie than ever
and | felt as if | was unworthy of her, Sc
beautiful she was-dear Bella! And once
moro. earth was paradise and Bella tht
angel in it, and the feature Of Bella and
; was the finest article of furniture eve
f nufactured-huzza!
Invent to see Bella that night. Sh'
; met me at the door, and fell upon ny
breasi, and she shed tears ofjoy-so in
nocent she was and so confding in ny
| love. and she asked me, soothingly:
so, Tom Tom! where have--wher'
[ have you been 2"
s.Dear Bella said, when had kissed
ber-aud so fervent was that tears came
into my own eyes; and my heart KEEP
beating, beating, aud a song for JOY j
, was: and | think was never so happy
before, or after, in my lf'-and that il
saving a good deal; for | have been very
happy IN my days, sine that mig tparte
| dlar!y.
II long we talked hat night. ant
how we loved! The old love for Bell;
had come back to me, and was mai
aoain: and the old love she bore for m
wa with her still, and had never LEI
q her Once more, aud oh, how ferveni
J, ly-dear Bella! my own B Ia
would have laid down my life for h.
j that night, had it been necessary: and