The River Falls journal. (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1857-1861, 1859-08-24
RIVER FALLS, PIERCE COUNTY, WISCONSIN, WEDNESDA

took her way towards home. Seeing
the flash of light play over her grave face,
feeling the sudden bound with which my
heart sprang up to meet it, l knew what
we were to each other.
1t was late when / reached homo, at
ter musing walk. The farmer and his
wife had gone to bed, the children were
at the merry-naking at the next house
and solitary light burned from the par
Tor window, which was open. The full
moon shone fairly in sky without
cloud. unfastened the gate and went In;
and there in the open doors sat Alice,
with light shawl thrown over her
shoulders, her head resting on the shaggy
coat of the Newfoundland dog. His
beautiful brown eyes watched me as |
came up the path, but he did not stir.
l sat down near her; but on the lower
step, so that could look up in her face.
alice, you do not look WE'LL
But am. Quite well. | am going
away tomorrow
Going away! Where?
Home. To-.Lordon. Well! What
ais you, Cousin Frank? Did you never
hear of any one, who went to Londoa
before?
yes; but why do YOU go!'
'Whyg She opened her eyes and
looked at me. For many reasons. First
", only came for six weeks, and have
stayed nearly three months; secondly, be-
cause l have business which can be put
off no longer; and thirdly, because my
friends are wondering what on earth
keeps me here so g;(they will say soon
it is you, Frank) They VOW they can
not do without me any longer, and it is
pleasant to be missed you know
'And SO you are going back to the old
life, Alice! And by and by [ suppose
you will marry:
would not advise any man, be he old
or young, in case he does not think it
wise or prudent to marry the woman lie
loves, to linger with her in the doorway
of p silent farmhouse, and hold her hand
and look out upon moonlight night
The touch of the light fingers was playing
the mischief with my good resolutions,
and my wisdom Gf l had any.
Alice I said softly; and almost star
ted, as she did, at the sound of my own
voice. it was SO changed. 'Alice, we
have been very happy here
Very
| took both her hands, and held them
close in mine. But she would not look
at me, though her face was turned that
way.
There is a great difference between US,
dear Alice. I am much older than you,
and much graver. | have never loved
any woman but you in my life, while you
have charmed thousand hearts, and had
thousand fancies. Ifyou were what the
world thinks you, and what you try to
make yourself out to be, l should say no
more than this-I love you. But know
YOU have heart. | know you can love
if you will: and can be true if you WILL
And l beseech you to talk to me earnest
ly, and tell me if you can love me, or if
YOU do. I am not used to asking such
questions of Indies, Alice, and may seem
rough and rude; but believe me, when [
say you have won my whole heart and I
cannot he happy without ycn.'
Yes, I believe you,' she said.
But do you trust me, and do you love
me?
She might trife with a trifer, but she
was earnest enough with me.
Il trust you, and love you,' she an
swered frankly. Are you wondering how
l can stand before you and speak SO calm
"? Because I do not think [ shall ever
marry you. You do not love me as |
have always said any husband should love
me. am wayward and exacting, and
should weary your life out by my constant
craving for tenderness. [ was made to
be petted, Frank and you though a low
inc, are not an affectionate man. You
would wish me at the bottom of the Red
Sea before we had been married month
and because you could not get me there,
you would go to work and break my
heart, by way of amusement. | know it
as well as if / had seen it all-eyen now
She looked at me, and all her woman's
heart and nature were in her eyes. They
spoke love and passion, and deep tender
ness-and all for me. Something leaped
into life in my heart at that moment
which had never felt before; something
that made my affection of the last few
hours seem cold and dead beside its fer
vid glow. | had her in my arms within
the -close-close to my heart.