The River Falls journal. (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1857-1861, 1859-09-28

confusion, 1 am hardly responsible for
anything say to-day. No, no, it was
only a passing feeling of revenge, | will
never harbor such again. Let him win
his pearl of great price. and wear her
but o God, pity Susan Luke that's all"
"She almost deserves to suffer-" said
Annie, again resuming her work.
"Don't say anything harsh finer, An
ME-" responded Horace, a momentary
tenderness restoring to his voice its olden
beauty. Don't say the least thing harsh
of Susan Luke. I couldn't even if she
trampled on me. 1t is my nature you
know with those love-and yet-his
form straightened-I am a man, as will
show you by the way I conquer myself"
And though the feyerish sound of hisdry
lips shifting together still continued, and
the restless, aimless walk, yet there was
that in his face that told no would make
his words good.
"Yes, Horace, l believe you," Annie
replied; "but am speaking of her con-
duct towards myself. Only think, she
was helpless baby when her mother
died-only two years old. Every since
then, she has as it were lain in my bosom.
l have been like mother to her, and she
repaid me for it all ly her love and o5o-
dience, till she knew Roger Walters's SIS
ter. The girl has turned her head-ruin-
ell her, fear, for so suddenly has she
changed and become SO ungratful. O.,
dear me, and hear [ am saving up to buy
her a beautiful velvet cape-it would cost
all of thirty dollars, Horace, and we want
furniture so much. [ never bought q
nice thing, or an ornament for myself, but
she had the same. | have been so proud
of her, ave dressed her so well! O.,
Horace, | believe the iron enters into my
soul almost as deeply as it docs"
"Don't, DON'T" cried Horace, in o
voice of anguish.
"Well, I wont them" replied Aunie,
suddenly becoming conscious of her i'm
prudence. 81 didn't mean to make you
feel bad"
II wish had been at work this after
noon," he said again, taking up closed
miniature, but not opening it.
at would have been better, perhaps"
said Annie.
"Of course it would. Annie, if [ had
been lawyer, or DOCTOR or scamp of
any profession, Susan Luke would have
loved me, | know sho would. Look at
Walter !"-hs lip curled-"but lie is 4
lawyer, and ana carpenter.
He might well say with something like
scorn, as he stood there, "Look at Wal
teri Horace, with his handsome face and
noble figure, his brown, glossy hair and
brow of ample dimensions, his beautiful
hazel eye, large, full and bright as u
Walters, with his spare form,
spindle legs, red hair, eye of pale blue,
everlastingly sneering smile and cynical
lips, thin and unstable. With common
share of good sense, to say nothing Of
good taste, how could girl like Susan
Luke prefer u dashing nobody with a
professional handle to his name, to man
who had never lost the stamp of his
Makers hand!
"But you are satisfied?'
"When my trade-y-e-s," said Hor-
ace, with little hesitation "still, if that
machine of mine results in what [ think
it will, Walters viii look up to me yet"
He was gone. Annie sat alone with
her crowding thoughts. She idolized her
only brother, and knowing his sensitive
nature so thoroughly as she did, she had
always dreaded the shadow of a disap-
pointment in store for him. Six little
months ago, and she had kissed Susan
Luke as she lay sleeping beside her, men
tally calling her "my dear brothers dear
wife," Now, o, there was bitter
change it was hard to realize. Finding
that the tears fell fast upon her work,
Annie laid it aside, and going to the
neat kitchen, busted herself in getting
supper.
Yes, Horace had made acoyenant with
himself that he would DO strong. He
did not know how hardly strength comes
when the sweetest hopes of life have been
torn like flowers from their stems by a
cruel storm. He did not know with
what wrestlings, sharper even than those
of Jacob with the angel, because less
sanctifed, passion must be conquered
| But he went to his own room and came
down again improved by thin summer
suit. that in spite of his pallor and the
dimness of his eye, made him look very
handsome. The first smart of the blow
over, he thought he could bear the rest