The River Falls journal. (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1857-1861, 1859-09-28
gflfttf0 Gale.
From Ballou's Dollar Monthly Magazine.
SUSAN LUKE.
BY MRS. NJ. A. DENIsoN.

"Coming Anne" responded clear
voice, at the head of the little staircase.
Presently the owner of tho voice ap-
peared. A slight young girl, eighteen
summers or Whereabouts, dark, with curl
ing lip, ebon-black hair, very fine features,
and quick, proud tread.
"What is it, Annie?"
She stood within the door, regal con.
trast to that plain little sitting room, with
its calico-covered lounge, and straw-bot-
toned chairs-stood holding sealed
note in one hand, straw hat dangling
from the other.
Horace says he will saddle Beauty, if
YOU will ride with him this afternoon. 1t
is leisure day with him, for a wonder"
4 flash, pleased and brilliant, broke
over the dark face for second, the next,
she had resumed her wonted expression,
rs she exclaimed:
''Why didn't Horace ask me himself?"
81 don't know" replied Annie, sewing
away. ''You know he is rather bashful,
rather timid about asking the ladies to go
with him."
'Timid the curl of the proud lip
grew moro decided-'I do hate timidity
In man."
30, well, you may have something
worse to hate by-aal-b y"-this was spo-
ken with kiudIing glance, as Annie rails
Ell her eyes and looked steadfastly at the
Young girl-"you may have something
worse, Susan Luke, especially if you en-
courage Roger Walters. | tell YOU he
IS shame to his sex"
sand | tell you it is nobody's business
WHO encourage y The girl straighten-
ell her form on the instant, and her d.
lated eye and nostril told how little her
pride would brook. Il am old enough
TO choose for myself, and wont have any
ones attentions forced upon me. | am
under no obligation as know of, to yonr
immaculate brother, if am to YOU"
She paused, struck dumb on the instant
for q young man-palo now-bting a
white under lip, stood at the opposite
door, where he had entered just in time
to hear the speech and the sneer that ran
through it. But he was gone as sudden,
" as he came, leaving Annie, his maiden
sister, looking grieved and indignant, and
Susan Luke pale, yet defiant, as if she
meant not to abate one jot of all she had
said. She gave half nervous laugh, as
she exclaimed ala. listeners never
heard any good of themselves yet"
'Susan Luke you are a wicked, I'M
grateful GIRL" That was all Annie said,
but she trembled excessively.
II know tive been told so long
enough and often enough--but [ sha'n't
trouble you great many years more, if
keep the same mind l have now"
81 suppose you are writing love letters
to Roger Walters" Annie gave her
needle such thrust that it broke in two,
and she threw it out of the open window
among the rose bushes with half-impa-
tent jerk.
ayes; I do just as Iplease in that res
poet" said Susan Luke, coldiy and calm
". "Fm going to the post-office now,
and perhaps this very letter will be in
the hands of Roger Walters by supper
time" She stood carelessly tapping the
delicate envelopea gainst her finger, while
smile of the utmost scorn sat on her
lip.
sSusan Luke" Annie held her work
down hard against her knee, as if she
were trying to hold her anger down with
it-"Susan Luke, l wish" her lips
came resolutely togeather; she looked
steadily at the young girl for full min
ute-then tears seemed to gather; in
her eyes-they fell-the stitching was
resumed in an earnest impassioned
mannrr.
80, say it ALL" responded Susan Luke,
Eghtly, tossing her head little, "say