The River Falls journal. (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1857-1861, 1860-04-11
As | said. Hildred was very lovely :

AS said, Hildred was very lovely
perhaps she appeared more so by the side
of her palmer sister. However this may
be, it did not matter to me, for | would
give all the light of the world to Hildred
at the risk of going in darkness my self.
The love of sister is a very sincere and
unselfiah thing.
When Hildred was seventeen, and l
twenty. the young heir of Ravenwood
came lack to his inheritance. The rich
lands and grand old house had at last
tempted him from the gay French City,
and henceforth he would remain for the
most part at Rayenwood Hall. SO said
runor.
One afternoon in the decline of sum-
mer, as I was sitting close at my WORK,
Hildred being in the garden, there came
a light tap at the door of our little par
Tor, and before l could rise to open it,
tall and strangely handsome man strobe
into the room.
81 am Paul Ravenwood, and you mad
am, are, l presume, Miss Faith Mil
burn"
"You are correct sir; but may [ ask
to what fortunate circumstance | ain in
dobted for the honor of this most abrupt
VISIT" His cool unceremoniousness had
slightly ncttled me.
He sat down quietly in the rocking
chair which l had vacated, and, looking
at me leisurely, pulled moss rose from
the vase and tore it in pieces, before he
made an answer.
"Well," he said at length, "if you wish
to know, can tell you, after you reply
to few questions which | shall ask
Your father bought this place of Hugh
Rayenwood! 2"
HE did"
"And he paid for it, dare ssy9"
"To be sure he did. His labor paid
for it! 1t was settled long ago"
"How happens it then, that my faith
err gave no deed, or bond of cenveyancea"
he asked, with quiet scorn which re-
yealed to me more of his character than
a months ordinary acquaintance could
| have done.
at was neglected, and he died very
suddenly, as you are aware. Probably
he felt no need of doing it; he might
have supposed that his heirs would be
honest men like himselt.'
"lndeed. well perhaps he did; still
people are liable to be mistaken, you
know, and it would have been better if
he had abided by the law. Better for you
at least
l but partly comprehended him, and as
l did not reply, he continued =
although l regret the necessity, Miss
Nib Urn, l suppose shall be obliged to
tell you that this Gyvs Cottage, as it is
called, belongs to the estate of Raven
woodland consequently to myself.'
started from my seat in trembling
dismay.
Sir, YOU cannot be in earnest? You
would not dcfroud two holrInss orphans
of their only inheritance? ?"
He laid his white, jeweled hand sooth-
ingly upon my arm.
''Sit down, Miss Milburn. Don't be
disturbed you can remain here, of course
free from rent. until you are able to pay,
or until you do not want the cottage
get married, perhaps" he added with a
touch of sarcasm in his voice. His words
and manner of speaking, cut my pride,
and | shook off his hand and rose up
again, with more dignity than befitted a
poor tailoress.
mo sir; l refuse your offer, most en-
phat;cally-I do not wish to be the means
of forcing benevolence into your eharac-
ter, where am sure it can have no right
ful dwelling"
A harsh answer was upon his lips, |
knew by the darkeuing of bis brow, and
the glittering of his eyes, but whatever he
would have said was hushed by the en-
trance of Hildred. She did not perceive
the stranger at first, and SO she came run,
ming in with her sunny curls floating a
bout her like a cloud of sunbeams, and
sitting down on stool at my feet, she
exclaimed joyfully-
"Oh. Faith, 1 have such surprise for
you! That wide-leaved japonica--'
Her speech was cut short by Paul Ra
venwood's rising inyoluntarily, as if in
homage to the beauty of my sister,
His eyes spoke his admiration, and hi.
whole bearing expressed respect and cour
tesy. Hildred blushed scarlet, and cas-
down her eyes in confusion.