River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1872-11-29

1t had at one time been the residence
of it's owner, a wealthy, handsome
young fellow, greatly petted by the Ia
dies, and very much spoiled, l grant
you, but still manly, high spirited
youth, and very we'll liked by men of
his very fashionable set. OF course,
this matrimonial prize was not suffered
to remain very long unappropriated,
and match making mammas carried
their love membranes away from the
Saratoga croquet grounds, with a sigh
when the rumor was confirmed that the
beautiful Ethel DeCharmes had cap
tured the fairy prince, and that the fol-
lowing winter would witness one of the
most fashionable weddings that had set
society in a futter for long while.
The long-leoked for event transpired,
and the young belle and heiress became
Mrs Macmillan Warner, and Max, as
every one called him, became, at least
while the honeymoon lasted, most
devoted husband. They went to Eu-
rope for their wedding tour, and re-
turned just as all the gay birds of
fashion were pluming themselves for
their flight to the mountains or sea-
side. With host OF friends the newly
married couple went to their place at
Lakeside, where Ethel reigned the very
queen of hospitality, and time flew by
on golden pinions.
Lord of all the beautiful country he
surveyed for miles around, the envied
possessor of wife whom to see was to
love, surrounded by every luxury heart
could desire, one would have thought
Max Warmers earthly cup of Joy was
full. But there was one thing needful
to complete the happiness; and this
was a yacht. So he purchased tiny
vessel and named her 1.-THE Ethel" IN
honor of his lovely bride, who did not
feel so much flattered, however, when
she found that her iranimate namesake
had become most powerful rival in
her husbands affections.
At first, with gay party of ladies
and gentlemen, it was very pleasant to
spend day or two on the water, in the
fair weather, but Ethel and one or two
other ladies were timid if the wind
was at all high, and often excused
themselves from going and so it came
to pass that the gentlemen went off by
themselves, and suspect were ungal-
liant enough to enjoy their freedom.
With Max this pastime amounted to
perfect passion, and he spent nearly all
his time on the water. Occupied with
her duties as hostess, Ethel was forced
to appear smiling and happy, and to
provide for the pleasure of those
around her, but when their guests had
departed, how lonely the young wife
felt, how often she recalled the days,
such little while ago, when Max could
not be happy away from her side. How
deserted seemed her beautiful home.
Even the servants felt no envy for their
young mistress, who, "clad in purple
and fine linen, Jared sumptuously eve
ry day." or might have so Jared if her
heart had not been so heavy. All day
long she sat at the window, looking
down the -fringed road, watch
ing for the white wings of "The Ethel, y
which was. absent weeks, often months,
at time.
How glad was she TO see him when
he came, this truant Max. How alter.
nately she petted and scolded him.
Poor Ethel, young and inexperienced,
did not have your or my wise head on
her shoulders, or she would have done
differently. If she had only pretended
to be delighted with yachting, and
urged him to go and enjoy himself il
she had provided nice cushions for the
detested Ethel" and warm wraps for
Max, and buttoned him up in his
dreadnaught, and showed him out OF
the front door with prayer for good
breeze to help him along, that
consistent biped would just have sat
down on the first stump he came to and
wondered what in the world she wanted
to get rid of him for, and the matter
would have ended by his giving up
that trip at least.
At first he answered her reproaches
with renewed protestations of love, but
at last by seeking refuge in the COM
pany of her inanimate rival.
One day, after more stormy inter-
view than usual between the young
people, Max went off in one of his fits
of temper, and Ethel, angry and bitter
at heart, resolved that it should be
the last time that she should be treated
so.
That very day this imperfect, high
spirited, naughty, spoiled beauty set
about preparations for journey.
When trunks were all packed, locked
and strapped, she sat down to have a
good cry before proceeding to the most
difficult part OF the task she had
imposed upon herself. She unlocked
casket of ebony and took from it a
package of letters, and far into the
night she sat reading them, her blue
eyes raining bitter tears the while.
Selecting one or two, she retired the
others with their silken string and re-
turned them to the casket, together
with a t;nv watch. n SET of diamonds