River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1872-10-04

| this serenading expedition know all
| of the characters, and besides ! want to
hold some Of her handwriting in my
possession. I'll tell you more, as soon
as anything transpires, for believe
most implicitly that the same Ms. will
eventually lead to a reconciliation be-
| tween us"
A" wish you success"
How eagerly did Harry proceed to cor.
rect that proof How eagerly did he
devour each cherished woodland how
sorry he was when he finished it. Yes,
there could be no mistake, he thought
it was Nellie's handwriting, and such
thoughts as the following rapidly fitted
across his mind:
:" Does she still think of me? Can
she ever forgive me? Did she know
that | was there2' And thousand
others equally as incoherent, and far
from allowing him to proceed with his
work.
His mind wandered back to two years
before, when he was happy in the
thought that he should one day call
Nellie his wife. He thought of the
| hundred times that she had promised
to try and love him-and when after a
year had nearly passed she told him,
With tears in her yes, that she could
never be his wife, that she had tried
very, very hard, but could not love him
as wife should love her husband. And
o thought of the promise she made
him when she saw his grief-to try
again-harder than ever-and how when
after months he received an answer,
kind and gentle, such as a true woman
would pen, saying that he must forget
her-he had plunged Iinto dissipation
and recklessness, and so continued I'M
til we find him where we commenced
our little story.
Yes, Harry had loved, but he failed
to inspire Nellie with the same feeling,
and they had parted kindly, and with
promises of eternal friendship.
Had he kept this vow? Had he al
ways cherished feelings of friendship
for her? No, not always, for sometimes
in his mind he accused her of trihing
with him; then the old love would re.
turn and his angry thoughts would be
dispelled.
Time passed on, and for two years he
did not meet her. Then he tried to
forget her, end at the time when our
story opens he had become engaged to
another, and the wedding was set for
an early date. Notwithstanding all
this, he still re tanned Nellie's Ms.
Another year had glided away, and
still Harry had not married. Gossips
began to wonder, and they accused him
of all sorts of things. Some said that
he intended to jilt the fair Annie Gray
Others that she had broken the en-
gagement; but the truth was, that he
| could not afford to maintain her in the
manner to which she had been accus-
toned, and his proud nature revolted
at the romantic idea of Glove in a cot
\ tage."
Still they loved each other, Harry
He spent most of his time with Der,
made her presents, praised her many
| good qualities to his friends, and denied
the existence of bad ones, and in fact
was all that a devoted lover could be.
She on the other hand had become
heart and soul bound to him and lived,
as il were, in his very smile.
Still Harry retained in his very peck
ct that Ms. In locket which he wore
suspended to his watch.chan, was a
picture of his betrothed but a sec. ct
spring, being pressed, disclosed Nellie's
| pretty face. Was this strictly honora-
| bic in him? He evidently loved Annie.
I Why, then, did he-unknown to her
retain about his person souvenirs Of his
| first love? 1t is a hard question to an
love never dies, and perhaps we may
present that as an excuse for our hero,
although we must own it is poor pro-
lection for-yes, we must ssy it-de
ceit.
Time flew by, still Harry retained
that Ms. Not much time though. for
he and Annie were married, and had
gone away to the seaside upon their
tour. Harry seemed TO be supremely
happy, and it is certain that Annie was
for her blue.eyed husband was her idol
Every one marked with admiration the
great attention with which he attended
to her little wants, and endeayored TO
anticipate her every within.
Ii was true--it was a. pretty picture,
and they made most delightful, happy
couple. Still there was tinge Of sad
ness in his eyes when he was alone.
Why?
He still retained that Ms.
loot loot went the whistle.
Down brakes r. shouted the con.
ductor, and crash, smash went every.
thing. Cries of the wounded and dying
filled the air, and all was hustle and
commotiop. Surgeons were busy ply.
ing their vocation, and the reporters
had gathered around the wreck and
busted themselves in getting the names
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