River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1872-08-23

Hepzibah, as she took it somewhat ab.
sently.
Miss Polly, pushing open the blind,
said, " Eow is your mother, John, this
warm day?n
Very well, thank you, maam."
Theus great bee buzzed past him,
he SAID, " How many bees you always
do have here, Miss Polly--more than
any other place in the village"
Yes, and they are very tronble.
some," said Miss Polly-for the bees
were one of her standing trials.
The young man walked Oft, and Miss
Hepzbah came slowly into the house.
When she reached the stting.room
where Miss Polly sat, her face was pale
and troubled.
Who is the letter from?" asked
Miss Polly.
II don't know. 1t is postnarked
New York" she replied. at is in
strange handwriting" and she sat down,
looking much agitated.
Miss Polly watched her sister sharply
while she slowly opened the envelope
anu took out the letter, which shook in
her now trembling hand. Miss Hepzi.
bah read il through once, twice, grow.
ing every instant paler. The room was
very still, only the front rattle of the
paper and the yum of the many bees
disturbed the Silence. At last Miss
Polly could keep quiet no longer.
" What is it, Hepzibah what is the
matter p
Gertrude is dead, replied her sis
ter in husky voice. "This is from a
lawyer She was married. though, Pol.
lyn-her face frightening into look eff
exultation. Married to Mr.. Knox
after she went TO Europe with him, and
has lived there ever since. He died
years ago. She has been very poor,
and there is little girl" The last
words were added sadly but very ten.
derby.
Miss Polly had turned pale, too, while
her sister spoke. Her face now was
strangely disturbed as she said /:
Let me see the letter."
1t was placed in her hands, and again
there was the silence as she read and
read the few words that told so much.
1t was an old, old story. Gertrude
Tomlinson had been the youngest and
fairest OF three sisters. In her confding
youth, handsome stranger from New
York, who spent the summer in the
village, had won her affections. How
far the intimacy between them pro-
crossed was only dimly guessed, but
one afternoon i'll the late summer she
fled with him without one word of ex.
PLANTATION, and as her friends had
every reason to suppose, without any
marriage tie between her and her
lover.
Mr.. Tomlinson, stern, severe man,
had absolutely forbidden even he men.
tion of his reckless daughters name.
ner folly bowed his grey head in sor.
row to the grave, blighted the pleasures
of her sisters, and IN all these years the
fate ofGertrude had been an untouched
theme between these two, living their
lonely lives together. Poor, having an
income so slender that it seemed an i'm.
possibility to exist upon it +; proud,
having the dignity of an ancient name
TO sustain, the sisters had dwelt to-
gether in the old family home, decorous
of life, praciicing their terribly exact
economies with due regard to outward |
decency of appearance, and seeing the |
monotonous years 90 by bringing to |
them no change and no hope, always |
with this unspoken secret darkening
their past and their future.
The long silence was broken at last a !
voice bad come 10 them from the grave |
of their fair young sister, telling how |
her lie had been partially redeemed |
and her early sins expiated by long
years OF suffering.
No wonder the placidity of existence |
was rudely disturbed for the two sis.
tiers. At first their conversation was !
but disiointed and agitated; but at last
il assumed definite shape. The young
Gertrude was already IN New York !
awaiting her aunt's decision. Should |
they receive her?
alt is so shameful.' pleaded Miss
Polly. "All the old story will be revived |
again. Ii is terrible to think off,
" But, Polly, Gertrude was married.
married yes but not till after she
had gone away with him, and was a
mothers O Hepzibah, il is very hard ~
" But this little girl is only ten years
oid-all the rest are dead. Polly, |
think we ought 10 take her"
Miss Polly looked at her sister, her
worn face growing more anxious as she
asked, {" Hepzibah, how can we afford
il? She brings nothing with her"-her
voice sinking TO q sepulohral whisper,
Tor the sui ject Of money was one always
held TO be solemn one. "Why,
llepzibah, don't see how We can bring
her up!'
Miss Iiepzbah looked troubled.
"God will help US she sale reverently.
" lie will care for us as wei as for the
sparrows. Polly, think We ought to
let her come"
~ II was decided Mis- Jan7;hah