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


ran down to meet him, and the chilly,
deserted air of the house, when once
within it's doors, half prepared him for
the servants answer to his inquiry for
his wife, that Mrs. Warner had gone to
the city on visit several days since.
ALI forgetful of his nice little speech
on his way home, Max Warner was
half inclined to be angry that his wife
should absent herself for any length of
time without consulting him. Consult
him, indeed when he was away on the
wings of the wind, goodness knows
where. But the angry feeling soon
gave way to one of mingled grief and
self-reproach when he opened Ethels
letter and read:
"DEAR MAXI can no longer live
as I have lived for so many months; so
shall cure what 1 cannot endure, and
the only remedy L find is flight. Do
not try to find me, for I shall put the
ocean between us, and in some retired
spot shall try to forget the one who
vowed to love and cherish me, but who
deserted me for toy"
"May The Ethel spread her white
wings over and carry you safely through
all hfe's storms, and be to you what
can no longer be,
"Yours only, ETHEL"
Poor Max sat half Supplied for few
minutes, trying to make out what it ali
meant. Could it be possible that his
poor wife had been so unhappy as to
have been driven to so desperate
step9 Had she really intended to leave
him forever? Impossible! She Only
meant to try him, and was in all proba-
bility at her mothers home, impatient
ly waiting for him to come and take
her home. Buoyed by this hope, he
went to the city he found no trace of
her he sought. The young man be-
came a wanderer on the face
of the earth. taking no pleasure in
anything, leading a feverish, heart-sick
existence. One day Frightening up at
something like clue to the where
abouts of his impetuous young wife,
the next, ready to die of despair when
he found himself further than ever
from attaining his object.
He knew how the poor girl had suf-
fered when she was waiting for him to
come.
As months and years passed on, he
gave up all hope Of ever havinga home
again, and directed his agent to sell
the house at Lakeside, which, shut up
and deserted all this time, had acquired
among the country people the name of
the Lone House. Great was the curl.
osity to know who would live in the
gloomy old place, for it wore such des-
olate, melancholy air that the few
strangers who were tempted to climb
the hill to look at it were glad enough
to go back into the sunny country road
; and go on their way.
One day the new owner arrived, and
, that was the event that stirred up the
village of Lakeside. The present pro-
prietor was a widow, for she was DIR, 8
ed in deep mourning. She was follow
ed by two negro servants, one of whom
| carried in her arms a beautiful child,
: apparently some two or three years old.
The little household lived in the strict
est retirement, the lady neither maxi
ing nor received visits. The servants
were mutes, so the village curiosity re-
manned unqualified. On bright morn
ings the lady, accompanied by a SER
yant with her little boy, would walk
out, always dropping her heavy veil
over her face if she CHANGED to meet
any one in her rambles, so that even
those who had passed her quite close
ly could not tell whether she was old
or young, good locking or plain. Even
in the village church she never raised
the thick veil, and although she ap-
peared to be devoted Christian her.
self, I am afraid she made sad sinners
of the greater part of the congregation,
who certainly paid more attention to
her than the sermon.
The curiosity had somewhat abated,
when it was again aroused, and again
by an arrival. But this time the OBJ
iect of interest was an invalid gentle
man, who came to reside in small
-roomed cottage or lodge lately
erected on q small knoll not hundred
yards from the clone House." The
sweet country air brought health and
strength to the newcomer, and soon
he was able to take long walks, with his
only companion, an immense New
foundland dog. He made no acquain-
tances, and indeed would go far out of
his way to avoid meeting any one in his
strolls. Now, as you may imagine,
these two people were the innocent
cause of great deal of gossip, and
Mrs. Grundy, who lived on the east
side of the lake, whence she had view
of both houses, with all their lncom.
ings and outgoings, was quite envied
by her less fortunate neighbors, who
possessed no such advantage. One
morning, instead of the usual party
from the clone House, the child,
accompanied by one OF the mute SER
wants, went out for an airing. Their
way lay along the lake side, and they
soon came upon the gentleman from