River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1873-10-28

! age. 4 asked hlm To wait for year
till she was little older, and he was a
little older, and he took my advice
rather unwiliingly, | suspect, if his face
was to be believed but he didn't say
so, for he always gave way to me, be-
cause | knew what was better than he
did.
One night Rose gets letter sent
round TO her from a gent in the boxes
a-asking her to meet him outside after
the performance. She was very much
hurt about it, for it was the first insult
she'd received-they gets used to these
things in time--and brought the letter
to me. just as / was a-reading it up
comes Charlie-that's her young man
and Rose snatches the letter ont OF
my hand and puts it in her pocket. but
not before Charlie had seen it. He
looks surprised, and he says:
"What's that7" says he.
Oh nothing" she says, playful
like, and runs away; and he turned
away too, but not in the same direction
When / saw Rose again, SAYS:
Why didn't you show it to him r.
says.
go, father!" she says, "he's so
jealous; and ii he'd seen it he'd have
thrashed the fellow" she says, and
perhaps got into a row, and | didn't
want him to do that. -
She gave me the letter for fear he
should ask for it ; and put it in my
pocket, never a-thinking no more
about il.
When work was done for the night,
me and two of the others used to take
our pipe ANA pot-which was half
/ pint o'forepenny--at little pub round
the corner, close to the theatre, where
we was known and respected There
we used to talk over the events of the
evening aud sometimes, when things
were slow, we'd even condescend to
talk politics, but not often, we felt them
frivolous subjects to people as hadn't
the sense TO appreciate art. While we
was there that night, in comes gent
rather mopsy he staggered up to the
counter, and calls for a bottle o. cham
payne, and then asks us to drink,
which we did-we never refuses that.
Well he was a-going ON about one thing
and another, and at last he says
!" That Rose is a nice girl 7"
pricks up my ears at this, and /
puts down the glass o. champagne as |
was just arising to my lips-the glass
as he paid for-but | never SAYS moth
ing. Then he goes on a-boasting. and
says he was a-going to see her home.
| jumps up and says
I'm that lady's father, and if /
wasn't old man I'd knock you down. .
Then turns to my mates and tells
EN- of the letter business and takes it
out of my pocket, and hands it to him,
and gives him a bit of advice as be
wanted. He was in that rage that he
was just a-putting up his fist to hit me,
when Joe Pulitzer, one of us, floors him
Then we handed him over to a police.
man. We was rather excited after
wards, that with having an extra half
pint and the champagne we drunk afore
we knew who we got il from. Charlie
used always TO see Rose home after the
performance, and stay with her till |
come but he wasn't there that night,
and Rose said he hadn't come home
with her as he always did, and laid the
blame on the letter. She was naturally
| cut mp about it, and said
IN tell him how it was in the morn
ing"
But she says
No I" she says, :" if he can't think
me true to HIM without proofs, he
shan't at all
seed it was no use arguing with
her, SO | gives IN My little beauty
was very proud and / liked to see it:
but | never knew as how pride would
turn over love as it did; although |
ought to have known better a seeing so
often how Pauline had a very narrow
escape of it. She was very pale next
morning, and her eyes looked as mine
DO sometimes, when / amt got water
enough to wash with comfortable, aud
/ leaves the color round under 'em
but it wasn't from that, | knowed, be
cause Rose was a very tidy girl.
never saws nothing, but / goes on eat
ing, and not pretending to notice any
thing different and by and by off we
goes to tie theatre. | was very curious
TO sec what Charlie would do but he
only inst takes off his hat
Things went on in this unfortunate
style for a week Rose was too proud
to explain, although / wanted her to
but no, not her and there he was.
One morning she didn't come down to
breakfast ms usual, so Igoes up 10 her
bedroom and says
What the matter, my beauty 2"
"Oh. father" SAYS She, u don't feel
very well Just now. / dare say shall
be all right tonight.
But her hand was trembling like
leaf, and her eyes we're sunk; and when
I came to look at her close, / was stag
gered % see how she'd altered in them
few days. II flustered me more than
should a.thought SO ] gives her a kiss
aud tells her 70 lie down quiet, aud oil
] goes to doctor. He comes and feels
her pulse, aud such like; and he calls
me ont on the landing, and SAYS she's
in high state Of fever, and says she
must be kept very quiet, or he wouldn't
be answerable for it. Then he began
asking me about myself, and my pro
tession and cctera.
Not very rich, | suppose Z" says
he "Ah, Welt he says. we shan't