River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1873-08-26


Endicott here among us believe ne
would smile benignly on our proceed.
ings"
Perhaps, retorted the unabashed
Laura, Z" the old dign;tary would so.
lieit you to be his partner for the Ger
man, or take you to the theater TO see
East Lynne.
Edith Redeemed half the pleasure of
a recent trip to Boston had been spoil
ed by forced submission TO the pro.
hibitions of Deacon Winthrop, her
guardian and grandfather. Recovering
herself, she said with her own imitable
frankness
"Well, Laura, I'll dismount from my
high horse; he isn't just the animal to
parade on this occasion. All we want
is 10 have good time after all
Matters arranged themselves salts
factorily; the details of the merry
making were settled, and Edith, spite
Of her reluctance, was declared to be
the only person capable of successfully
maintaining regal state.
The eventful day arrived, as clear
and cool and fragrant day as ever
graced one of our lovely Junes. The
village turned itself out Of doors,
young, old and middle-aged crowded
TO the grove to witness the novel spec
tacle, which was brilliant and beautiful
beyond all that had heen foretold con-
corning 1.-THE stalwart youths, the
white-robed, flower bedecked maidens
and children, and, center of the scene,
our lady Edith, crowned with apple
blossoms, fairest flowers and types of
noblest fruit, fit wreath for the reign
ing genius of New England summers
day.
Among the youths who were foremost
in doing honor to our queen was Rob
ert Sandys, young Southerner, who
had been sent North to receive his ed
ucation, and who was under the charge
of our dear pastor. Various surmises
were afloat as to why he should have
been domiciled in this obscure village.
DIR. Abbott had been understood TO saw
that he had in former times been
slightly acquainted with his guardian,
but further than this he never enlight-
ened us. Indeed it is doubtful If the
good man himself really knew much
about the matter. Living almost ex-
clusively in his study, it was due to his
vlgilant and energetic housekeeper that
he emerged therefrOm at the proper
season to perform his ministerial func
tons, and Laura Burnham once said
that if the doctor had received an ap.
phcation IN person from the angel
Gabriel to furnish one of the cherubic
host with board and tuition he would
have signifed his willingness IN ire
proachable Hebrew without feeling
doubt or surprise at the character of
the visitor
IL was said among our young people
that Robert Sandys was hopelessly in
love with Edith certainly ne was deaf
and blind to the VACCINATIONS of her
companions. As for her, she treated
him and every one else with the gracious
frankncss so charming in friend or
comrade, SO diseouraging in coveted
lady-love
Well, the time wore on. The speci-
fed exercises were ended, and the
actors therein dispersed into pairs and
groups, prepared to finish the day in
unregulated fashion. Edith had seat
ell herself on the arm of the antique
char, which. wreathed with flowers
and evergreens, had been her regal
throne, and chatted gaily to young
Sandys, who leaned over its back.
Various others of our choicest spirits
were Immediately around them, in
attitudes more or less graceful and
picturesque. Laura's tongue was silent
Tor brief space, as sitting on the
ground she tore open the wrapper of
some ladies' magazines, taken probably
from the postofiice that morning, and
thrust into her pocket and forgotten
until now. don't know whether we
we're particularly witty, but we certain
ly were uncommonly jolly, and we Jest
ed and laughed and commented onper
sons and events with all the buoyant
arrogance of youth.
/ Suddenly said Laura, lifting her
eyes from her book, "See herel isn't
this absurd ~
In her rapid and vigorous way she
half read, half narrated, TO us the
story she had been reading. remem
Der only its general outlines. Ii told
OF a young man who, lar away from
home and among strangers, met with
an accident which caused temporary
blindness. He was tenderly cared for
by a nurse previously unknown, with
whom he fell passionately in love, and
to whom he proposed marriage, but
who declined with inexplicable horror,
saying, "God had placed bar be-
tween them The lover returned
home, his sight was restored, and find.
ing il impossible TO overcome his pas
sion, and feeling half assured that il
was reciprocated, he sought out the
lady, determined to solve the mystery
and overlap the barrier. The latter
proved insurmountable the beloved
one was aquadroon, and the narrative
ended with some tall mock heroics,
parodied 10y laura somewhat in this
fashion:
"And l would give my eyesight, /
would give my right hand, my new
diamond studs and all my real and per
sonal estate, to know that the only
woman | ever loved was not quad.
room There's a nice young man for
youl wonder il he is intended as a
typical Yankee 2"
Did you ever read Caste n sand /;
a i. a