River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1873-09-05
From Tinsley's Magazine.
A LITTLE MISTAKE.

INV Hhpub thO Allltt iNDrC HtftTul
voices cried in chorous, but our host in.
stantly replied, Hush ~ II was a sore
point with him.
/ have mentioned our host, and now let
me introduce him. lie was man Of
powerful build, fair, with profusion Of
whiskers; with beard and mustaehe, but
soft light eyes, which had nothing in them
OF his character, reckless and iovial Ills
words, given above, sprang from some
banter of ours (there were half dozen Of
us who had sat after the late dinner in the
largest room of the smallest but "snug :
gest" sbootingbox the whole County Of
Yorkshire contained) upon his apparent
dislike of the gentle sex. Perhaps we felt
curious to know why or how it was that a
man with an unencumbered estate, con
genial temper, and good country gentle.
man, albeit on the verge OF forty, should
not long ago have been--what shall say ?
in love no, that is not always the case,
but--married.
Few of us it may be thought, though we
knew at the time that we called out, slow
about little Rose ?'' that there was sore
point there. 1t was only an imperfect
knowledge of the story of young lady
with whom our friends name had been
mixed up but such of us as were best
acquainted with Il remembered of hearing
OF little governess in private family
where he visited (where it was thought
the daughter of the house, a coarse, snowy
girl, was the attraction being found
hearing declaration cflove from a friend.
The story went, too, that the governess,
upon whom they had some claim of reIa-
tionship, was sent from the house upon
planned tale of her lovers falsehood, and
kept abroad till she died in that belief
that the memory of the girl so remained
with him, that he quickly left London, and
was lost to the manmuvring mammas who
sought his unencumbered estate rather
than himself for their daughters "on
show
" You want to know" no said, not
answering the question put to him" you
want to know why didn't get married at
the usual time ? Well don't mind tell.
ing you. Fill your glasses, then; and,
Con, don't you play the nurse with the
bottle.n
According to our hosts invitation, we
filled our glasses, and drawing up, sat
pulling ut our cigars in silence, awaiting
his story. lie sat looking at the fire for
few moments, ana then broke out
"lts not much | have To tell, but as
some OF you have not passed your flirting
days, it may teach you lesson. | was
only twenty two when it happened, and
believe that is about the usual time
when matrimony is perpe.rated. Then
my father was alive, and only plain 'Nlr.'
! had never lived much down here, but
had passed IA good deal of my time in Lon.
don, and had some old friends OF nv
college days, and old boaters on the Cam,
with whom the days passed more pleasant.
ly than profitably, Pm afraid. At any
rate, will own that, after longer and
more varied season than usual, ielt that
my constitution would be better for a
change. So | determined to get away
and take the Cumberland lakes for a time
My most intimate friend at that time
Jack - we'll never mind his other name
as some Of you may know him, though now
he's settled down to what he calls quiet
life. That means small house, his
suburban retreat, and large family OF
babies crying about the place lrsm morn
ms till night. Jack, | say, had given me
a little commission To execute for him in
the neighborhood, and it was TO serve as
an introduction for me TO some lady of his
acquaintance who, he said, possessed two
charming daughters A man has liking
for female society at that time of life, ana
the ladies being so promisingly described,
! determined ON my arrival in Cumberland
To take advantage Of my commission.
did 50, and found the ladies --one dark
and the other iair--the young ladies /
speak Of now My good friend Jack bad
informed me that they were of very or o.
site temporaments. Elsie-vcry fair-was
gay and fond OF bold and merry natures,
he said Dell-short for Dehlah-was
dark, and retiring almost TO bashiulness
and timidity. lilo bad joked me by say.
ing that no expected 10 see me come back
tied 10 one of their apron strings and that,
ii | was anything Of q reasonable being.
these were two girls who ought to satisfy
my expectation. OF course my commission
procured me an invitation 90 the house,
and my stay in Cumberland began most
hvorably. Alas tor promises | had dc
termined TO act upon Jacks suggestion,
and render myself agreeable to the Young
ladies according to their respective in.
clinations. When, therefore, ! met them,
| cenyerscd with the fair one in light.
lively, aud as believe, happy manner (
even forced myself into a merry mood,
made jokes, and laughed at them myself,
but, strange 70 say, she answered scarcely
a word TO all my observations. sought
oil opportunities before a week was out Of
catching her Unexpectedly. In The recess
Of the windows of the dinning.room
hemmed her in, and made laughing love.
! praised the color of her hair aud eyes,
and vowed I'd steal ringlet Of her hair,
If only 10 kiss il. II she ran away,
thought il was coyness, and followed her.
Mind you, ] was only acting upon my
friends suggestion, and was not rude be.