River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1873-08-26
From the Commonwealth.
EDIrlI--A STORY OF NEW ENGLAND
LIFE.

LIFE.
The doctor opened the trim gate
which gave exit from his little
pleasaunce, and we passed cut into the
main street of the village, bright and
clean, and quiet in the June morning.
Spreading branches of horse chestnut
trees made Il pleasant screen above our
heads, while Pickering mosaic of sun
light aud shadow paved the sidewalk.
Across the road we noted a not un-
picturesque group--two or three
matrons in morning dishabille chatter.
ing with the white.robed attendant of a
butchers cart. In the open doorway
of a neighboring drug store, q listless
young man summed himself with an air
of utter apathy. A belated school girl,
swinging her strapped-up books, pass
ed us with hurting steps.
"The place." said the doctor. is
rldieulously healthy. III / depended
altogether on my professional income
He paused abruptly, and I saw a
faint flush color his sallow cheek as he
greeted a lady who issued from the
door and descended the steps of the
house we were passing. A tall and
graceful lady, gray-robed, daintily
gloved, earnest and thoughtful in lace,
swift aud purposeful in movement and
gesture.
Miss Edith Winthrop said nv
companion, in answer to my unspoken
inquiry ; blue-blooded, according to
the New England standard of Puritan
stock
watched keenly the countenancs of
my friend, for reticent as he was. both
1 by nature and professional habit, it
was seldom that the trained immobility
of that face displayed even such =
/ passing show of emotion as that | had
witnessed.
Neither Of us spoke again, however,
rs We turned into side street, which,
as We followed it up, degeneratod into
grassy cart tracks. Human habitations
We had left behind us with the gravelled
road the cottage gardens with their
white trelisses covered with honey
suckies and prairie-roses were replaced
by pasture ground frightened by the
bloom OF butter cups, while scattered
savin bushes indicated our nearness Ia
the " woods"
"At last, said the doctor, "we have
reached Pine HILL This has always
been favorite resort for picnic parties.
IL is charming spot.
He unused a moment, aud then said
abruptly. "Come, see your mind i,
made up for story, aud may as
well tell you the one / have in my
mind
Kindest of friends / have moi
forgotten your old talent as a racon
teur and / await your narrative witt
the keener interest because see that
your old self will be one of the person,
ages concerned in it,
4" Not SO Immediately concerned as
You think. This is love story, OF
rather mere hint or suggestion of a
love story, and not altogether devoid
of the tragic element; and what can a
prosaic country doctor have TO do with
love or tragedy save to fill specttor's
part 2"
So my friend told me the tale he had
promised; one which haunted me for
many day, until at last was fain 10
try and reproduce il in written words /:
You saw her to-day-Edith Winthrop
/ but You would never recognize in her
\ The bright beauty who was the queen
of the festival held here thirteen wears
ago, to-day. Our young people agreed
that year 10 choose a May qu,ol, aud
celebrate the coming of sum = in old
English style Lyceum lectures, read.
ing club and singing.school might
stand over till another winter. Warm
Weather was here. and since there were
no evenings, our young men must for
one lay give up their various ayocations
and tramplo under foot the universal
Yankee that no time which is available
for work must be wasted in play. So.
III solemn council, decreod the girls.
To Ice sure, il was June, not May /:
bat how was IL possible 20 have an out.
ot.door party when you had 10 have a
fire to keep warm within doors Mo-:
June vas early enough; but. Nav or
June. We must have our queen and
our Maypole, and revive for once be.
meath distant sky all the gay obsery-
ances our fathers delighted m. So
said fair Edith, leader of last years
graduating class at the seminary, well
read in English classics, and proud of
her authenticated English ancestry
" Our fathers, indeed :" objected
Laura burnham; did they emigrate
from their native island, and remain
Co endure the alterations of this de.
testable climate because they abomin.
aIed May day and Christmas aud
'sich z Didn't Governor Endicott"-
Hush, YOU spoil sport ~ Now 4
Laura and "Y0u be still Z" were the
protests that met the statement OF
hose untoward facts and IN the calm