River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1874-02-24
THE OLD LETTERS.

o, Elsie What must do? There
comes that odious Clifton again"
My child, refuse 10 see him. surely
you are not obliged to receive him
whenever he chooses to come here ~
"Oh, nurse, you cannot understand
] must submit to that mans imperti.
nence
Indeed | cannot understand why
this should be the case, and YOU rs.
tonlsh me when you say so. | have
thought that this Mr.. Clifton's cslls
were SO frequent, that DIR. Reed, YOUR
betrothed husband, might not be
pleased"
3" | must confide the humiliating Sc
cIet to you, mamma Elsie. Years ago,
my own int rudence placed me in that
bold, bad mans power. But listen
that Is his ring at the door-bell | will
see him this evening, but Elsie. this
shall be the last interview | will eier
grant him. Tonight / will tell YOU
all.
My poor dearie! [ fear soine
youthful folly is about to ripen INTO
bitter fruit that you cannot easily put
away. And motherly old Elie sighed
deeply as the lady followed the servant
1t was hours after. The evening had
grown into night when Sybil Bond
crept back up the stains to he' old
nurse, whom sue knew would be wait
ing for her. Crossing the room to the
window where Elsie sat in the SHIN
merlng light Of the full moon, she sank
on the floor at her side, burning her
face In the folds OF her dress.
Cacessingly smoothing the dark hair
I OF her pet, Elsie watched until the
storm had spent its fury, and onl, an
occasional shudder or culver of the
slight form told the mental anguish
she was enduring.
Tell me, dearie, what troublesou
SO greatly.
Mamma Elsie, bear with me, uen
as you have always borne my waywrd
i ness since my mother placed her twAve
hours old babe in your arms, ud
Went to heaven.
%, Sybil my dear young lady it
was q precious charge, coming a 1t
did from my dear young mistress in
her early bereavement, as YOU know
your saiuted mother followed her ilol-
lzed husband to his last home in me
short week after his sudden death.
Elsie, do you remember the m
mer We passed at your sisters beati.
tul prairie home
Full we'll, my dear; it was Dur
fifteenth summer; you we're raher
delicate, and | thought perhaps he
country air might be beneficial to
You.
You will remember that. althogh
did not like going, | soon becme
well pleased with the place, and lied
staying So well that did not asl Ia
come back TO the city till fall, who |
suddenly insisted on an immediat,re.
turn
Yes, | remember.
Well, nurse, it was there | let
Warren Clifton. | was young, roman
TIC, and easily tlattered by his aten
tions, promised to be his wife. Alter
We had returned home. | had time IN
think Of my folly, and, after az
months OF childishly romantic corr,
spondence, wrote to him, asking To "
released from my engagement, and 4.
X qucstlng that be would return all nv
letters. This he refused to DO.
% The cowafdly rascal" cncd Etie.
wrote again and again but tony
entrcatles he returned the same an
swer Then | went abroad. YOU re
member, and met DR. Reed | lived
him, and promised TO bo his wife. iop-
ing that Clifton had forgotten m. or
had learned 10 be generous. Yousee
how mistaken | was On lcaminfthe
news of my engagement, that badman
came here and threatens 20 show my
foolish, sentimental letters 10 Or. Reed
If ] do not INSTANTLY break my eupge-
mcut and marry him
Sybi burst into tears, and cAsed
speaking, while Elsie soothlugly aid
There, there, child, do not grier So.
livsa bad man, 90 be sure, hut ymyt
nothing 10 be really ashamed Of. after
OIL lrll Dr. Reed the whole sorry.
nd hell not be the man to nudge
mere child harshly.
\ la"h of horror appeared on Sbil's
pale face.
Fol pr Reed You know not
what you are talking of. Elsie. n, has
old ME, over aud over agaiY. mt he
would marry no woman who lnypl an
other man. And viii ht NO; desplt me
t' not telling hmm the truth aunl
forced 90 DO s1I he will not utdcr
'tand that never really loved W,rr,n
Wilton after reading those dreadful
letters No, cannot bll him.
Depend upau n. dear child n i.
the h.st thing to do. agreed Elsf.
NJ, no Never spcak o( suh a
thug 81 ma again III hr must lnow
,it / VIII not be the one who tells him