River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1874-02-13

property disposed of was not incon-
siderable.
Meantime the Peruvia, the good ship
that had sailed away that fine summers
evening, had been heard of more than
once. She had not been spoken, how
ever. later than the last October. when
she had left Kurachee with the north.
east monsoon for the Red Sea, intend
ing TO come home by Suez and the
Mediterranean. Any day she might
return, any day might witness William
Black stride up Lookout hill any one
of the white-winged ships that dotted
the horizon might be the one that
heart sore Alice was secretly longing
10 see. He had been very good he
had not written to her sister-she had
forbidden him to do so, and he had
obeyed her; and yet if he knew how
she longed to hear he was safe-after
all, it was better not.
Mr. Toit was breaking a little, PEG.
ple said. He was no longer as active
as he had been only short year since.
He rarely came down into the town
now, and when he did it was pitiable
to seen him toiling back up the hill,
making believe the ascent was not
painful to him, He had been used to
come each morning to the reading.
room; but now he had given that up,
and had the Times sent up to him on
the next day after publication.
One summer evening, her husband
had been poorly all day, and Alice had
been constantly employed in attending
him, but now he had gone to sleep,
she put on her things and went down
into the town to make few purchases,
intending to spend half an hour with
Mrs. Emlyn, to enjoy a gossip with
that lively conversible lady.
Down the hill she went, the cool sea-
breeze tanning her parched cheeks.
The evening was divine, and the sea
was stretched before her in long golden
swathes, the murmur of 1T sounding
gently in her ears. Ships were stir
ring; some outward-bound were heav-
ing at their anchors, and the well-re-
membered sailors song came softly
over the waters some homeward-
bound were making for their anchoring
grounds with full-bellied sails. She
strained her eyes, and fancied that now
this and now that might be the long
expected Peruvla. But not there
would be no doubt then, her heart
would tell her at once, "That is Viii.
ham's ship"
The sun was getting low, and she
FASTENED quickly down the hill. She
met sundry towns-people she knew by
sight, and nodded to them a good
natured greeting; they turned and
looked at her, and watched her down
the hill. "How rude people are get
ting, she thought. There was time
when these would all have touched
their hats to the wife of the ship
owner.
At each shop she visited she noticed
something strange about the people,
Mr.. Meagre, the draper, came out Of
the little box stared At her, and Mrs.
Meagre's stony yisage appeared over
the glass door, sternly regarding her
/ Ii was the same at the other shops
everybody looked queer.
! Imagination, she told herself
" feel altogether strange, and fine
my own feelings reflected in otheI
peoples faces. Here comes Mrs
Emlyn."
Mrs. Emlyu came up to her anC
looked at her with vacant unrecogniz
ing gaze.
Mrs. Emlyn,' she cried, hov
fortunate am to meet you"
The lady gathered together he
skirts and passed coldly on.
Oh, what have done--what is th,
matter " cried Alice. She felt fam
and giddy; something dreadful haC
happened. The air grew heavy anC
thick; all the houses in the red, quain
High street seemed to blink ut her
the sky was brassy and dull abov,
her. She was as if in dream, whel
the last trumpet seems to sound, anC
the universe quakes around. But i
was nothing; it could be nothing
Mrs. Emlyn was often queer.
But she turned round and made he
way home. Her husband was awak,
and crying for her like a sick child
She could do nothing tonight, but il
the morning she would go down int,
the town and get to the bottom of thi
mystery, if it were mystery, and no
| all delusion.
Next morning Mr.. loft was better
much better cheerful and chirrupy
He had his breakfast in bed, however
and Alice took 1t mp TO him, He wa
quite afiectionate over Eis toast, an,
loving over his egg; and by noon h
was down stairs in the sitting-roOn
grumbling that The Times hadn'
come
at is here now, Richard, said hi
wife, bringing him the great broaC
sheet. She left him to his paper an,
went on her way about household mat
tiers. By-aud-by she heard a strang
sound IN the parlor, as il somebod
had fallen. She ram into the room
Mr.. loft was on the floor in heal
against his easy chair. He had falle
into "a fit the paper was scrunched u
in his hand.
A strange panR shot through hen
Grief, remorse, expectation, flash {
hope that would not be repressed Il
a moment she was herself again. Sh
laid him gently on the floor, rang Tn