The Grange advance. [volume] (Red Wing, Minn.) 1873-1877, 1875-07-20
STELLA'S FALSEHOOD.

Arthur Hahn sat alone in his room be-
side a table covered with books and
papers, before an open crate in which
fire was swapping and blazing merrily-
for the October evenings were chilly and
fire was comfort and company as we'll.
1t was plainly to be seen that this was
bachelor S apartment. A pair of discard
ed boots sat upright in unquestioned
majesty in corner behind the stove.
The sofa was drawn out and left in no
particular angle to the wall, and was
piled with law books, while soft wool
hat, looking very much crushed, held a
prominent position on the arm.
*'Seven O'clock said the occupant of
the room, yawningo and stretching as the
little clock on the mantel told the hour.
Hell soon come now" And in less
than minute door opened below and
steps were heard on the stairs. Arthur
threw open the door and met his room
mate, Ransom Wilder, at the head Of the
stairs with noisy greeting.
"Halloo, old chum! So. you're home
again! Welcome! right welcome! I've
been as restless as a fish out of water
since you left me for!orn! Come in and
see what rousing fire I've got to well
come you. Sit down. Been to supper?
Then tell me quickly how sped the woo.
ing? suppose you have come back an
engaged man. Well, shall bargain for
seat at your fireside, for I shall never
be able to get along without you. What
not word to say for yourself You
look nightly subdued and quiet for the
happy E man, man,.
in a word edgewise,' laughed Ransom.
You don't seem to take into account the
possibility of a refusal"
'Ransom! You don't mean to tell me
my cousin Stella has refused you? I do
believe she has! You don't. look like
yourself! Your laugh IS bitter! I
did think better of Stella than that! I
am sure it was all but a spoken agree
ment before you went. If the girl has
been flirting
''Hush-dont! 1t isn't so. have
made Stella no offer.''
MADE her no offer =? Did your cour-
age fail, old boy? Or"
'Pshaw! Just sit down and be
patient, Arthur, and I'll tell you all
about it. went first to Uncle John s.
as proposed, but found things there in
such shape that only got away to see
Stella night before last. Uncle was suf-
feripg from violent Inflammation of the
eyes-shut up in dark room. Aunt
Lucy was down with fever, needing con.
slant care. and no one to depend upon
but that poor little governess that we
saw there last fall. By the way. Arthur,
the little thing trump!-a perfect
jewel Of a nurse. Such gentle ways! 80
"Didn't propose to her, did you g. put
in Arthur. .. :.
"'Pshaw! no. shall not be in hur-
~ with any proposals. In fact, 1 doubt
il shall ever marry
"Nonscnse! But 80 on with your
story-at last you got away to Stella?
eyes, though it was after days and
nights of weary, anxious watching that
had sobered me down pretty cffectually,
I tell you. Aunt Lucy was on the Dor.
ders Of the grave for two days. The
doctor said it was hairbreadth escape,
and he praised our care.
"Yonrs and the governess's ?" said Ar
thur, mockingly.
"Well, the governess is good, true
woman, believe. 1t might be better for
man to take her without shilling than
Stella with her thousands" said Ransom.
seriously.
$50 is my cousin Stella a good, true
woman, and her thousands would be no
weighty objection to me. Come, Ran
som, what has Stella done, or what do
you think she has done? am sure if it
is anything much amiss, there is some
mistake, for played with her as child,
and have been, intimately acquainted
with her almost ever since and I know
she's good girl
~ can never marry woman who can
tell deliberate lie," said Ransom, so.
berly.
81 don't believe she did! She's as
squeamish as you are about that! Do
get on and tell me all about it. There s
. some way out, I'm sure.''
''Stella was looking her prettiest. I
was half vexed that she had allowed her.
self to follow the silly fashion of letting a
dozen or SO of little short curls fall
around and over her forehead, and yet
they were so exceedingly becoming, and
no one could dispute that they were nat
ural, SO could not blame her, for quite
liking the fashion as she displayed it. It
seemed to me too, that her hair was ar.
ranged so as to look thick and heavier
than usual. | wondered if she had con.
formed to fashion still farther, and added
some dead, fair golden locks to her own
She had no need, [ am sure. Such alum.
dance as she has of the loveliest hair in
the world. I wonder where she ever
found match for its
$50 my cousin Stella's offense is wear.
ing false ringlets In these days.
''Hush !zS You arc all astrav. You