River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1875-07-23
STELLA'S FALSEHOOD.

| papers, Delofc an open STale III WniCn u
fire was swapping and blazing meIrily-
Tor the October evenings were chilly and
"A fire was comfort and company as we'll.
II was plainly to be seen that this was a
bachelor apartment. A pair of discard
ed boots sat upright in mqueslioned
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 a soft wool
hat, looking very much crushed, held IA
prominent position on the arm,
"Seven o'clock said the occupant of
the room, yawning and stretching as the
little clock on the mantel told the hour.
Hell soon come now. And i'm 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 a noisy greeting.
"Halloo, old chum So you're home
again Welcome right welcome I've
been as restless as fish out of water
since you left me for!orn Come in and
see what rOusing fire I've got to vel.
come you. Sit down. Been to supper
Then tell me quickly how sped the woo.
ing 7 | suppose you have come back an
engaged man. Well, shall bargain for
a seat at your fireside, for | 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 man."
"iou haven given me chance to get
in a word edgewise," laughed Ransom
You don t seem to take into account the
possibility of refusal"
Ransom You don't mean TO tell me
my cousin Stella has refused you! | do
believe she has You don't look like
yourself! Your laugh is bitter
| did think better Of Stella than that!
am sure it was all bit a spoken agree
ment before you went. II the girl has
been flirting"
Hush don't! 1t isn't so. | have
mao Stella no Offer
made her no offer Did your cour-
age fail, old boy? Or"
'Pshawl Just sit down and be
patient, Arthur. and I'll tell you all
about it. J went first to Uncle John 5.
as | proposed, but found things there in
such shape that only got away to see
Stella night before last. Uncle was suf-
iering from violent inflammation of the
eyes-shut up in a 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 things a triumph perfect
jewel of nurse. Such gentle waysl ="
"Didn' propose to her, did you g. put
in Arthur.
"Pshaw no. / shall not be in hur-
ry with any proposals. In fact, doubt
If shall ever marry"
"Nonsensel But go on with your
story at last you got away to Stella!
Yes, though it was after days and
nights of weary, anxious watching that
had sobered me down pretty effectually,
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 governesss o. said Ar.
thur, mockingly.
"Well, the gOverness is a good, true
woman, believe. 1t might be better for
4 man to take her without a shilling than
Stella with her thousands" said Ransom,
seriously.
so 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 donel | am sure if it
is anything much amiss, there is some
mistake, for played with her as a child,
and have been intimately acquainted
with her almost ever since and know
she S a good girl
81 can never marry woman who can
tell deliberate lie," said Ransom, so.
berly.
II 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, Pm sure
''Stella was looking her prettiest. |
was half veXed that she had allowed her
self TO follow the silly fashion Of letting a
dozen OF so of little short curs 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. 1t
seemed TO me too, that her hair was ar
ranged so as to look thick and heavier
than usual. | wondered il 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 abun-
dance a. she has Of the loveliest hair in
the world. | wonder where she ever
found a match for it,"
$50 my cousin Stella's offense is wear
ing false ringlets In these days"
Flush You are all astray You
can reserve your arguments ia favor Of
mountains Of dead tresses. IL was not
that. There was quite party of young
people there in the early part Of the eve
ming, and we had a merry time. At one
time Stella and your sister Mary were
standing out on the veranda. Edna and
| were playing chess inside, but so near
the open window that we could see and
hear them perfectly. Mary laid her
hand on one Of Stclla's braids, saying,
"This is new, isn'titl Is it your own
hairi
Stella said YES" simply and indiffer.
emily. | believed her Of course. When