The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1875-07-23
STELLA'S FALSEHOOD.

ca DOOCS SAT uprlgQC IN un4ueStAOAou
majesty in q 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 u
prominent position on the arm.
"Seven O'clock" said the occupant Of
the room, yawning and stretching as the
little clock on the mantcl told the hour.
Hell soon come now And in less
than minute door opened below and
steps were heard Oh 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 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
a seat at your fireside, for shall never
be able to get along without you. What !
not word to say for yoursclfr You
look nightly subdued and quiet for the
happy man,
"You haven't given me chance to get
in 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? I do
believe she has! You don't look like
yourself! Your laugh. is bitter! l
did think better of Stella than that! I
am sure it was all but spoken agree.
ment before you went. If the girl has
been flirting-''
''Hush-d don't! 1t isn't so. l 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 Ill tell you all
about it. went first to Uncle John
as proposed, but found things there in
such shape that only got away to see
Stella night before last. Uncle was suf-
| fering from violent inflammation of the
eycs-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 govcrness that we
saw there last fall. By the way. Arthur,
the little things trump!-a perfect
jewel Of a nurse. Such gentle ways! --'
"Didn't propose to her, did you = put
in Arthur.
"Pshaw! no. shall not be in bur-
~ with any proposals. In fact, doubt
it shall ever marry
"Nonscnsc! But 20 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 cfiectually,
l tell you. Aunt Lucy was on the Dor
dcrs of the grave for two days. The
doctor said it was hair breadth escape,
and he praised our care.
''Yo"rs and the governess's ?" said Ar
thur, mockingly.
| swell, the governess is a good, true
woman, believe. 1t might be better for
a 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 | know
she's good girl
! IL 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, TN surc.''
''Stella was looking her prettiest. l
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 vet
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 Inc too, that her hair was ar
ranged so as to look thick and heavier
than usual. I wondered if she had con-
formed to fashion still farther, and added
some dead, fair golden locks to her own.
She had no need, I am sure. Such abun-
dance as she has of the lovcliest hair in
the world. l wonder where she ever
found match for it,
$50 my cousin Stella's offense is wear
ing false ringlets! In these days.
"Hush You arc all astray. You
can reserve your arguments i'll favor of
mountains Of dead trcsscs. 1t was not
that. There was quite party of young
people there in the early part of the cve-
ming, and VIC had merry time, At ono
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 Stella's braids, saving,
''This is new, isn't it? Is it your own
hair?
Stella said Eyes, simply and indiffer.
emily. believed her of course. When
the cousins and friends were all gone,
Stella had romp with her little sister.
before her mother took her I'D to bed.
In the play the braid had become loosen.
cd. Stella stepped into the back parlor
and was re.arranging her hair in the
glass and saw her take off the braid
and hold 1t in her hand. It was separate
from her head. I saw it distinctly. and
l could not shut my eyes to the fact that
she had lied-a foolish, miserable lie, for
vanity's sake! How could she 20 and
Ransom was silent, walking with agitated
steps back and forth across the room, rs
Zone now There's some mistake.
l know. Stella isn't such fool and
weakl'ng, I'm sure, and you ought to
| know it.. tool TIL unite -. 49,