River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1875-02-05

man carefully. The result was that she
declared him to be IAN angel. At last
Hetty Armstrong fairly let go Of the
rudder Of self-will, to which she had
chung so long, and allowed herself to
drift dow the tide Of circumstances
which were to lead her into the arms of
Charles Rokewood, She felt that life
would be happier with such bosom to
rest upon, and began TO wonder whether
it was really necessary for widow to be
married in pearl color when white was so
becoming to her complexion.
So matters stood when Christmas drew
near and with it Hetty Armstrong; reg.
ular Christmas eve party. All X, or
nearly ALL would be there, even the Rev.
Luther Paragon, who amiably forgot to
say that he disapproyed of dancing and
charades when Mrs. Armstrong declared
that she ''adore6 them" 1t was always
the merriest party of the season at X,
and this time Mrs. Armstrong decided
that she would Guido herself. There
was more OF dash of coquetry in her
dress; dash Of extravaganza in the sup
per; q glitter of rare china, and per.
fume Of rare flowers in the parlors-just
as they say wine warns up the wits and
fancy does love ct times. All thing
would be brighter, fresher, more spark
ling, just now, thought, or rather vaguely
felt the woman who had just begun to
know her heart Alright, and thought she
knew another's.
She stood in her rich dress Of lace and
silk, flowers in her hair and on her bosom,
before her guests arrived, before her
crate fire in the parlor, when some one
touched her on the shoulder, and, turn.
ing, she saw Charles Rokewood.
Her face was little paler, her eyes
more earnest in their look, than usual,
and sort Of happy terror hung upon her
as she guessed why he had come so
early.
81 knew should find you alone" said
he, "and have something to say to you;
something"
There she stopped him. Don't say it
now" she pleaded. 81 have an evening
before me which calls for all my calmness.
II it is nything agitating, Ill must
ask you to wait. After these guests OF
mine are gone, or tomorrow, will hear
you; not now"
Charles Rokewoed bowed. "Your will
shall be my law" he said, and took her
hand and kissed it. She let him do it,
bushing all the while, not caring now to
look at him.
All the evening, after the other guests
we're there, her thoughts wandered back
to that moment. She knew what she
would say, and she could answer only in
one way-only one-she liked him so
we'll.
"And | have felt so sure could never
like any one again" thought Hetty Arm.
strong. "There is fate in it.
But she danced and sung and talked as
usual, and no one guessed that was what
she was dreaming-not even Mr.. Roke-
wood, who, with chosen friend, and
slipped away from the parlors, and was
smoking and talking in the dressing.room.
He was little out of sorts. Hettie, con.
scious Of her duties as hostess, insisted on
being public property, and could not be
lured into tete a.tete, and the women
who were ready to be talked to he did not
rare about. Engaged men are generally
known by their boorish conduct TO ladies
generally. Rokewood, although not en-.
gagged, believed himself far enough upon
the road to forget his suayity, and fell
back upon cigars and his masculine friends
whenever his lady-love could not be whis-
pered to or gazed at.
Consequently damsels who thought
Rokewood charming were wondering what
had become of him, when Biddy, the
waitress, mysteriously beckoned her mis-.
tress into the hall, and, in an awful whis-
per, said more spoons were needed for
the crane"
"0f course there must be-" said Mrs.
Armstrong. "Where was my poor head
to so forget it !! I'll get poor Aunt Mar
tha's set from my upstairs china closet.
Please wait ON the stairs until come to
you"
And away ran Mrs. Armstrong to the
second floor, where she plunges into a
long, old-fashioned closet, and brought
forth legacy of silverware left her by a
maiden aunt. Counting the spoons over,
a murmur of voices in the next room fell
upon her ear. At the same time she
caught the perfume of cigar. She knew
that Charles Rokewood had the richest
voice and smoked the best cigars of any
man IN his set.
"You dear old fellow" she whispered
to hers III, 81 have been so cross to you
tonight that some day I'll be as kind to
you as can to make up for it,.
Then with loving woman's wish to
see the face that is so dear to her, she
stepped forward and peeped through a
crack in the door of the china closet open |
ing into the little sewing room, devoted
this evening to the gentlemen's toilet,
Every word was plainly audible when
her pretty ear approached so close.
to the crevice, and the first word riveted |
her attention. The men we're talking Of
matrimony.
ITS a deuced BORE" said his friend. |
"You are tied to woman's apron strings |
for life. You can't say your soul is
your own. Take my advice and keep out |
out Of it altogether, Charley"
"Look here, old fellow" said Charles,
taking his cigar from between his lips,
shat sort Of thing is all a mans fault.
Now, when marry, my first act will be
to prove myself master. As you begin, |
an vnu ba Ca and hafora tho honavfnnnn