River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1877-11-22
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dead mothers arms. and SOothed me with
gentle words. All my early life | had
been petted child, and | shrank from
GOODNESS as sensitive natures Will ever do
but in my first wild sorrow for my mo-
Tiers death, Mildred Lestrange was SO
thOughtfully tender 10 me that my lonely
heart turned to her, giving her love for
love.
In ali my life nave never seen a wo-
man AZ beautiful as Mildred.
What though some sorrow lay in the
depths of her eyes, were they less deeply.
daTkly blue, and were not her features
perfect from the low, broad brow, with
its halo of golden hair, to the daintily-
rounded chini
One evening Mildred and | were sitting
together in the twilight, that strange,
weird hour between daylight and dark
ness, she gazing with weary. wistful eyes
over the shadowy green field, and | with
my eyes fixed dreamily ON her face, was
thinking of my brother Willis-Willis
who, year before, had been Miss Le-
strange's guest, who had come down, his
heart filled with love for his sister, and
no woman, save the memory of our mo-
Their, holding a higher place in it, and
had gone away loving Mildred Lestrange
loving her, but knowing his love was
vain.
thought of the day he kissed me fare
well, and for the sake of Mildred he was
going abroad again.
"Oh, Whilst | had cried. ''why will
she not be your wife? Does she not know
it will break my heart for you to go forth
wandererl OH Willis, you will not goT
He smiled.
Little sister. The said, -better men have
done that before, and for women less fair
than she, but /, Glare, have gone abroad
before, an6 what better could do than
20 again, where, amid other scenes, may
hope TO overcome my love for Mildred
GiOOd-by, Glare" he said, folding me in
his arms, "and love Mildred as you have
always done"
Glare, little one" Mildred said, turn
ing from the window, "what are you
dreaming of"
IL was thinking of Willis | an
swerel; then, after a moments silence
"Oh, Mildred, Mildred, why could you
not lOve himl'
\ shadow fell over the beautiful face
and her sweet blue eyes grew sadder-
Glare" she said, gravely, Il will tel
YOU the story of my past life, then judge
is my heart to be given in return for the
first loyal love of Willis Stanton.
when a child of six | went to liv,
with nv Uncle Charles, my fathers ONLY
brother. was left lOnelier even than
YOU in my childhood, Glare, for Ina,
not even brother, and l got no share o
nv unclc's heart, for all the love he has
was lavi~hed ON my cousin Ralph, m
uncle's OlIy child. Love was no nam,
for the passionate worship his father CAV,
Raiph-it was little short of alteration
To me my uncle was always kind, but hC
had no love to spare-it was all To Ralph
sRalph and | grew up like brother AM
sister, nut ike very quarreisome ones, 10
he was naughty, inperiOus boy, and
having no one else to lord it over, he gen
orally spent his temper on me, and he
in seldom submissive, day never passo'
that something disagrceable did not &C
cur. Still we played together and liked
each other in a certain way.
About four miles from us lived ID
Carlyle. nv Uncle's family physician, an
his son Deane spent great deal of tim
with Ralph and me; in fact, being GU
constant companion, and even then like
Deane much better than my cousin. III
was the complete opposite of Ralph, be
ing gentle and courteous in his manne
to all girls, but to me in particular. III
was a handsome boy as well, though nc
50 handsome as Ralph.
when | was twelve years old m
uncle sent me ia fashionable boarding
school. and Ralph went tO college AT I'll
same time, because Deane Carlyle wa
II, for
togethers p
"Six years passed and then | returne
tO my uncle's.
syIlAlph Ilad been home the year before
hut had gone abroad to travail. and Dean
Carlylslwss studying law in London, hu
when he heard / was at home he cam
To see me, and spent month at his faith
crs resting himself, he SAID.
'.0he evening. he came to me, gray
and earnest, and asked me IN implOrin
tones 20 be his wife
NV darling he said, with the oil
tender smile liked so well, can yO
give me your love, and wait till am ab.
10 claim you. Ii may be many year
dear. though l will work hard for you
sake.
lie was the Deane of old, and m
heart went ont 10 him with a thrill {
joy.dgues
lie loved me-that YVES enough.
max have been his odd love for the chill
dcepened. or another may have spTun
up in his heart for the slender girl {
eighteen; but he loved me and ! was col
tent.
You love me. Mildred. he said. an
reading mis- answer in my face, he folde
me In his arms. You will wait for m
Mildred" he added. Then, kissing m
lips. he babe me farewell. and went bac
10 his life of toll
six months later Ralph came nom
handsOmer, statelier, more imperiOI
than ever and forgetful of our chIlS
hoods battles, he and became the be
Of friends.
sBest of friehds! on, Glare, l mu
have been bl,nd not TO see that he vi
learning TO love meme whose eveI
pulse thrilled for Deane Carlyle &c
knows never suspected the truth Il
one fair June evening, standing amid Il
flowers. be told me his love. Panied b
vond measure. tried to stop him, b'
he would not listen.
=. Mildred, my darling. tell me yo
love mel" he cried; tell me your heart
mine
I,saanet tell you that Ralph, al
swered, for. save as a sister
AS a sister. oh, girl DO ysu lo'
another that yetfmeek wewitT that e.