River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1877-09-13
THEFALSE AND TRUE:

Ddllu. IL ulu not dppICCAdtc nun lntuy
was not unhappy. had bright beau
tiful home which Roscoe named Hesper-
ides. The library was extensive, the
conservatory luxurious. Books and
flowers being my ruling passion, my hus-
band had taken especial pains to crafty
me.
After our boy was born, and everybody
pronounced him a most healthy and
beautiful child, Roscoe said to me:
Constance, are you happy nowW
/ looked straight into his honest brown
eyes as truly answered: "Yes RIOS"
He bent and kissed me with delight
/ had never seen him show before.
Dearest. you are miner he murmur-
ed.
That was all he said.
1t was just two years after our mar
riage.
A few days later he received a letter.
/ asked who it was from.
"My sister," lie answered.
II never knew you had sister, ! said
in surprise.
"No. have never spoken to you of
Ora. When my parents died in my boy
hood. Ora, was baby, and taken 10 an
aunt down to New Orleans, where she
was raised with her two children. have
only seen her once since. She is very
pretty. This letter tells me she is TO be
married"
He gave me the letter to read. 1t was
written on delicate fragrant paper, the
penmanship easy and graceful, but rath-
er too fine. Rather brief communica-
ton, prettily expressed, asking US to come
to the wedding.
ITO New Orleans IN July! / am afraid
TO take baby, and / could not leave him. p"
II see that we cannot 90. II IS inn
practicable. | will write and tell Ora :
'And give her my love. Say that /
hope she will be very happy"
had been present at but one wedding
in my life, and that was my own. ! was
six-and-twenty. II was very different
from what ] thought it would be when |
was eighteen / had been betrothed to
Ivan Grey; at twenty-six married Ros-
coe Arnold
The suggestion of another wedding
brought back the past to me. When
was alone, and baby asleep in his basket,
| want to a drawer in the private cabinet
and took out packet Of letters ana a
photograph.
The latter was a vignette-a face hafd-
some as a Greek gods, with "a perfection
of contour that must ever be fascinating.
AS looked at it, the peace of my heart
fled away, The breath of the past, fra
grant, new spring like swept over me the
warn, imperious impulses of youth start
ed tc life in my blood.
/ looked at the letters but did not optn
them. There was no need. | had leaTntd
each one by heart years ago. The packet
was small, and | sat with it held between
my palms for nearly half an hour. Butt
put away letters and pictures at last, AMI
sat down by the open window, swinging
the baby's basket to and fro. Just thenI
heard Roscoe whistling lightly as he ran
upstairs, and in a moment he entered tn
room, his hands full Of pond lilies.
See here, Connie-bere's a treat to
you'll Aren't they beautiesl'
My favorite foweri / took the SPLEEN
did things from him and put them in /
crystal globe of cool water.
"See herel" said Roscoe.
He had pulled up his straw hat, and
the curling hair about his white forehead
was literally dripping with perspirai
ton.
See how wilted | am, hurrying homo
through the heat to save your lilies, he
said.
brought him some cool water TO battle
his face, laid out for him some fresh
clothing, and went away to see If dinner
was ready. Thus | took up again the
present.
Another year went by. / was surround.
ed by every comfort; tenderly cared for
| resolved not to unlock the rosewood
cabinet again.
was reading in the portico, one June
morning. while Melissa, the nurse, wa
leading little Lyle along the garden
walks, when carriage came hurrying NJ
the drive.
! sprang up, fearing something had
happened TO my husband. But by the
time / reached the open hall door, lady,
alone. was coming up the steps from the
carriage. She was very young, richly
robed. and instantly addressed me:
Are you not my brother Roscoe
wifel" she asked. am his sister Ora,
from New Orleans
/ don't remember how / welcomed her.
but / threw open the drawing room door,
and she entered and dropped into q
seat.
"Where is Roscoe2 I have come to
stay with YOU" she said her face pale as
ashes.
/ took vague alarm at her appear
ance, but / endeavored to speak as usual
You are tired-ill. Lay off your
wraps and let me get you a glass of
wine"
| went across the hall 10 the china
closet. When | came back she lay in
dead faint upon the floor.
Roscoe had gone out of town, and did
not return till evening. had Ora taken
to a room next to mine and put to bed
She was a mere delicate child when un
dressed, not more than seventeen years
old
"Oh, how good you are-how good you
are r she said, with heartrending pathos,
as bathed her temples and rubbed her
delicate limbs. ! had studied medicine
a little with my father, and | knew she
was close upon a fever. At length she
lay warm and quiet and soon feel asleep
/ sat up till eleven o'clock, waiting for
Roscoe. At length heard his stepin the
hall / hurried to meet him.
He looked astounded at my news.
9 Why, whet does il meani' he asked.
The pext morning Ore was in 3 burn