River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1877-08-30

D
/ when there came knock at the door.
Whe could it be!
! opened the door, and there stood Mr..
Ashton, Pris's employer.
''GOOd evening, ladies. May / come
/ in: | was passing and heard such joyous
l laughter, and knowing Miss Dwight lived
I here, could not resist the temptation to
drop in for a minute"
Lou and looked blankly at one an
other; but Pris, with her usual dignity,
answered for US, and our visitor was soon
established in an easy-chsir, conversing
/ as if he d known US all our lives.
Our visitor.
1t was one of our rules that we were
never to invite visitors but this one had
/ invited himself.
1t wasn't the last time either, and after
awhile Pris brought the most exquisite
bouquets home, which she placed on the
supper table.
When we questioned her she said she
found them on her desk.
But stranger things happened. When
| came home one evening Lou handed me
a note, and in it were these words:
Miss FLORENCE DWIGHT: Pardon
AlAE III Wiling W NOus Jul nave NdlDlN
tried To meet you for some time. | wish
TO thank you for your kindness in taking
that long walk for an entire stranger Ii
was only lately discovered we were re-
lated-indeed, cOusins-and that YOU
were one of the three young ladies who
lived with my uncle when he died
That was the way he began and then
went ON " tell me that he had never
known of our existence until now. as in
his youth, after his parents death. he had
gone TO Australia ana had not communi-
Gated with home since that time. He
further asked if he might call and thank
me in person and form the acquaintance
of my sisters, and finally signed himself
Your cousin, RALPH Maxwell"
Such a sensation as that letter created.
Lou looked rather grim as she said:
Another visitOrl" and Pris, to whom
| went for counsel, said:
"Of course, as he Is our cousin, and
has asked to call. il would be rude to say
no."
He came.
could not have imagined a nicer
cousin. Indeed, he was my ideal of a
hero from the very first. To be sure, he
must have been a good deal over thirty,
and thirty to eighteen seems old. Such
a brilliant talker he was, too.
He didn't come once only; there was
hardly week passed he did not call,
either TO bring a book or some fruit, and
sometimes without any excuse at all
My eyes began TO open, and to see how
foolish it was for three girls, the oldest
only twenty two, to decide to live all by
themselves all their lives.
As looked at Lou sitting in a low
chair, with freq making fairy gold
out Of her hair, and from her to the
graceful figure lazily leaning against the
mantel, and looking down upon her, l
thought if Lou wanted, and Pris would
consent, | would propose dissolution of
our pledge.
l know Pris and could get along very
we'll together.
Ny rOmancing was rudely checked by
the lazy figure becoming suddenly alert,
as Cousin Raph 1--WE called him so) came
to me and said,in his boyish way
Miss Floss, I fore Madame Grisi
is to sing tonight. Would you like to
hear here"
sprang up and danced around the
room tor very Joy.
"Oh, how should like to go!"
Well, Floss, hurry then, and get
ready"
1t was Lou who spoke, and all at once
my pleasure vanished.
1t was Lou that should have been asked,
and not /.
hesitated for a moment, and he no
ticed it and said:
Il tried to get four seats, but could only
secure these two, and knowing your fond
ness for music. | thought l would give
YOU this chance"
Pris took my arm in her decided way.
Now hurry. child, or you will he
4 late
l have heard people say that they enjoy
/ things.
Now, don't, or at least didn't enjoy
I that singing
l reveled in it; grew intoxicated with
/ the heavenly sounds; but Priscilla
would say | was talking wildly, and so
am.
And after the cOncert-it's all past now
/ but / never in all my emotional life felt
so strangely and 80 little inclined to make
fun as when Ralph told me, in unmis-
. EIkhnLE IEENfuN lnnES ia " ~ hit iiE NV Ca
and not. as thought. Lou.
4 flood of rapture great deal stronger
than the music rapture swept over me
but left me strong enough 10 repulse the
arm which had drawn me close one bliss
full moment.
And then | told him of our pledge, and
that under no consideration would | be
the first To break it.
How he laughed.
can hear the ringing tones now; but
he didn't caress me again, and we sOor
reached home.
As he left me at the gate, the saucy Eel
low said, lifting my chin up and looking
into nv ewes:
"Never fear. little one, but things car
be arranged If YOU love me you shall
have me"
Have him. indeed.
When | went inside | stood a moment
IN amaze.
In the low chair sat Lou, and on hel
knees before her. with her head in Lou
lap. was Pris.
= Priscilla Dwight, what's the mat
teri"
Pris lifted up her face, and such a fac,
for our calm sister.
A tear in one eye and smile in the
other would about describe it.
Lou explained
while you were gone, Floss. Mr.. Ash
ton called and asked our Priss to be his
| wife. left the room for something and
he took the opportunity. And, Floss
Priss refused him, and he went away say
ing he would not give up hope. And
came downstairs and found her this way
Now, sisters we are wrong. | came to
this conclusion some time ago. Lett
dissolve our pledge; it was foolish one
but, of course, we didn't foresee this
What say you, FloSsf
For answer rushed to LOUIS side, and
with one arm around her and the other
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