River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1877-10-18
ROMANCE OF A SPITE DOG.


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Ny story opens the brightest of jane
mornings upon the little city Of Airline,
TRANQUILITY glittering in the green and
white on the shores of Lake Michigan.
From the steamers which glided quietly
by, eight or ten miles off shore, Airline
was a haven of summer rest, an oasis
made for happy idlers, of which tired city
passengers could treasure up only fitting
glimpses for future sighs and dreams. A
nearer approach but confirmed this rather
ideal impression. The busiest part of
Airline was one broad street, up which
swept the unbroken lake breeZes, and
where the passers-by could be counted
on ones fingers at any hour Of the day.
The rest of the place was so embowered
in trees that it more nearly resembled a
grove than town. Even the quiet little
river whose arbitrary twisting. drew a
very satisfactory line between aristocratic
and plebeian Airline bore its country lilies
to the last bridge that spanned its shall
low current before it lost its sleepy iden-
tity in the lake.
Despite the forbidding shades, the ir-
repressible sunbeams sailed into the
most guarded hooks. Perhaps their rash
est adventure was a.surreptitious entrance
into the chamber of Miss Helen Marlette
through breach in the maple boughs
and blind carelessly left aslant. With
characteristic presumption they flung a
golden ladder upon the wall above the
sleeping lady's head, then slowly slipped
downward. The warm bars fell at length
spon her uncoiled hair-so black that it
did not give forth even taWny llstre-
and one tiny line slid athwart the hand
soonest nose in Airline. Upon this the
lady suddenly Enclosed her eyes and
stared wildly at the ceiling. Then the
bedroom door breezily opened, and a
young lady with wide blue eyes and a
much befrizzed blonde head burst into
he room.
Cousin Helen. Not up yet? Why l
was dressed two hours ago, waiting to
see what Mr.. Simmons said about the
party in the morning paper. | made my
self as charming as possible to him last
night, though was dying all the time to
be with somebody else. But I've reaped
my reward. o, he gave me such puff
By this time the blonde was critically
examining the back of her dress in the
mirror.
Helen" she continued, | knew my
dress was success because the moment
Jennie Barrett saw me she collapsed and
looked like the melancholy days the rest
of the evening. What jealous DISPOSE
ton that girl hss l forgot to say that
you were extolled as usual; but you have
been to so many parties, | suppose you
don't care as much about it as do, ''try-
ing the effect of a white rose in her hair.
How late is it, Saxie2" Helen asked,
following the girls quick movements
with an amused look; sand why so much
elegance so early in the norningl"
That's what came 10 tell you about.
Mamma has invited Ernest Houston to
dinner, and you'd never in the world
guess who's coming with him. That
queer brother of his, who went of TO the
cannibals seven years ago"
"What. Fred Houston?"
Eyes he came last night. | suppose
III have to talk to him, as Ernest is so
devoted to you. It's not early, either.
You'd better come down stairs right away
or they'll be here before you have time
for breakfast IN rer0irin
The door closed, and suddenly reopen
ed.
Helen, don't wear blue this morning
because / have it on. Why don't you put
on your white with scarlet roseg It's so
becoming! o, ] always hated missiona-
ries and know we'll quarrel. If he is
my second cousin, I'll not call him Fred,
but Mr.. Houston. I'll keep him at dis
lance" And the blue rufiles again
whirled out.
Before Saxie's slippers had ceased to
patter on the broad old stairs, Helen Mar
lette was up and dressing, with an unusu-
al light in her gray eyes. In sootk, the
"queer brother" so lightly mentioned,
had once filed that remotest corner of Miss
Marlette's affections known as "first love"
and 10 meet ones first love after a stormy
parting and separation of seven years is
enough to stir the calmest blood. Not
that she dreamed of renewing that early
folly. The idea OF Helen Marlette mar
rying-well, not exactly a missionary 10
the cannibals, but the assistant of an
Episcopal bishop in the Falkland Islands !!
Absurd! What if she once had shed some
very bitter tears, had nightly kissed and
proved over a certain face in certain
locket2 Were not her eyes long since
dried, the locket lost, and unnumbered
fiirtations heaped above that helpless
fancyl Marriage" Mrs. Marlette said
logically, =" is the greatest step in wom-
ans life. Love is mad caprice. To
leave marriage TO love is, therefore. TO
leave the greatest step in woman's life
to a mad caprice" The experience of
the niece had so we'll proven the aunt's
teachings that she unreservedly adopted
them. Seven years of bellehood, more
over, are generally enough to tougher the
heart to old as well as TO new impress
sions.
If Helen, therefore, went down stairs
in an unusual glow wearing the very dress
in which Sake had told her she look I'd
best-even with a red rose in her hair-it
does not follow, nor is it to be construed,
that she entertained any but feelings of
pleasure, always consistent with the views
of young lady of discretion, at meeting
an old acquaintance.
Ignoring her breakfast, she passed out
the front door, and found her aunt seated
on the shady piazza that nearly surround
ed the large old-fashioned house.
Mrs. Marlette was the relict of once
obscure and happy military officer, upon
whom a successful generalship in the War
of the Rebellion and the restless ambition
of his wife had thrust seat in the senate
of his country. When the first six years
at length drew to a close, he would have
retired gladly 10 private life had not his
wife goaded him on to another campaign.
He died before his second term expired,
and Mrs. Marlette found herself debarred
by Salic institutions from taking further
part in the management of public affairs.
Wisely she turned her energies in the di
rections the infallible judgment of man
kind had seen fit to leave open TO them.
and acted we'll her part as mother, aunt,
aud leader of society in her early home,
Airline.
Good-morning. my dear" said this es-
Unable lady, on her niece's approach
" how fresh you look after your late