River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1877-06-14

II will not 90 further, if you please,
sir. she said, pausing there, and giving
a hurried glance over her disarranged
toilet
This TO a man of my hospitality, Miss
Westonl This way, if YOU please He
threw open a door into a small sitting
room and motioned her to enter. When
she went hesitatingly forward, he drew a
large lolling chair up before the window
and begged her to be seated.
"0h. but our fruit. Excuse me for
not relieving you before of the burden.
Kate crimsoned to the very roots of her
hair. as he motioned to her apron of APP
pies, which she still held Topped up over
her arm. The next moment he had gath
cred them into a silver fruit dish, and was
ringing for plates and knives.
Excuse me, sir, but / cannot remain
longer" said Kate, rising, and giving
little flash of light into his face.
I" But | shall insist upon it. have a
moral right to detain you tonight, re-
member"
"Or would have, perhaps, il was not
able 10 purchase my own ransom. think
understand YOU. May | ask ~ what
price you value your fruit"
She drew her purse from her pocket
with one hand, and pointed to the silver
fruit dish with the other.
The squire's lip curled for moment,
and his steady ewes burned beneath their
perfect brows, with deeper light; but
when he spoke, his voice was as firm and
mellow rs though the faintest ripple of
III 80 ar
surface.
(" BY the peck apples are worth-let me
see-some fifty cents, at the early season
o. the year. Perhaps | can afford to dis
count bit upon the price, since you have
taken so large quantity"
No, no, sir; do not discount the small
est fraction of mill upon them, as you
value your happiness! If ! have not
enough money in my purse, ! can apply
to some friend to loan me the remand
er"
Miss Weston
Squire Waters spoke her name in low
stern voice.
You choose well, sir, / am sure.
Among the score of girls who visited your
orchard tonight, l am the only one who
has not some friend to buy them from the
unhappy consequences OF this adventure
There is my purse, SIR"
She threw the small purse upon the
carpet at his feet, as she spoke, and then
ashamed of her ungenerous words and
her high flow of passion, burst into tears.
Miss Westonl'
The squire's voice was little trcmu-
lous now, but it detracted nothing from
its deep sternness. He stepped in front
of the door, as he spoke, as he OWNED an
intention on the part of Kate to glide
from the room.
"A moment if YOU please will not
detain you long," he said, inclining his
head toward her. believe you are too
true and generous, Miss Weston, to think
me guilty of such meanness as you have
Just ascribed to me. / am sure that for
long time, you must have known me
better. If you have not, it is not my
fault. For a long time have been in
terested in you. Your face pleased me
when first looked upon it, and | felt
that it was no common soul, no poor
spirit that spoke out so eloquently from
your features 1t may have been weak
/ in a man of my years to follow you about,
though | have endeavored to treat you
with the courtesy and respect which were
yours by right, as have done. have
esteemed YOU very highly-have, | am
almost afraid, by the little pang l feel at
nv heart tonight, been allowing myself
| to love YOU, even. That is all. | prom
Use YOU as a true gentleman that | will
not annoy you more. You may go now.
He stepped aside from the door to al
low Kate to pass out, but she stood before
him without moving to go, while the
willful tears still broke up from the
depths of her beautiful eyes and fell up
on her cheeks.
will not detain you longer" he re-
peated hesitatingly,' seeing that she stood
immovable and silent.
She drew up her naughty head as he
spoke and dashed the burning tears from
her cheeks; then she started forward with
out looking up into his face. For mo-
| ment she tottered upon the threshold,
pressing her slender fingers over her wet
eyes, and then turned back again to the
| the squire, who stood, with his head bent
toward her.
"I-I-do not want TO go" she cried,
springing back to him, and holding out
both white hands to meet his eager, pas
sionate grasp. Then-then-but Squire
Waters is too aristocratic parsonage for
me to NEEDLE with this one delicious lit
tie love scene of his life. Yon must
imagine the rest yourself, dear reader.
/ All / can say is, that Kate Weston became
his wife in consequence of the affair OF
the apples.