River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1877-05-24
TRUE TO HER WORD.

Leonora LOnsdale's most partial friend
could not call her pretty. Her most inn
partial commissioning possessed of much
cleverness, strength of character, and
hatred of shams it followed, she had few
declared her ugly.
For the benefit of those who have never
seen the young lady, and consequently
belong to neither one side or the other,
I will describe her-beginnlng with the
most prominent feature of the human
face.
Nose of no particular order, neither
aquiline, straight, pug, turned-up nor
turned-dOwn, but original and indepen-
dent, and apparently in the right place;
eyes brown with CLINT oftOpaz-a slight
cast in the left one pronounced by the
friendly "bewitchingly cunning" and by
the inimical " decidedly impish - mouth
neither large nor small, with full, red lips
closing firmly over two rows of strong,
white teeth; complexion neither blonde
nor brunette but clear and rosy and her
own, and chin that only escaped being
masculine by having dimple in it.
Her head, heavy with quantity of
straight, black hair, was well shaped
enough, and well set upon slender neck,
that was again well set upon her sufficient
ly broad shoulders; her hands were small,
but the fingers did not taper: she was five
feet six inches in height, and looked as
though she might be taller if she chose;
had clear, ringing laugh, musical chest
voice, a graceful walk; had opinions of
her own, and whistled like a bird.
And yet, Notwithstanding her want of
beauty-her many defects, might say
there were men who had expressed a
readiness to die for LeOnOra at need, and
more who had declared themselves per-
fectly willing to live for her.
There was a wonderful atmosphere of
freedom, of purity, of bravery about her.
And Leonora was a worker. Much as
she despised shams and hypocrisies she
despised idleness.
DAY dreaming don't believe in it, :
she would saw do your dreaming at
night and work during the day." and
while she talked, in bright, and cheer
full way, each word clear and distinct she
busilv piled her needle making little
dresses and jackets and aprons. For
whom" Oh, for some poor children
around the corner. | had nothing else to
do"
1t was while thus occupied one after
noon la September, seated ON the old
fashioned porch. shaded 10y a heavy grape
vine that Clifford Cameron sauntered in
and threw himself in an easy chair be-
side her "Ciiff" had been chum of
Harry Lonsdale's since early boyhood, and
for Just that period had alternately tried
to tease and make love to Harry Ions
dale's sister.
T. fa,,
generous law young fellow, with no end
of money. Grandfather had died and
left him mOney-father had died and left
him mOney-uncle had died and left him
money, lately an old great-aunt, whom he
had never seen, had departed this life,
away off in some obscure corner of the
globe, and left him more money. He
had very fair hair and big, very blue eyes,
beautiful hands and feet, was rather stout
than slender short than tall--was
one of those infatuated men who thought
| the slight cast in Leonora's left eye per-
fectly charming, and who had said they
would die of JOY if she'd only graciously
permit them to devote the remainder of
their lives to her.
Well, Bee" said he, takingup a small
apron and leisurely surveyingit
well, butterfly was the reply, "what
brings you back from Newport SO soon."
YOU"
"Oh you've come here to talk non
/ sense again, says the young lady, hold
| ing another small apron before her, her
head on one side like birds. as she pom
| ders ON the effect of a bow of green rib
| bon she has sewn on the pocket.
Right, as you always are, my dar
ling"
I'm not your darling, and I'll take
that apron if you're quite done with it"
Deuce take the apron, says |. Stop
sewing, beg of you, Leo-it makes me
quite tired to look at YOU
Clifford"
"LeOnOrain
Aren't you ashamed of YOURSELF"
Don't think | am. Ought | to be-"
With decision" You should. Were |
young man in good health, not M med
or crippled-blessed with the average
quantity and quality of brains y"
Thanks
I'D do something besides lounging at
watering places in the summer, and club
houses in the understanding in the
shape of work-yes, if FIVE hundred
4
Couldn't any way in the world, thank
Heaven. my dear girl, have so many re-
/ lationsn
8 Left me five hundred fortunes And
if fell in love with a girl, I'd prove to
her before | proposed marriage, that /.
myself
Myself. Behold me r quoted Cliff.
"Could, if an emergency arose, and life
is full of them, support her, and that /
was not entirely dependent upon the in
come flowing in from the Golfers filed by
! my ancestors.
Bravo. Leo, You're splendid fell
low. That last remark about the collins
of my ancestors was extremely fine. I'd
like TO have any one, in the glow of my
present admiration for you, dare to hint
that you were the tiniest speck cross-eyed
He or she'd repent in haste. But, mos
admirable of your sex, what would YOU
do if You were male fellow. so unfortu-
nate as to know nothing useful, and wanted
to propose TO the girl you loved and all
the rest of its'