River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1878-02-21
THE EMBROIDERED STOCKINGS.
a Love story.

Sne was very pretty, but there came
time when | don't think | cared the least
for her beauty, her soul was so much more
attractive than her body. She was no
humble wild flower maiden, but a widow
who had received a magnificent dover OF
blue blood, including talent, and all that
culture could develop in beautiful and
intellectual woman was hers; all that
wealth could bestOw upon her she pos
sessed. She had the good fortune to have
no singularity of nature, but was a SYM
metrical and harmonious whole.
l loved her, and | possessed the hum
bleness of true love. The more intimate
~ | knew her, she made me conscious of
things that were mean in myself. Out
of this feeling grew a jealousy of other
men.
A bitter jealousy She was of too sunny
and generous temper to pick for flaws,
nor could she know man as other men
knew him.
She could not understand that DR.. Cos
grove was as irritable in private as he
was suave and agreeable in public, and
| would not tell her that Captain Lang
dale seldom pays his debts. They were
hut two of her many admirers, and they
were both handsomer and Shower than
myself In time | was miserable on their
account.
connot now, in cold blood, accuse her
of coquetry, but Stephenic St Jean was
of French blood on her fathers side. Be
sides speaking that language perfectly,
she had the French woman's secret of
fascination. A trifc more in vivacity,
when surrounded by gentlemen, made
her utterly irresistible.
| saw and felt the charms. and could
not content myself with the thought that
in the quiet hours we BASED together l
knew myself dear to her. Many a winter
evening had we sat together on the little
velvet sofa before the drawing room fire,
secure from intrusion, her beautiful head
resting on my breast, content in her eyes
happiness in her smile. And yet, swear
ing her to be the proudest and most del
icate of women, was madly jealous of
other men
For months | would not see her alone.
She was one of large family, and she had
a favorite cousin, Lily Lawton, who was
her constant companion.
She was very young, and bright, sweet
little thing; but of late she had seemed
dropping, as if out of health, and
StepEenie had been usually protective and
kind.
For Stepheuies sake l frequently took
Lily out to drive, though her exceeding
simplicity often bored me.
could not but wonder that Stephenie
associated with her so constantly; but
Lily worshipped her magnificent cousin,
and the latter delighted in being kind to
those weaker than herself Kitten,
she called Lily, and there had been some
thing especially kittenish in the girls
round, bright and gray eyes and playful,
graceful ways.
Her special charm was gone now. She
was pale, faded, spTitless little thing.
Stephenie kept her constantly under her
wing.
" Kitten must have green fields and
pastures new" she said. " The May
suns are getting strong and I, too, long
for a country trip. We are gong to
Branchville, and shall be absent a week.
Mind you are good boy till we come
back"
smiled, but on the wrong side of my
face.
= A week, | murmured.
A week and one day." she laughed.
Il shall lie gray-headed when you
come back l said, smiling at my OWL
vexation.
She laughed more gayly than ever
then shadow fell over her face.
at is for Llly's sake she whispered
look at her
Lily lay on a hammock on the piazza
her hands lying listlessly in her lap, not
shade of color in her cheek.
The thought came to me that the child
was bound for the land of shadows.
"She must have help soon" SAID Steph
enie.
YES" | answered.
saw them off in the morning train
Kitten with her cheek on Stepheniei
shoulder. l carried the picture befor,
my ewes all the week---my magnificent
generous brunette supporting the failins
strength of that pale, tair-faced child
And had never loved her better in my
life than 10 this new phase.
4 week and day Stephenie had said
therefore | had no expectation of seeins
her when, at the end of five days, | en-
tered the drawing-room of her father
house to find an ore-a.glaSs l had lief
there.
| had told the servant at the hall-doo
what nv errand was, and that | knew
lust where to look tor the glass. But OF
the threshold Of the apartment my step
were arrested by the sound of Stephenie'
voice.
A rush of delight went over me.
was about to spring forward, when 1 dis
covered Stephenie was seated in the alcovt
of an inner room beside a gentleman.
I stood irresolute. 4 curtain of blu'
silk fell across the upper part OF the fg
ures, but upon it their shadows lay, a
they sat against the sunny windows be
yond, and plainly outlined Stephenie'