River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1878-01-03

Spying, at one OF the carriage windows,
an acquaintance from Fernwood, she
hastily inquired, and learned that Ellie
had been detained by an accident, but
that she would be down next day.
1t the same moment she was accosted
by spare and sunburnt lad, who inquired
If she were not Miss Gabrielle Hammond,
and informed her that he was Mrs.
Fraser's nephew, and that the trap was
awaiting for her.
While Miss Hammond busted herself
in collecting her numerous parcels, aud
gazing disparagingly at the little village,
consisting of few houses and a black
smiths shop several heneoops and little
grocery, she was herself an object of in
terest to the natives thereof.
"Say, Mr. Bunce,' remarked the youth
who had addressed her, as he stood before
the counter of tine grocer's receiving divers
parcels of goods, don't you want a squint
at the heiress2"
The person addressed peered cautious
ly from between two glass Jars on the
window, containing severally soap and
sugarsticks. He was tall young man
with sandy hair, shrewd gray eyes, and
ali HI-tl 1liitlCds oftiSioNA niouStdAIS
and was further adorned with a heavy
gold watch chain and an amethyst seal
ring on his little finger.
He surveyed Miss Hammond as intent
" as though she had been some aAImal
of rare and curious species.
''Hum not so young as she might be,
and rather scraggy. Are you sure, Len,
its herr"
"Perfectly sure. The doctor wrote that
she'd be here to-day; and cousin Mad
dox wrote to us that the lady-Miss
Gabrielle Hammond is her name-had
some money of her Own; and would be
heiress to all the doctors fortune He's
rich, you see,and has no children. Cousin
Susan said we must be sure to have
things extra, and that Miss Gabrielle
loved poetry, books and chocolate creams.
He, he She don't look much like It,
But | must hurry up and get her and the
rest of the bundles into the trap.
The getting Miss Hammond into the
trap proved q task Of some difficulty.
She had evidently rigid ideas of the
proper and becoming. Perceiving this,
the gentleman who had been addressed
by Len as Mr.. Bunce, hastily smoothed
his hair, pulled up his collar, and pausing
only to insert in his shirt-iront ruby
breastpin, CALAMITY fastened to her res
cue.
ALLOW me the pleasure of assisting
you, miss. Steps rayther high for a lady
Here, Zakiel,a cheer for the lady-quick Y
BY means of the combined assistance
of this article offurniture and Mr. Bunce's
strong arm, Miss Hammond was at length
seated, and while Len busted himself in
final preparations, he essayed to make
himser agreeable.
III pleasant ride, miss9 ALL Hill
side, nice place. Plenty O. the best to
eat fruit, vegetables, apple pies and
chi ). Why, you'll pick up in no time
anC W so plump that your own
frit II skercely know you"
TIL ady's sallow cheek flushed slight
ly, and as the wagon drove away, Mr..
Lucullus Bunce rubbed his head priskly,
with new and eager light in his grey
eyes, and murmured audibly-
"I'Il be blest if don't!"
"Smart man, that ere remarked Miss
Hammonds Jehu, confdentially. Gowns
the grocery shop, and does a good bust
ness, but he's a pushing, driving karicter,
and wants to tun up steam factory and
sawmill. Sartin to make forth In no
time if he had the capital
On the day following Ellie arrived; but,
not being recognized as an heiress, ex-
cited no admiration or attention beyond
what her pretty face commanded. She
was ''the poor one," according to Len,
consequently played second fiddle to her
mature relative, in the estimation of her
new acquaintance.
She, however troubled herself very
little as to what they might or might not
think of her. She was in love, poor child
really in love-and her young heart
was too much oppressed by the difficult
situation in which she found herself.
Should she give up her uncle for her
lover, or her lover for her uncle? She
felt that she could NOT do the latter, and
both duty and sense of gratitude and
affection caused her to shrink from the
former
Meantime, she roamed about the pref
ty groves and meadows of Hillside, and
read Tennyson, which DR.. Gray had given
her before she left home, and felta com
fort and soothing in the fresh, sweet ma
ture about her, which made her cheerful
and hopeful.
As to her cousin, Miss Gabrielle, she
had settled down to steady sewing,
and Ellie thought she had never before
seen her so silent and preoccupied-
except when Mr. Lucullus Bunce was
present.
He had called at Hillside in a radiant,
gorgeous plaid suit and extensive assort-
ment of jewelry-as he himself amiably
because he knew the ladies
were lonesome, and would like to be
cheered up a 1T"
Ellie was amused, but glad to find that
she was not required to entertain him,
and that her cousin kindly allowed her
to slip off when she chose, and never in
sisted on her accompanying herself and
Mr.. Bunce in their strolls in the garden
and lanes.
And so, day after day, Mr.. Luculus
made his appearance, bringing with him
packages of sweets, huge boquets of gor-
geous colored flowers, wherein coxcomb
ana marigold conspicuouslY figured, and
a variety of literature social, political
and religious.
In his presence Miss Gabrielle seemed
all smiles; but Ellie wondered why,when
they two sat alone in the room appropria-
ted to them, so anxious and thoughtful
an expression should sit upon her rather
faded brow, and contract her 70 longer
fresh lips.
The truth was that Miss Gabrielle, like
Mr.. Bunce himself, was playing des-
perate game. Despite his pretence at in
nocence, she was not long in perceiving
the mistake into which he had
fallen in regard to her own and Ellie's
respective positions; and, being shrewd
and quick witted, was at no loss to what
motive to attribute his disinterested at
tentions.
But herein she saw chance for herself
one for which she had for years been
vainly, and, of late, almost hopelessly