River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1878-02-28

| found faded, disagreeable and ordorless,
and that she tossed them pettishly out in
to the darkness from her window?
Il 6etest him and his yiolets," she cried
HE may step in town til doomsday, for
aught care.n
| Miss Barron did not sleep we'll and
rose in the morning with little dull
weight on her feelings Perhaps" she
| thought, "he will not come even to-day. .
| As she dressed for breakfast he was
constantly in her mlnd
''Perhaps he did it on purpose she
said. Perhaps he didn't, but lost the
train. But he had no business to lose the
train,' she added Grossly. perhaps he
was III; perhaps some women had asked
him to remain. Well, if so, don't care, =
she said. "He shall see / am happy
enough, and not even piqued, when he
comes"
Still, as the day wore on, Madge found
the ladies of the company provoking and
the gentlemen more uninteresting than
ever. Mechanically towards evening, she
donned the same toilet as on the night prey
ious, and took circuitous route through
the garden, that none might be cognizant
of her movements, Emerging out of
sight, she struck straight for the wood
path; and here we find her again listening
Tor the roar of the train, Notwithstanding
all her angry VOWS of the night before.
Beautiful, cross, unreasonable girl!
81 will not go to the stile," she was say
ing TO herself, and that viii be a dis
appointmint to him =
/ Gba xxyoe ,,,,eat+foJ Io,.o.....
for fear she might be in just the same
predicament as on the previous evening,
and have to return through the gloomy
wood alone She had seven-eights of a
mind to go straight back, even yet. But
she remainded after all, so peryersr is
woman.
| At last, with sudden screech, the en-
CINE came steaming along. Miss Barron
began to trace figures ON the ground with
her parasol, and put on a most unexpect-
ant air, her features sinking into repose
and unconcern benign enough to betit a
saint.
She saw Lyndhurst Darlington descend
from the train and come striding on joy
ously till he came in sight of the stile itor,
though hidden herself, she conld observe
all his Toyements.
He came on eagerly, looking to the
right and left for her. and almost stumbled
over Miss Barron.
sob, Madgem he cried, as he threw
himself at her feet, ''you did forgive me
and have come to meet mel"
Forgive you, Mr.. Barrington2" Nothing
could be more icy cold. "Pray, what has
been your fault?n She looked as she
spoke, straight before her, but with an air
of surprise which was exceedingly well
counterteited.
He looked up eagerly into her lace as
he answered, "Why, l was buttonholed
to death in town yesterday. 1t seemed
as if conspiracy had been entered into,
and that every fellow knew had left his
summer haunt to go up to town to detain
me- / transacted but half of my bust
ness, and put off Jack Longley with only
| a nod on my way to the station. | sup
pose he'll never speak to me again After
all, was one minute too late. | saw the
train sweeping out of the station just as l
reached it. | was in dispair, thinking you
would come to meet me.
II did walk down last evening, but |
can hardly say, sir, that came to meet
you. / did not expect you. | thought,
if.business Oh Illness kept you, you might
be one a week. / never thought of you
as hobnobbing with your male friends
and sauntering to the station"
'HMadge,' and serious look came in
to his face. "Let us drop pickering, and
begin where we left off yesterday"
every well, she replied Il believe
the point at which you left off was whist
ling, and | was doing nothing in particu-
lar, SO if you will strike off stave of any
thing, l will demurely, but admiringly,
walk by your side"
"Madgep' be exclaimed excitedly. ~
did no such thing. Do men gaze at stat
uary or paintings and whistle! Faith,
my last remembrance is of a prettier pic
ture than an art-room ever held. saw a
beautiful woman, looking regret at my
leaving---a woman | want for my wife. p"
Here was poser. Proposed to- 1t
came like a sweet surprise, nevertheless.
But it was contrary to Miss Barron's tao
tics. Were weeks of delightful flirting to
be cut off in a moment in this fashion,
How could he have believed her in earn
est? 1t was ridiculous. She had meant
to play the injured mistress for several
1 OdNS, anu lldhC uIlu oibjCSI III illo VIM %
to reinstate himself with her. She did
not want a climax reached with this man.
Her heart had told her that it would leave
a regret which she had never known be-
fore To avoid this now, she would be-
gin with raillery.
"Really. Mr. Darlington" she said,
''you must be hungry or over-tired, to
make such statement. A Widespread
table, steaming viands, comfort and a
wife, must have shot through your brain
l can assure you delightful supper now
awaits you ="
''Miss Barron" he began, frowning,
without apparent notice of her words, and
rising to his feet, 'three weeks ago did
not know you; but In that time all my
| life now seems to have become crowded.
| never stepped to question your actions.
1t seemed as if there was no need of ask
ing tor vows, they would denote com
mencement of love. | wanted 1T to be
as if we had loved forever"
.'Verv WELL she said, 'let it be so; no
VOWS, no commencement. You sec agree
with you perfectly"
| ''No, I will not have it so, he cried,
trying to take her hand.
"As you please" she laughed, shrug-
her shoulders. ~ can pick my way
through this bog without help"
81 hope am not wanting in gentle
behavior, but before / or you
stir a step further" he said, stepping In
front of her and barring the way, Il want
a simple answer to simple question
plain yes or mo- Do you love me,
Madgel"
4If cannot say yes, perhaps | cannot
say mo- / think friendship does not
Justify an abrupt no. L.
6 don't want equivocation, he broke
in. If you loved, eyes, lips, voice, acts,
all would blend into yes 1t must be
1 yes or no. say
| Madne had never met any man so mas