River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1878-11-14
OFF WITH THE OLD LOVE.
GraspIng at the Substance and Cafehin
the

HCdu, anu u 5OlL NlDltL liGlt -
her eyes, as she stood there, living PFC
ture, framed by creeping vines and swing
ing sprays of clematis-that was tue lasI
glimpse that Henry Dalmayne caught oil
IiIias RAYMOND on the summer evening
when he went away to seek ms fortune.
He had found it already, Ia a certain
sense-in so far as man may ind treasure
trove in the rich abundance OF a woman 5
love; for Lilias loved him, and Lilias'
heart was gold mine itself.
She turned and went back into the
house, with the dew of tears upon her
cheek and mournful culver on her lip.
"How silly / amr' she murmuTed to
herself. at will be but year or two ct
the furthest, and he has much more to
endure and battle with than ]"
And Lilias repined at the fate assigned
TO her in the great play-bill of the world.
1t was hard to realize the truth OF the
blind poets words, that "they also serve
who only stand and wait"
II she could have worked tC earn
money and help him; if she might also
have been privileged to bear weapon i'll
the strife Alas it is so hard to sit still AMI
count the seconds which must elapse ere
the crisis of our fate dawns upon the
leaden horizon of life.
So Henry Dalmayne went TO the big
city, and Lilias stayed behind, to bear
the separation as best she might.
Engaged, eh?" growled old Mr.. Peck
ham, Henry's maternal uncle, whose
skin had turned yellow with the reflection
of much gold, and whose heart was hard
er than the marble of which his mansion
was built. Nephew, you're fool En-
gaeed-at Internationally
''But Uncle Ralph, she is the sweetest
girl you ever saw.'
IS Reetest girl Sweetest fiddlesticks y
roared out the irate old gentleman.
There, there, don't talk ointment TO me.
I've no patience with it"
Henry was silent. The glitter of the
frescoed ceilings, the flash of silver and
cut-glass, the exquisite aroma of the rare
red wine, and the velvet flush of hot
house peaches, became distasteful to him
all at once. Uncle Peckham had
promised to make his fortune for him.
but Henry was not at all sure that he
wanted his fortune much, on these terms
One glance, one smile from L'lias, were
they not worth all these hollow pagean-
tries2
ItIe, SdNt CuClt Itilphj tdSs4hS d
card across the table. "I've got you an
invitation to Mrs Bruces party night
You'll meet some people there that are
worth knowing"
Henry Dalmayne hesitated; it was the
evening he had set aside IN each week
for writing to Llias. She would miss
her letter, but, after all, it would be onlv
be a days delay. lie could write
as well upon the next night.
So Henry went to MIS-. Bruce's, under
the wing of his uncle. the wealthy stock
broker.
well" quoth Uncle Peckham, when
the festivities were over, and they were
once more sitting beside the fire that
shone and spanked Ike deep Lued rubies
beneath the carved mautel in the rich
mans dining-room, ''how do you like
Sarah Esterbrook?"
'.Very WELL sir"
Very welI!" sarcastically mimicked
Mr.. Peckham. DO you know that her
father is worth a million2'
as he, sirl'
as he, sir2 Henry" r0ared the OLD
gentleman, 81 believe you're fool Why,
there are a score of the weaIthest young
men in town who would give hal they
possess-aye, the whole of it, if need be
for the smiles and chances Miss Ester
brook vouchsafed to you this very
night :"
"She was very polite, sir" said Henry,
with rather puzzled look; but
"Polite And pray what would you
have, Mr.. Dalmayne2 Do you want wo
man to tell you out and out, in so many
words, that she likes you, before you can
take q hint2'
Henry colored ike girl. 1t was i'm
possible to be quite insensible to the
charm of this fattery, the mole especially
as Uncle Peckham was not ordinarily
one who "buttered his phrases" as the
expression goes.
ayes, my boy-yes, went on the stock
broker. tapping the table emphatically
with his finger en- Is; 'Hshe does like you
And l am not the only person who has
noticed it."
But, uncle, she is so plainlh
What of that? All women cant be
Venuses, and the prettiest of them have ii
grinning skull aud cross-bones under
their pink ndwlite skins and fair ex-
te1iors. Beauty is Only a skin deep
Henry thought Of pretty Lilias, with a
thrill of tender collection. Miss Ester
brook, with ell her golden charms, could
never hope to rival her. Yet as the days
and weeks went by his thoughts and
ideas insensibly changed. The yellow
lustre fthe gold worshipping atmps mere
in which he lived seemed to wrap him
round the surface glitter of society; ideas
gradually uprootet the old dogmas ana
axioms of his Youthful faith. And one
evening, carried away by the witchery
and enchsntment f the hour, he proposed
to Sarah Esterhrook, aud was accepted
Congratulations poured in upon him the
next day.
You are Tho luckiest dog going,
Dalmdyne,' cried one.
- only wish | were in your shoes ~
echoed second; and Henry. dazzled by
the brillaucy of his prospects, believed
that he was really most fortunate man,
For, according to popular rumor, he was
going to marry one OF the richest girls in
the city. And Uncle Peckham took To
himself all the credit of the whole affair.
This is better than plodding on ones
whole life long behind s counting house
DESK cried Ralph, ioyously rubbing TO-
gether his lesn and wrinkled palms. "A
young man of enterprise and resolution
can accomplish any thing Re sets about
nova DAYS, especially if, ike you,
Nephew Dslmayue, be happens TO be toll
erably decent looking"
A man does not usually degenerate in
to a villain all at once: and when Henry
Dalmaye sat down to write TO Lilias RS y
mund, his frame of mind was probably
far from enviAble. But he got the letter
written somehow. He wrote that no answer
would be expected, aud no answer came.
Three months afterwsrd just as the
preparations of the much talked OF Ester
brook Dalmayne wedding were culmi-
Mating, he CHANGED to meer John Hawlev
in the street-John's mother lived at a
small place adjoining the Raymonds'
farm. Dalmayne stopped, with real
pleasure on his flce.
'John, is il youl Stop a minute and
tell me the news"
'sThere amt much news" quoth John
rather sulkllv. IN common with most OIL
the neighbOrs, he was inclined to think
that Henry had behaved very i'll. 'Ex.
cept that Lily Raymond is we'll, and pref
tier than ever"
"Ahr' Henry tried to speak carelcssly
but without single success.
land Squire Ingoidsby's son is getting