River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1878-07-25
A Lovers Mistake.

lately fallen into the hands of Strathley
s. Stone lumber merchants of the me
tropolis, hundred miles away. Why
had DTr. Strathley chosen to immune him
self in that little country village whose
society was naturally uncongenial to q
man of the world9 Why, If it were moi
because he had seen Margaret on his first
visit to look after the purchase of the
mill, aud had dined at her grandfather s
as if he were an old friendl John rea-
soned. Were not women as fair in his
own world whom ne could love and win,
that he need go out of his way to rob an
other man2 Could he not have sent an
agent to reside at Ford, and attend to
the firms business, in that old-fashioned
corner of the earth, if money-making
were the only attraction2 What ma
ngn fate had caused him to gravitate to
Ford, where no stranger was ever known
to stay a IN oment longer than circum-
stances Obliged himl With his fine man
ners and fine clothes, with his palaver
about all things in heaven and earth; his
handsome face and figure, was it not hid
ing his light under a bushel2 What
cou ID he find in Ford to interest him if
it were not Margaret
1t was bitter season for Lorrimer, who
having been sweet upon Margaret ever
since be was boy in jackets, felt as if
he had established q claim upon her
affections, and was aggrieved to find her
amused by Strathley- walking with him
in season and out of season; sitting in the
farm house porch in confidential converse
or singing FROM the same old psalter on
Sunday evening. 1t was surely enougl
to enrage any lover, and especially one
who felt so certain of his case that be
had DELAYED about riveting the chains,
and had taken everything for granted be-
fore putting the question.
LOrrimer began to study his mirror
for the FIRST time in his life; to become
enamored Of fine clothes; to suspect him.
self of awkardness and ignorance. 1t
suddenly occurred to him that he must
have been blind ever to have believed
that Margaret would care for him, though
he had thought that actions spoke louder
than words; though he had taken her
part at school, when the others twitted
her about her shabby gowns and her
wild brother Ben, who had brought his
grandfather's nose to the grindstUne-
the country people said and obliged him
20 mortgage the farm and this same mill,
which had been his now years ago, IN or
der to pay gambling debts.
'And served him right" they grum-
bled, not satisfied with the retribuIlon
Providence had seen fit to administer
"se-ved him right for educating Ben be-
yond his betters, till he was that proud
he looked down on his own kith and kin
and ran away to sea, where all the scamps
90, when there amt no more money to
make way with. And it wan no great
loss. neither" they declared, "when he
went down th all hands on board, off
the coast somewhere, and nobody lett to
give the particklers though he's gone to
his account, aud we don't hev no wish TO
disparage the dead"
All at once Lorrimer began to look at
himself as If he were somebody else, and
the view failed to satisfy his soul. Cross
ing the brook that flowed through the
meadow, one evening, he met Margaret
alone.
well met" said she, gaily, showing
him handful of water-liiies. 'See; /
0SHHu lNGSC Ouk VI OotOOIAtSoo PCAbs
in an old leaky whcrry that was rottlng
on the shore VIII you have some"
"Whv didn't you ask me to get them
for you, Margaret You might have
been at the bottom of the pond by this
time"
at is bottomless, you know"
.'Wny didn't you ask Mr.. Strlth'ey
TO get them for you9, he added, as an
after thought"
The sudden color Redeemed upon Mar
Varets cheek.
.sMr. Strathley has something else to
do"
But have nothing else to do that
should like half as well. Margaret-we
used to be such friends--I used to think
but no matter what-you find Strath-
lev more to your mind no doubt. don't
blame you, only we were such old
frieadsr'
There was look of trouble growing
in Margaret's eyes. I'VE are friends still,
hope" she said.
Are WEI That fellow with his fine
airs and bold eyes has bewithed you; we
were happy enough before he came Do
YOU know what they say in the villageP
II do not know Whist they say" she re-
Piled, with d growing color and tear In
her eyes that belied her words. "Wha,
right have they to speak oil met Why DO
you listen, you who pretend TO be ny
friend}a
Pretend That's an honest word be-
tween you and mel If Strathley bad
your good at heart"
Take care, John; don't say anything
against Mr. Strathlcy. You might be
sorry for il some day. He is-he knew
NV poor brother Ben-at school, OF
somewhere. 1t does us good TO hear him
talk of Benz Ii was hard for Margaret
to tlissemble, snd she did it with a poor
grace.
..Bl. ssings brighten as they take their
fight thought Lorrimer; knew your
brother Ben, did he2 and your grand.
father listensl' The time had been
when Ben's name had beeA forbidden
and the old farmer had sworn that Ben'S
shallow should ney>r darken his door.
"People ought to be careful how they
sneak OF their own flesh and blood,
craaned the neighbors, when the Arctu'
rus was cast away, and the last chance oi
foreiving Ben with it. But though
grandfather Bevis had aged since then
had begun 10 have a hauit IN his step
and stoop in his shoulders. and u grow
a fresh crop of wrinkles, yet even grim
death bad failed 10 oal ,erate Bens mis-
deeds-their impoverished CONDITION was
a constant reminder. MIR. Bevis saw his
more fortuna neighbors enjoying the
fruits of lands he had cleared with the
horny hand of toll, sitting dows to boun-
teously-supplied 'ables- with a good bal
ance in the bank for rainy weather, while
he and has Jared scantily, and hardly dar-
ed to look the future in tie face, Ben
had been the apple of his eye, and &c
have suffered from his selfshneSs added