River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1878-10-24

letter h, except when it's ore letter toe
many
So Jenny began to speak only from
sheer necessity. She never could please
her husband any mere, do what she would
and didn't care to find favor in the sight
OF others. 1t began to be apparent to
Jenny that she was clog and burden to
her husband and her daughter-nay in
the whole world in which they delighted
to live-and there came time when she
resolved no longer to be stumbling.
block TO their popularity.
There was musicale at the house that
night, and all the doors were open. The
halls were filled with flowers, some OF
them brought from the florist in tubs OF
de dimensions; and Jenny, in plain
black silk, crouched behind one of these
while Mr.. Mac Neil was bringing his
daughter down the stairs and into the
crowded pariors. Macs nose was high
N the air, he was dressed in the finest of
broadcloth, while the musical prodigy,
who was now well-grown young wom-
| an, swept along in rustling white silk
| that the dressmaker wouldn't let Jenny
do even the cording for. On they went,
and Jenny's heat swelled big with pride,
| ;hen sank with modification, for two Tine
ladies near ner leaning upon the arms of a
good-natured looking gentleman, began
all at once to cavil at poor Jenny, who
had never in her whole life said EVIL of
anybody.
"The mamma appears TO be invisible
said one OF them. "They say she is shut
up in the coal hole upon these occasion !;
and no wonder, when one thinks of the
| plumbers of the poor creature"
perhaps she's in the Kitchen said the
other. ~ have heard that is where Mr..
Mac Neil first found her.
Then up spoke the good naturedlook-
/ ing gentleman, and said that if she could
make good ragout there, her husband
ought to rise up and call blessed.
for it was finer accomplishment than
any he could remember; and one thing
was certain, she was far prettier woman
than most of them there that night.
But Jenny did not hear this; and if she
had, it would not have comforted her.
A little latter on, one of their old
friends, the wife of iourneyman printer,
in the dear old peighborhood of the for
saken nest, was startled by the apparition
Of comely face, dear to the olden time
of merriment and song, but now blurred
with tears; and the tale she told, Mrs.
5I'Shane anticipated every word of.
"My poor bairnie," she said, 81 knew
bow 'twould be when saw Macs way of
going on. His stuck up airs and his talk
strophes and symphonies and outlandish
heathenisms BODIED no good. But so long
as l have roof, you shall share it"
But Jenny was independent, and soon
got a situation far above the one in which
she first saw her husband. As luck would
have it, the old rooms were just vacated.
Mrs. M'Shane had most Of the old furni-
ture; so before the month was out Jenny
was back in her nest, but sick at heart, |
and sometimes roadv to die.
In the meantime we must run back a !
month to the scene of festivity where we
left the Mac with his head high in the |
air, and the skirts CT the musical prodigy |
trailing full yard behind her Neither |
OF them missed Jenny till the splendid |
repast was ready, and the guests were not
for the society Of their hostes.
But now, indeed, it was time for Jenny to |
take her rightful place; and with many |
an inward prayer that she would be as
little unequal to the ccasion as could be |
expected of her, and resolve to caution |
her to speak only when necessary, and
certainty in his heart thai she would at |
least be pleasant to look upon, Mr.. Mac |
Neil awaited his wife. | needn't say he
waited in vain; and two or three of the
servants not being able to find her, Mr..
Mac Neil, in high displeasure, sent Shiel
OFF with an immediate order for the per.
emtory appearance before him. Shiel
hunted high and low, and came back to
paItner with wild look of alarm in his
face, and his now scanty locks almost on
end.
''She's clean gone mot sign of her"
Of her." he said.
Mr. Mac Neil was more mad than
g1ieved for he knew she'd come in
nc said, at the fag-end of the feast, and +
spoil everything. "She's run out some
where for something" said poor Mac,
little thinking of the nature of her errand.
He made an apt excuse to bis daughter,
aud the supper went on successfully.
Poor Shiel ate never mouthful, and his
face was as white and bland as if he
had seen ghost; but nobody minded |
Shiel. In truth, Macs own appetite was
a little frustrated, and as the night wore
away he was heartily glad to see the PEG
pie rrooping out to their carriages. When |
all were gone, little upstairs maid, who
had been always civil to poor Jenny, put |
a little note into Macs hand, saying that |
her mistress told her not to give it to
him till the festivity was over. Mac
opened it with trembling hand, and
read poor Jenny's scrawl:
I'm gone for good and all, dearie. For
q long time I've seen that you and my |
darling child were beyond me in every
thing. I can never get up to you; so
please forgive me if stop by the way.
God bless and prosper you, is tie PRAYER
of YOUR faithful Jenny.
Mac handed it over to Shiel, and |
dropped into a chair as if struck by an
unseen hand. The air was little heavy |
with the breath of his artistic guests who
had just departed, and the scent If the
exotiCs sickened his nostri!s; the big blaze
Of light grew dim about him, and all he |
could see for that weary minute was the
sweet face of young English girl he had
known and loved almost beyond his |
STRENGTH q lcr" ';rce arc.
Shiel had read the note for the sixth
time, his face growing more and more
distracted and imbecile, and had begun
to read it over again, when Mac cried out
in a broken voice, Gould any villain be
at the bottom of this. Shell could any
one have tempered with her loyalty"
Never cried Shiel. Indignantly. "I'll
answer that with my life. | know how
foolishly faithful she was never an eye
or an ear for anybody else. | know that
bv experience. Many's the time I've
tried to console her myself for your in
difference.
My what2" roared poor Mac.
'Your indifference and neglect sir
cried Shiel, now aroused to the pitch of
recklessness. "She was pearl of purity
aud sweet simplicity, but she was cast
bsfore swine, sur"
"Shiel. you are always more or less OF a
fool" groaued Mac, land now you're
clean daft But he listened to Shiel as
he went on to give him a piece OF his
mind, and took heart as he gathered in
the evidences of Jenny's wounded love.
She'll be back before twenty-four hours"
said Mac, ''and we'll all be the happier
for this little bout"
But twenty-four hours went by, and
forty-eight; a whole week passed away,
aad no Jenny came TO lift the weight
from Macs heart. S iel advised him to
secretly consult the police, at which
Mac first revolted, then suceumbed; but
-. $1,000 fo,t,-;c-b& hvr