River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1878-02-21
snatched up nv hat and rushed out of

snatched up my hat and rushed out of
doors.
The sun was setting across the water.
The air had grown cool, and a pair of
singing shore birds flew before me as
sought favorite seat of mine, retired
among the rocks.
Ihad not composed my mind, when
there was rustic of silk and a soft hand
was laid on my arm.
"Forrest.n
"Stephenie y
You know am here now, and so
have, come TO speak toyou.
She sat down close beside me, facing
me, her arm across my knee, her clear
blue eyes steadily meeting mine; and,
before she spoke word | took the fair
hand tenderly, feeling that she was to be
restored to me.
Forrest, had been here week,wish-
ing to see you, yet repealed by your de-
termined seelusion. If the old woman
called Aunt Betsey, who frequents this
place had not told me tonight that ac-
cident had revealed my presence to you,
| should have lost my last remnant of
courage, and returned home without
speaking to YOU"
"What have you to say to me now,
Stephenie?"
"You overheard me talking, as you
supposed to Captain Langdale, Forrest |
was reading a letter"
"a letter.
81 have startling story to tell. Lis
malady had seemed strange to me. /
= I, f,,s Of c4r
and color, until learned, by occupying
the next apartment to her at Branchyille,
that she spent her nights in weeping
While I wondered that she should have
a secret trouble from me, and perplexed
myself how to gain her confidence, en-
tered her room one morning, and found
it to be full of strange, sickening scent,
while Lilly lay senseless upon the bed
She had taken an opiate powerful enough
to produce death, and upon the table lay
two letters. One was addressed to me,
the other to Captain Langdale.
"As soon as / had procured assistance,
and a physicians help had saved her life,
read the letter the poor child had adj
dressed to me. Poor Kitten her heart
was breaking, for she had set itupon one
friend, and she believed that he loved me.
l am speaking of Captain Langdale. He
is handsome, CAV, and debonnaire, and
the poor girl believed him necessary to
her existence. So she confessed to me,
yet her heart seemed to hold no bitter
ness for her supposed rival.
"She had always loved me, she said,
and was more worthy of her hero. But
she was so pitifully miserable, poor little
thing. Well, | considered the matter
carefully. 1t was only an hours ride
from Captain Langdale, and resolved to
see him. Lily was sleeping restorative
slumber, and | could 60 to the city and
return in about three hours. / did so.
When reached the depot | sent car
rage for him to come to our house. He
came, and read the letter. Our soldier
has a tender heart; he was affected to
tears. He gave me the letter to read, bid
ding me to read italoud, AS | did so
you enteled and heard tine words which
mislcd you.'
Her eyes were swimming as they met
mine; but after an instant she went on
Captain Langdale showed deeper and
more delicate feeling than had supposed
him capable of.
aft little lilly thinks such barum-
scarum fellows as | am worth dying for,
| ought to make myself worthy the bless
ing of such love- he said; and added, L
will give myself to Kitten tomorrow, if
she wants me, and / will be better man
than 1 ever have been, for her sake
$50" said Stephenie, frightening,
"there is to be a marriage in early autumn
My Lilly is quite happy in the prospect
of sharing soldiers life, and and"-
blushing radiantly, and flashing one beau
teous look into my eyes" there may be
a double wedding, if you please, dear J"
tell my wife my happiness was saved
by such fragile thing as an embroider-
ed stocking certainly for this world,
and | believe for the next.