River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1879-03-13
LOSS OR GAIN?

LOSS OR GAIN?
An old gentleman, leaning forward
with his hands clasped over gold head
ed cane, was seated in a sumner-hOus,
situated upon the grounds of a hotel at :
fashionable watering place. He was IN {
corner hidden by dropping vines, and hi:
face expressed deep and apparently pain
full thought. The refrain of his sad mus
ing was, Only one person IN the whole
world to love me, and | shall lose even
that love now"
On the other side of the summer house
divided from the side the old gentleman
occupied by a rustic partiti n, two ladies
youg and fair, rustled in, and taking out
some fancy work, settled down for a chat
One was tall and dressed in a pretty
costume that was ut once youthful and
matronly; the other was petite, blonde,
and not more than eighteen. Mrs. Court
lund spoke first
Embroidery, AGcel' she said a
handkerchief corner. For your trous
seau2"
Yes" and the sweet voice faitered
white Burning blush crimsoned the fliI
cheek Is it not prettyl'
"Very. / want to talk about your
prospects, child. Your Aunt Mary tells
me you are making splendid match"
did she2 / think 50, Blanche. Nal
Colm is so noble and goodl'
But your aunt tells me be is the ia
vorite nephew of the great merchant,
Hubert Bates, whose wealth is something
enormous. You have only To help him
play his cards we'll aud he will probably
be heir to a magnificent fortune. But
what ails youi You look as if | was
telling you piece of news
= / think Aunt Mary has been misin-
formed; that is ALL
"Then he is not Mr.. Bates nephew"
Il never heard him speak of rich
uncle, and am quite sure he has no
hope of inheriting money. He has a
good salary, and my little fortune will
furnish small house; so we can make
comfortable and, [ hope, a happy
homer
Did he never speak to you Of his
uncle3"
Not Of a rich uncle He has told me
of lame uncle, his mothers brother,
who has been very kind to him, given
him his education and a start in the
world. He always talks of him with the
deepest love and pity"
"Pity?"
"He suffers tortures from the effects of
a fall that has famed him for life AMI
cften causes him weeks Of agonizing pain.
Malcolm tells me with tears in his eyes
of his fear OF losing this friend.
Il wonder if 1t is the samer muir
INJURED Mrs CORTLAND
Tell me, Blanche, some of the best
places to 90 for oursfuruIture and carpets.
1t will be new work for me to buy house :
hold goods and Aunt SOphy is not well
enough to help me much"
ooh, will so with you. But l de-
clare, # | were you, would wait and
see il your Aunt Mary is right. Your
fortune will never buy or furnish such a
house as a future millionaire should live
In
My fortune" satd Aice Hunter, with
ring In her clear voice, will furnish q
house suitable for q bank clerk with five
hundred u year salary, which is what my
husband Will have. IF Malcolm has a
rich uncle he IS not the man to live in
expectation of money to come over a
grave II his uncle Hubert is, as you
say, very rich, Malcolm would hate
money won by the death of the nearest
relative and dearest friend he has. But l
don't believe IN the money, for ne never
spoke of it to me-
Then the talk dritted into discussion
Of bridal tinery.of furniture and stories Of
the young wile's content in her own mar
ried lite
But the old man leaning upon the cane
was thinking; "Can it re true7 Does
Malcolm think so little Of my money
that viii be his, that he has never even
mentioned il 10 his promised wifel Can
il be that | shall gain loving, tender
neiee, instead Of losing my nephew when
Malcolm marriesi"
Loving his nephew so deeply, Hubert
Bates hal felt keen pain at the news Of
his betrothaI. He mad never seen Alice
Hunter, but be knew she had been
hroua hit up in circle of fashion and
was the orphan niece of one of society
gayest votaries, Mrs Mary Hayden.
While he unused upon the COnversatiO
he hai overheard, the siivery voices OF
hi, Young neIghOors still sounding be.
size him, there was sudden crash
Something struck him upon the head
al &c ktSI CONSCIOUSNESS.
Cries from the summer house, from
groups of people collected in the grounds
brought party of men speedily TO the
spot. The rotten posts supporting the
roof upon one side had given away anC
the side and roof had fallen in. Mrs
CORTLAND and Miss Hunter were buriet
under the fallen timbers, the doOrwal
being completely blockaded, but wer,
uniniured. Not So the old gentleman
who had been their unsupported listener
He WAS taken out pslIid and senseless.
Noboiy knew him tie had come hl
the morning train, had taken breakfast
out no room. and asked the hour for tn,
return train. surgeon. summoned n
speedily as possible, announced broker
arm and INJURY 10 the head, making
likelihood of 8 long. tedious illness
There wss some animsted discussion
some suggestions If hospital, a sesrci
through the pockets Of the unconsclOu
victim, resulting in the discovery Of
small sum Of money. but no letters, pa
pers or cards; and finally 4 desertion o
one another, each going his or her way
with the conSoling reflection. Its nont
of my business"
but MucL tht4 HesN att uSSeAkS AttS N
iured maA the surg still busy bind
ing up his arm IS be lay upon bench
brought from the ruined summer houss
felt light touch on his hand and loOke'
up.
.Ctn l help youl" Alice Hunter asked
No child. not row"
Whist will they 90 with himia
Il suppose be must 60 to a hospital
But the TIde-the journeyi'
"Nil cause great additional suffering
pc bsps result IN death
Doctor, Will they keep him here if h
is paid fort
"Csrtsntv; but there is not none
enough sOout him to pay his board
week.
Il viii pay IL
..Y0u3"
"Yes: I will not let him die for wan