River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1879-01-30

band would come and spend the honey
moon with US, and / was doing my best
to nerve myself for the meeting.
/ The old year was closing in. Elspa-
who else2 came up to the house with a
letter she had found lying in by-road.
| it should have been delivered some days
previously; and it was supposed taat the
| postman had taken more drink than was
good for him during the Christmas
''camdings," and dropped 1t by the way.
Goodnessi how that letter stunned me
Bella was by that time married. She
and her husband were to be with us on
New Years day, and they should bring
with them a New Years gift for Cousin
! Adela, as a thank offering for bringing
them together. Their photographs were
enclosed
saw only the one. Yes, it was Edgar's.
There was no mistake.
The house was at once in a hustle of
preparation. Again I slipped out, to hide
my agony and prepare myself for the
coming trial.
Dreamily | went along. Isaw nothing
before me but that meeting on the morrow
and the revelation it was sure to bring.
Ny mind seemed chaos, in which
thought was lost.
All at once found myself on the reedY
margin of the lake, as the silver circle OF
the moon was rising above the mountain
tops. And there stood, looking on the
dark waters, whilst something seemed 10
whisper to me that there was peace; that
| need not meet the proud bride and my
inconstant love unless I chose; that /
might hide my sorrows and secrets there,
and none be the wiser.
NV foot was on the brink. There was
a step on the stones behind me. turned;
and / think my half formed purpose was
visible in nav foce, as l once more con
fronted old Elspa, weird and witch-llke
in the moonlight, warning finger held
up.
Sharp were her words, sharp as my need
She babe me go down on my knees, and
thank God that He had sent her TO save
me from my third peril the peril OF body
and soul. What was l pulling Overt
What Eight had to fl ng away The life
that was given for the service of others
How dared | tempt death, loving the
creature more than the Creator9 She had
heard my raving to the winds when
thought myself alone, and had kept a
watch upon me. And she bade me 60
back home, and pray to be forgiven, and
to trust the Lord to make His dark
ways plain
She took me by the hand, and led me
back like peDitent child; said to my
aunt that she thought was not we'll, and,
by her leave, would watch me through
the night. Something she gave me, too, |
and slept.
When I awoke q chaise was at the gate,
and before could fasten my dress with |
my trembling fngers Bella had burst in,
radiant with happiness, and flung her
arms around me.
Come, Adela, make haste! said she, |
Edward is all Impotence to see you and |
show you our New Years gift"
Edward y gasped.
"Yes, my dear Edward Did you not
know his name!"
1t was all tangle. followed her to
the living room below, where the great
holly bush was hanging, and there stood |
a stranger, who was introduced to me as
James Edward Neville, my new cousin !
and surely. too, Edgar, my own Edgar
for he held out his arms and caught me
as was falling.
He had been best man at his cousins |
wedding, and Bella had only seen him q
few days previously. The postman must |
have lost another letter, one Edgar had |
sent to me. The photograph had been |
inclosed by mistake. The other would |
be in the lost letter.
Old Elspa kept my secret we'll. But
never forgot the lesson she had taught |
me; and though Edgar carried me away
from Cumberland AS proud wife as
Bella, we took good care of old Elspa for |
the rest of her days.--Oassslrs Nagdsins.