River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1879-09-25

the mellow, softened light, and drinking
in the sweet fragrant air.
sSuch a scene as this brings up sleep
ing memories" said Mr.. Skidmore
aWith the glamour of this soft beauty on
a man he might be forgiven for almost
any rashness. / am strangely susceptible
| to moonlight and the fragrant spring air.
Miss CaIew, won't you favor us with a
song and break the spelll"
1t must have affected him indeed TO
speak like that, in that half-tender voice
to Annie Carew.
II shall be happy to oblige you if you
really desire it.
"Oh, yes, do sing, Miss Carew," said
several voices.
She sang little boating song, all
about waves and "r1pples" and "the
sands upon the shore" and she sang it
beautifully. / felt like falling in love
with her, she looked so handsome, and
there was haunting pataos in the voice.
Certainly Annie Carew was not plain
girl. She was dangerously fascinating
one. l realized it fully as she sat there
in the moonlight, her splendid eyes
sparkling and her clear voice touching
ones heartshings so closely. Bohemian
she might be; she was more beautiful in
that tender, gracious mood than any NO.
man | had ever seen.
There was silence for a moment; then
Mr.. Price said:
''You sing like the sirens of old, Miss
Carew, if one can judge from ideas. The
tears almost came, in spite of my endeav-
ors to be manly"
She laughed softly, and Miss Derry
said in an earnest way, Il do really be-
lieve have fallen in love with her.
That made us all laugh, and the little
craft was turned homeward. Mr.. Skid
more walked up to the house beside me,
and l asked him if he liked Miss Carew's
singing.
eyes l did, he answered; "and l wish
could understand her real nature"
tie was more polite and friendly to her
after that, and began to hope for an es-
tabished basis of good feeling between
them, but an unlucky accident set them
on the old path.
was tying up a rosebush one morn
ing, and had nearly finished when my
supply of string gave out. Mr.. Skidmore
put his hand in his pocket and drew out
a handful of different sizes of cord, when
a little ribbon fiuttered . the ground.
Oh, that's Miss Carew bow" cried
May. Miss Carew, he has had it all the
time"
A flush rose to his face, as he said, in
an annoyed tone: "The very fact gifts be
ing in my possession shows that | had
no idea what it was"
ooh, but you did know, Mr.. Sludmore,
for | told you about it the day she made
the sketch. Don't you remember the
bird took it IN his bill from the umbrella
Where did you find it9''
Miss Derry, really have no idea how
the thing came in my pocket. l assure
you | should not have cherished it if |
had known that it was-a lady's prop
erty,"
"Why, it's no great harm, anyway. If
you like Miss Carew-'
BIT l don't like Miss Carew.
That is, Miss Derry, / don't like to be
teased "
His faee was flushed with annoyance,
and sighed as thought of the mischief
l had done. They were really getting to
see each other in quite fair light, until
now all his old dislike was revived. And
Annie, too, seemed to think him more
than ever, for at dinner she
noticed him. In the afternoon
size came to my room for a book, saying
she was going to the cave on the east
shore for while.
II am so sorry about that ribbon"
said
at shows him in his true light, Miss Ar
den. am glad Of it, for | was just get
ting foolish enough to think had been
mistaken in nim."
1t was sultry, oppressive air, and /
too indolent to go out, so | took
'Baddeckn and a sofa Tor the afternoon.
| read until nearly four o'clock, and then
fell asleep. When | awoke it was rain
ing furiously and was quite dark. Then
as heavy peal of thunder startled me |
Miss Carew. | went across
the passage and tapped, aud looked in.
The room was empty. | went hurriedly |
down the stairs, and into the sitting room.
Here comes Miss Arden, looking as
if she had seen a ghost said Mrs. |
Derry, smiling.
Miss Carew is out in this Storm" | |
said, feeling as if l should faint 'and |
some one must go for her."
my God Miss Arden, what do you
mean2" asked Mr.. Skidmore, turning
white to the lips.
''Miss Carew went to the cave this at
ternOon and has not returned, and l fear
she has lost her way"
at is sure DEATH" began May, when
there was trampling of heavy feet Oh
bn nd IN FUR on
were in the room, and had put Annie
Carew on the sofa Her long hair hung
wet and tangled to the floor, and the
white face was death like in its dreadful
calm. In moment knew what it was
''She is dead !" said some one, in a CON
strained, harsh voice, land never knew
how | loved her. 'Oh, Annie, my dar.
ling, my love" And Mr.. Skidmore fell
on his knees beside her and kissed the
sweet lips.
One by one we stole out of the room
and lett him kneeling there. The men
had found her on the shore, and thought
she must have tainted from fright, and
had brought her home.
"Likely the lightnin' killed her," said
one Il have known such things!"
went 10 my rOOll anu Wtpt DltteTly.
''Poor Annie Carew! ~ was all could say
Poor, unhappy girl. At the thought of
Mr.. Skidmore my tears flowed afresh.
was scarcely surprised that he loved her.
But his pride had buried his happiness.
Later in the evening May tapped at
my door. She was crying softly. ooh,
Miss Arden" she said, she wasn't dead
after all. 1t was only fainting fit, and
she can speak now"
"And Mr. SkidmOre2n
lis in there with her, and he has been
crying. l guess it's all right between
them, because / saw him kissing her just
now
And ali the time he had been IN love
with plain Miss Carew.