River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1879-04-17

distant connections of the family--off-
shoots that had carried the name to far
away places-and among these came
one Simon berkeley, young man Just
graduated from college, proud, hand
some, courageous, talented, generous,
ambitious and warm hearted, but poor.
BE had used up what little money he
inherited in obtaining an education, and
now stood ready to enter life's light and
bravely battle up the victory.
He had never mingled much with
women, for he had lost his mother when
a babe, and no sister had been given him;
and knowing that bis success in the
future depended or himself alone, he had
kept steadily at his studies, and carried
loft the highest honors of his class.
Then came the funeral of Wardour
Berkeley. ard Simon met Millicent
She was like revelation to him, so
lovely and SO lovable that his soul went
out To her il a great CRY for love; and
when the obsequies were over and the
other members of the family were gone.
he fingered on at the old house, striving
by all the many powers he possessed TO
make Millicent happy.
| That he succeeded can easily be mag
incd, for Millicent had led lonely life,
and her sunlit days had been very few.
The days Of his stay grew into months.
But he was not idle all this time; he
could not afford to be. He read law for
hours, Cling his mind with 3 store of
knowledge to help him in the future.
Autumn came, and with it the settle
ment of the estate, this showing Millicent
that she was almost penniless, for she
could not sell the house or land near it,
and neither were productive Of an in
come.
at this time of trial her cousin was of
great service, and they were drawn closer
| together.
They were walking in the orchard one
bright October afternoon, when the
beauty Of nature, clad in her varied
splendor ana rich with warm floods of
sunlight, filled their souls with that sub
tie sympathy that awakens love.
1t would have been impossible for any
man Of generous nature TO refrain from
doing what Simon Berkeley then did.
In their walk they came to a terrace
that overlooked the suniit sea-reaches,
where the white sails shone and glittered
as they filled and swayed in the wind.
They had been talking of Millicent's
business, and she was troubled when they
reached this point.
They stood silent a little time, and
then the tair girl, suddenly stretching out
her hands imploringly to the ocean, said:
"Oh, that we might have the power to
fly from trouble as easily as these ships
glide through the seaw
How could any soul stand unmoved at
such time2 1t wOuld have taken hard
and storm tossed man to with stand the
pleading in her voice, and Simon Berke-
ley was rot person of this kind. He
took the outstretched hands reverently
in his, ard looking into the clear, sweet
eyes, said: MY darling, will you not
let me try to keep this trouble away, my
love for I love you"
STE could not doubt this, there was
such great light in the deep, gray eyes
looking iato hers; and as she saw this, a
sweet resi- came TO her soul, and, with
low, glad cry, she nestled in the clasp of
the arms so willing to take her. So they |
stood Tor a long time, holding that holy |
converse that love brings, and then again |
walked slowly through the orchard |
aisles.
~ should like to keep the old acres"
said Milicent; $50 many of our family |
have called them theirs, and lived and |
loved among them, that it seems like
sacriIege to let them go"
"They shall not CO." answered Simon;
''we will save them; for l can work now,
and 10 him who works with brave soul
all things are easy"
He was hopeful and strong, for love |
and sunshine are the great powers that
give the soul hope and gladness.
''Yes, feel that we can and will keep |
them" she said, 'lor we can help each |
other.
And must not stay here much longer, |
dear, for when the work is ready and the |
hands willing there should be no linger-
ing by the way.
II know, and yet it is so hard to let
you so, Just as seem to have gained
you" and her little hands chung close to
his arm.
Loves sweet words are SPOKEN in lone
" places, and TO those that love rule,
the world IS full Of hight and glory.
you must not go before my birthday"
Millicent said at last, after an hour of
rich pleasure spent in talking over the
plans that were 10 be perfected and per-
formed II the future.
II can wait till Ihen," ne answered,
and SO it was settled.
Milicept's birthday came-a dark
day, full Of great masses of sober gray |
clouds The wind rose when the sun set,
and its notes sang loudly in the old elms,
and went sweeping inland, laden with |
the wind melodies of the sea.
The old house seemed tull of strange
sounds, and the two young people soon !
became aware of a weird power that per-
vaded the building. They could see
nothing, and no sounds reached them
save those made by the wind.
They were sitting near ruddy and |
cracking wood ire, which blazed on the |
broad hearth, and sent its rose.colored |
light out into the gathering shadows.
As the darkness increased, the feeling |
that effected them grew mere intense,
and made their conversation sink to low |
" murmuIed words.
They had wandered through the desert |
ed rooms talking of the old house and |
the people who had lived in it. Millicent |
said they had left no room unvisit5d, and |
after this survey they ate their supper, and |
then settled themselves by the fire for a
long chat, as Simon was to cave tor Boston |
the next day, there to try his strength In |
the battle aud turmoil of life.
AS they sat thus, Millicent's low voice
making sweet echoes for the fierce storm |
songs of the wind, this strange feeling
came aud grew so intense that they |
thought some one was with them.
Millicent was first to speak oft
''Do you not feel oddly" said she.
''There seem to be others beside our.
selves in the room, and yet can see no
one"
Il have the same impressions and yet,as
you say, can see nothing. The house
must be haunted
"Tkere are stories to that effect current
amoug the neighbors and surely believe
we have some one in the room with us,
though have no faith in either ghosts
or spirits
''Nor have /; so we will talk of other
things, and perhaps this feeling will then
pass away" and he changed the CONVEX
sation to sheir approaching separation,
and the condition OF the old house.
| Oh, do so wish that we had money
| enough TO redeem the land and restore
the building, for it is the home of the
| Berkelevs.' said Mi!licent; "then we
/ Gould roue bore avery summer and make