River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1879-10-02
WHAT VENTRILoQUIsM DID
By JOHN A ORGAN.

is some wild creation of excited fancy.
She whom deemed the Impersonation
OF beauty and honor act thusl Why, it is
as far removed from her nature as heaven
Is from earth.
And in a tremOr of excitement he be-,
gan pacing backward and forward, grind
ing the inoffenslve carpet beneath his iron
heel.
'But here is her letter." he continued
"What other proof could possessl Let
me once more read it. so that each word
may be inde.lbly imprinted In my mem
ory:"
MIR. LIE Clare Il hope, for the sake
of both of us, that you will forget what
passed in the grove last evening, as
ind on a closor analysis of my feelings
do not entertain for you that love which
a wife should hold for husband. Dur
ing our intercourse | never for a moment
supposed that you regarded me with any
thing more than passing friendship, and
on learning the contrary, was so aston
ished | knew not tor a moment what to
say. The fire and strength of your dec
laration almost overcame me, and seeing
that one little word would render you so
happy, | could not refrain from uttering
H. AlltG your JUS
perel it were better TO undo at once what
pity had dictated; and 80, much against
my inclination, am compelled to make
you acquainted with the facts as they
really are. Forget me and bestow your
love on some other more worthy of II. If
the past could be forgotten, it would be
a pleasure to me for you to include among
your friends, AMELIA FORREST"
After he finished reading it, for the mo-
msnt he paused and held his burning
brow between his hands.
~ will do it." he said, with the air of
a man who had resolved ON something
desperate. II will learn my fate from
her own lips, hnd if it is as l fear, Twill"
That evening he called upon Amelia
and found her ready to start on a shop
ping excursion. On behOlding him she
started back in unaffected surprise, while
the face that the moment before Tesem-
bled carminc was deadly pale. 1t was
almost dusk, and no lights being in the
room he was not aware of her agitation.
"Good evening, Miss Forrest" he said,
with a GOODNESS he would fain have thrown
aside, as he seated himself in accordance
with an invitation from her. II am sOr-
~ to detain you, but beg you will not
object to a few minutes conversation
with me; indeed it is on a subject of vital
importance to me, otherwise / would not
have presumed to trespass on your valua-
BILE time"
81 see you have not forgotten how to
fatter," she said as she lowered her face
so that he could observe none of its work
ings, "and, / suppose. / shall have to
grant what you desire"
Miss Forrest" he continued, as if he
had not heard what she had just said.
'is this farce or does it contain your
sentiments2' and he handed her the note
that had been so fatal to his happiness.
One glance was sufficient to satisfy her;
the writing was unmistakable.
"Mr lie Clare" she answered, in tones
that sent a chill through him, "when you
entered / supposed you came in accord
ance with the request contained in this
note, and as friend and only such am
willing and happy to receive you. Since
you mention what passed Sunday even
ing, | must again say it can never be.
You might have spared each of us this
painful interview, butperhaps twas bet
ter as it is
'sYou mean this for your final answer2"
he asked, with calm dignity that sur
prised her.
II do"
Without a word he arose, and left the
room without ever noticing her.
The following morning the Forrest
family were seated at breakfast when
Miss Amelia Forrestr cried the post
master, as, letter in hand, he tapped
against the window. Kate PaytOn, her
cousin, a blooming brunette of eighteen
summers, ran to the window and received
it from him.
AZ wonder who it il FROM" she said,
with a sly glance, as she threw it into
Amelia's lap.
AmeLa blushed as she recognized the
handwriting, and, going to the window,
eagerly began to peruse it. No sooner
had she mastered its contents than, with
shrek that startled all, she fell sense
less to the floor. instantly all became
confusion. One suggested one thing and
another something altogether different,
but Kate disregarded them and bathed
her temples with cold water and forced
little wine between the clenched teeth.
In a moment the effects of the liquor be-
came manifest, and she once more
DEtdlHtu lIctlN- ICi c"pbiif hO"ONNAs
brought on a swoon which was destined
for weeks to confine her to her bed. Kate
now took up the cause of all the trouble
the letter --and, as she supposed, it was
frem Mr.. LeClare. Its contents aston
ished her, and, as she finished reading it,
she cast glance of pity toward the I'M
conscious Amelia. Ii contained the fol-
lowing:
Miss FORREST: In few hours 1 will
be aboard the Vermont bound for the
wilds of Australia My prospects In
New York were If every respect promis-
ing, and at some day not far distant l
had hoped TO stand at the head of my
profession. But these thoughts are
things of the past; far, after what has
happened, how can / remain, and per
haps in few months see you the bride
nf anotherl In one sense of tine word,
must thank providence tor revealing to
me before too late the bsseness of your
nature. 4 woman who would knowing
iy lead man on from day to day unul
she has her tolls. woven securely around
him, and then toss him aside as worth
less plaything, isu nworthy of the title.
But what think YOU of her who engages
herself to her dupe, and, when he Is at
the height of his happiness, with one tell
blow to demohsh the air-castle which
she as So cunningly erected. Is she not
only unworthy the name of woman, but a
disgrace Ia it, And, worse again, if she
plays the hypocrite and denies leading
him on, and urges HIM to solsce himself
with another love, what think you would
be your opinion OF herl Ask yourself
the question and perhaps you can answer
it, and at the same time have reason
for my sudden departure. was in doubt
on receiving your letter; but our inter.
view in the parlor set all my doubts al
rest. Whatever my fate in strang,
land may happen to be, before Heaven
you, by your heartless conduct, are re