River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1879-01-23
MATS LUCK.

"lt Is Just my lnckI salu MAI Coh-
found itr'
He walked gloomily to the window
and looked out-ou the vivid green of
the croQuet lawn, on white and red roses
clustering about the porch; on the old
rector, tending his fayoTite geraniums in
the distance, amid blaze of sunshine
and glow of color. Mat longed to be
with him-the somber room seemed as
oppressive as cage.
lie threw open the French windows,
drew a long breath, and thrust his fingers
into the pockets of his shooting coat, fall
ing naturally into careless, Longing
attitude, peculiar to him. The fingers
came in contact with note, and idly
brought it to light. 1t was addressed in
uoman's handwriting, TO Mathew Cur
It's, ESD, NJ. D." A grim smile played
about that gentleman's lips as he reflected
how unsuited was that formal superscrip-
ton to tine jovial, reckless good-tor-
naught, known to rich and poor for miles
around as young Mat Curtis.
With ii listIess air ne drew forth the
brief Enclosure. His face darkened as
he pursued it.
Miss Agnes Bellue would be glad to
have a few minutes conversation with
Mr.. Curtis"
"Lover-hke-very commented Mat,
with sarcastic emphasis,
Another glance at the delicate paper
and the firm square handwriting, the dark
look hardening the while, until the char
acter of the face seemed completely al
tered.
"Look at it," quoth Mat "Her hand
never trembled; there is not wavering
stroke! Why most girls would cry their
ewes out while writing such note as
that TO their lovers!"
He crushed the offending missive into
crumpled ball as he spoke, and addressed
few more explosives to tue Sair sunshine
-expletivss peculiarly unbeiitting a
clergyman's study, or the hearing OF the
Young lady who noselessly entered in
time indistinctly to catch them.
Youpg-not more than twenty, perhaps
but with serene and queenly grace of
movement, a'gravely beautiful face-an
air Just now Of naughty disgust.
Pardon me-" size says icily; $50 inter
estino a conversation with yourself is
probably of confidential nature
Mat farms with flaming iace, quick,
| deprecatng gesture, courteous, apollo
oetic bow and speech that somehow in
their confused humility stamp him as a
| gentleman.
" | trust indeed you did not hear it. ]
earnestly crave forgiveness if you did y
Shs contemporary dismissed the mat
ter with the slightest wave OF little jew
eled hand. Cold, hard, proud she looks,
and her words have clear cut articula-
ton suggestive of rewly-clipped coins.
| II sent for you.
eyes, answers Mat, defantly. His
penitenee is dying sway the dark, hard
expression is returning. "Just my luck, .
it seems to repeat.
"To beg an answer to two questions,
continues Miss Bellue.
Mat bows, thrusts his hands into the
deep shooting pockets once more, and re-
sumes the careless, lounging attitude.
Have you entered your name, not
withstanding my protest, as a gentleman-
rider for the autumn steeple-chasesN
Yes"
ssIs it, indeed, true, that last night you
involved yourself in. poaching affray,
! knocking down keeper and helping the
poachers to escaped"
Yes" says Mat, with a kind Of sullen
despair.
Miss Bellue draws something from her
white fingers, and holds it out. Me-
chemically Mats hand comes out of the
shooting pocket and grasps it, 1t is
woman's engagement ring.
They looked at each other, curious
contrast in the two faces. Hers composed
calm, haughtily indifferent His blanklv
astonished, angry, agitated, by turns.
"Not-not that, Agnes" he pleads,
huskily.
The serene beauty, the quiet de!ermi-
nation Of her face answer him.
sat least, LET me explain. | can do 50
to your satisfaction, / think. l hoper he
saws, dubiously. "Return il to your fBg-
er, and reserve judgment till you hear
| the defensen And he holds the ring to-
| ward her, with a great clumsy AID that
I trembles somewhat.
| Still no audible reply. A faint shake
Of the head, look OF polite ineredul
that is all.
do you not carel" he asks.
Ills appealing eyes search ed her face
bai7le, the sentence written there never
varies. His unsteady fingers dropped the
ring; but he lets il lie, half buried in a
ieecy rug, Then, with set, stern look
be sets his foot upon il, bows slightly
and walked from the room.
/ He leaves the house, passing the win
Il dow IL gain the road, but looking neither
to the right nor 10 the left.
His head is erect, his hands are out Of
the loose pockets. For once startling
transformation, young Mat Curtis looks
positively digniied.
And as be vaaishes IS startling trans
{ formation tskes place IN the room he has
Quilted Miss Bellue proves herself q
woman, and not queen, by series Of
actions. essentially feminine.
4 First she Tescues the beat love token
from the d5or; then she kisses i and cries
over it. then she locks it away carefully
liz a writing-desk; then she Tushes up