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


not good. II Frank is poor, 1 know he
industrious and perseverlng, nd the
few thousand dollars which my father
left for me will enable him to start well
in some moderate business"
Mrs Collins changed color, and seemed
to be startled by what her daughter had
SAID, but she soon managed to compose
herself, though she did not resume the
conversation.
"Egad, Frank, come on gloriously
with my charmerm cried Sidney West,
as the two sat IN their room az the hotel
''She has promised to be mine. Only
think-she wouldn't even look at me
when | went away
"What could have produced the change,
think your asked Frank.
My manners, SIR" retorted sydney,
spreading himself with mock show. Il
have captiyated her She is willing TO
bestow her fortune upon me IN consider
alton of the fine, fashionable husband 1t
shall give her. But | mean 10 do the
handsome thing, Frank; 1 mean TO be
steady, and go into business as soon as
| am married.
Il hope you Will Sid" returned the
younger cousin. You have talent and
ability, and there is no reason why you
should not prosper"
THANK you. But say-how do you
come on with Nellie9
Il have not spoken with her yet-that
is, not directly returned Frank, with
some hesitation.
pooh! You're safe enough She loves
you-she loved you for years. You1l
get heart, Frank
If l get Nellie Collins. / shall get d
true and loving wife, am sure"
"0t course you will
AS Sidney thus spoke he looked at his
watch, and then arose and went out.
In little while Frank followed his ex-
ample, and wendell his way toward Mrs
Collins 5. He found Nellie at hume and
went in to spend the evening. They con
yersed upon various matters until quite
late, and then Frank approached { &c sub
ject that lay nearest his heart. He told
| Nellie that he could not bear the suspense
| longer. He said ue 1ved her as he had
never loved ancther-he had loved her a
long time---and if she would be his wife
he would love her always.
| Nellie trembled, and It was some mo.
ments ere she answered. But finally she
looked up and said, with a warm, gener
Gus frankness
II must answer you plainly, for my
OVID happiness is as much at stake as
yours. Had you asked me this question
week ago, should have lad no hesita
ton in giving my answer. But | am
| not situated now Is | then supposed
was"
Nellie, cried the lover, as has com
panion hesitated, "what do you mean
You surely love me. Oh-you canno
| have given to an --"
stop, Frank, interposed the nader
with "a sudden start, you misunderstood
me. must tell you the truth mus
contide to you a secret which at first re
solved never 10 divulge. / only knew i
three days ago. You knew that my
father LETT some property"
II did
''And that some few thousand dollar,
were left for each of his children
II had supposed So"
"Well-ln an untor innate moment m,
mother, who had the use of it all, was lee
into "A speculation by which everything
was lost. 1t all appeared fair and sur,
| to her, ard she ran the risk with the firm
belief that she should almost double tn,
| property. She lost it all; but she wal
not to blame, | am sorry, for her sake
for she suffer- much
"And what Of this3" asked Frank
after waiting awhile to see ii she woulC
say any more"
"Why, it leaves me penniless," return
ed Nellie
$50 much the better" cried the youth
seizing the fair girl 10y the hand, 10
now | can claim you on the ground OF
love alone ! hsvo already made arranpe
ments for going into business, and am
sure of income enough to support us com
fortably. Now will you be my ifel"
When Frank West went home that
night he was as happy as mortal can be
! HIS plans for life were all land, and he
had placed all the scenes of his future il
warm sunlight.
'Then you have really consented to
become his witel" said Lydia, after
Nellie had told her the result of the in
/
Yes, sister, have.
And | think you have done very
foolish thing, Nellie Since YOU have
discovered that your money was all lost
we had hoped you would look out fol a
more becoming match
"Since'I have discovered it." returned
Nellie, with marked emphasis. "What
do you msan2 Did you know it beforel
Eyes, knew it two years ago"
And never told meE
"Of course not.
But, Lydia, why should you have kept
such an important matter from me9'
Because, answered the elder sister,
1--WE feared you would be too honest to
keep it to yourself 1t might have made
a vast difference in our prospects, wheth-
er we had $4,000 each, or had nothing.
We hoped to see you marry with a
wealthy husband, and you wouldn't have
missed the money you had lost.
"And do you think this was rightl'
asked Nellie with a look of concern ut
is deception, and can only lead to evil
There you go, exclaimed Lydia.
Just as / supposed. You Will never
succeed in playing the game Of life. You
viii show your hand at every start"
II have no wish to maee a game Of MI
life, said Nellie, with deep feeling "and
those who do so are full as apt to lose a.
they are to win | had much rather take
life, with all its duties and responsible
ties as solemn fact, AID try to live it
Justly and honGrably."
That's poetlcal | must confess
though rather of the psam-tune order,
replied LYDIA. But give me the game,
especially when hold the chances In my
own hand l have played and won.
"But you told Sidney that you had no
money!
Indeed, I did not do any such thing
lie has money enough Of ms own. Did
you tell FRANKIE
sOf course | did"
Mercy on me--wbat paragon you
have bccome"
Nellie turned away, sad and sorrowful,
for she feared that evil would come Of all
this.
Sidney West and Lydia Collins were
and for a while the husband re-
sided at the house of his mother in-law
One afternoon, about month after the
first marriage, Nellie gave her hand 70
Frank The ceremony had been perform
ed, and the guests had departed, 0hen
the happy Bridegroom asked his bride to
accompany him to his home.
"But, said Nellie IN surprise, II did