River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1879-06-19
A CONNECTS SISTER.

81 have told You there is secret IN
my life can share with no one Let me
70 my way and you yours, for we could
never be happy with cloud of mystery
between us
I'm other words YOU refuse me-
There was quick resentment in Alfred
Graves tone for the refusal of the woman
he loved to be his wife sent blow al
once to his heart and vanity He was not
a COnCcited man, but when he offered his
hand to his sisters govcrncss he certainly
did not expect refusal. There had beer
many meetings before he spoke, and in
some of them he had thought Hester STREET
tons face betrayed her love for him in
spite of the cold manner that was habit
ual to her
Scarcely II man to measure his own
merits by the lcRgth of his purse Alfred
Graves could not quite forget that he was
the owner of fine estate in the country,
several houses in town and five thousand
a year, while Hester StTetton was his sis
tcr's governess. She had come to Mrs
Evans from female seminary, with let
tiers of introduction; had proved herself
trustworthy with children; and no one
had any desire to pry into her pri yate
affairs during the whole of the first two
years.
Mrs. Evans considered her treasure
and the children were much attached tc
her and progressed rapidly.
Then Alfred came back from abroad
and his sister, offering him the hospi
tality OF her house at Gmldtorl, sudden
u made several discoveries First, ii,
found out that although the family haC
thought and spoken of her brother as al
old bachelor. after all at forty he looked
younger than some men under thirty
Next, that Hester Strctton, though sh,
was reserved, was wonderfully. far, ant
could converse with Alfred long after til,
topics were quite beyond the elder lady
comprehension.
The old, old story progressed, day afte
day. and she could find no good reason
for sending Hester away, and surel,
Alfred was not to be turned from he
house Mrs. Evans was constantly devIs
Ing schemes for shutting Hester i'll tn,
school-rnom, for sending her long errand
and employing her time in necdlework
But if Alfred would lounge into tn,
school room and insist ou hearing hi
nepheWs and nieces reCite long poem
while he made pencil sketches of Hester
profile, if he would Join her Just As sh
started ON the long errands, and wa
seized with the desire to read in the yer
room where the needlework was in pro
gre>s. what could prudent sister d
murca
1t was some comfort that the ''infatua
ton" as Mrs. Evans mentally termed II
was all on one side; that the pale fac
never flushed at his coming. or til
soft, dark orhs never wooed him to he
side. BIT Mrs. Evans could not believ
II possible for Alfred to offer his han,
and fortune To any woman and lie II
fused. so she fretted secretly. Will
Alfred wOoed patiently, till IN the sun
mer morning when he found Hester i
the garden. for wonder, free FROM Il,
attendance of juvenile Evans, ana mad
his declaration in explicit terms
And without one flush of her WIN
cheeks if possible. even paler tina
usua.. Miss Stretton had told him the
was y secret in her life that kept her on
side the ranks of happy married wome
Still he pleaded, till she owned it W,
no crime or fault of her own that sepa
atcd them and again he urged his su
only to meet the repetition of her decla
alton
In other words. YOU refuse me,
said. with angry emphasis.
The color flushed then over HeStcl
face for there was keen pain as we'll
resentment in Alfred's tone. For Il
first time she touched his arm, liftir
her soft, dark orbs 10 his own. The
was a thrill in her voice as she sal
steadily, but in low tones; Because
love You, Alfred II had no affectit
for YOU | would put my hand in you