River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1880-11-11
THEIR TWO SUMMERINGS.


hair as palely gold as the first rays OF
early sunshine, and a face as pink and
fair as ever maiden's face was. And
Vera, her elder sister, tail, with beauti-
full, serious, gray eyes under ietty
browS, with lustrous jet-black hair, all
waves and ripples from her broad, low
forehead to the Grecian coil low at the
back of her classical head--the two of
them, sisters, standing under the big
chestnut tree at the lane gate, reading
a letter, that one of the farm hands
had just brought from the village post
office, along with bundle of weekly
papers-a letter whose envelope was
heavily monogramed and crested, that
was written on faintly-perfumed cream
white paper, in square, beautiful
hand, and signed Cornelia Caryl, and
dated Newport, Il day before.
Roses blue eyes danced ~ she read
it, and she clasped her hands in a little
ecstatic way she was in the habit Of
doing when she was pleased
" Vera, it is just too splendid for any
thing Aunt Cornela is just too good
isn't she? OF course it will be you--it
should be you When shall we go?
Only think-a month at Newport p
Vera folded the letter slowly up
again, smile coming to her royalty
beautiful mouth.
4" | am not sure it is | who will &C
cept auntie's kind invitation You
haven't been away from the farm for
three years, Rose-nOt since we all
spent the delicious week III the Cat
skills. | am very sure 1t n YOU who
will go to auntie's cottage at Newport
dear. | hope so"
Rose laughed gaily
"What an idea, Vera? Indeed, /
shall not even think Of such nonsense
You're the beauty of the family; you
will go and create sensation, and
come home with a photograph of my
future brother-in-law in your pocket
handsome, wealthy, elegant and-a
German count, or Il French duke, or
an English lord, just MS like as not.
Maybe Russian prince! Of course
you'll go, my Princess Nerar
Vera laughcd-she could not help
tat the comical little way in which
Rose salaamed to Theoretically a
princess by royal risht oflovelness, and
grace, and womanlincss.
Honor bright, Rose, wouldn't you
like to go?"
The serious gray eyes looked in the
sunny blue eyes, and then a tiny flush
began to warm to deeper lusciousness
on the wild-rose cheeks.
That's not fair, Vera. That's what
| should emphatically call leading
question Do you want to go, too?"
"And under what head do you place
your inquiry, / shold like to know"
Rose tossed her pretty head imperi-
ously, with light laugh
Il won't be catechised, Int Aunt
CCmelia's letter must be answered, all
the same, by ret urn mail, according to
request. We will decide whether you
are to go or not-this way"
She stopped and picked up shining
little pebble from the edge of the
flower-bed, and went through some
mysterious motions with her hands be-
hind her, then held out two tightly
close dimpled fists.
Take your choice, Vera. If you
get the stone, you go. Vice versa.
That's fair enough, isn't it?''
Vera reached out her finger daintily,
and touched the fortunate hand,
while Rose gave little shrek of de
light.
''Now-nowl OF course you'n be
to my brother-in -law-the
count, or the duke, or the lord Let's
go right back, and while rip up the
Swiss suit to make it over, with pink
and blue Silesia, for one of your toilets,
you can answer the letter. Tomorrow
We'll go to the city and spend the forty
dollars, butterand-egg money, we've
saved, and on Thursday, the seventh,
you will start on your tour OF CON
quest.
But-somehow there were tears, in
stead of smiles, in Princess Nera's gray
eyes.
"Was there ever another such an
unsellish, darling little sister AS you?
Rose! Rose ! hope for your sake there
will be the fabulously rich, elegant
brother-in-law, that he may repay you
by taking you wherever you may wish
to go!"
And saucy little Rose opered her
blue eyes in well-simulated indigna-
ton.
Tine idea As fl don't intend pos.
sessing my own brother-in-law-of-
yours, to take me whence | please.
Thank you, Miss Ellis! and don't be
because you happen
merely happon-to be going to New
port"
A week later, Vera Ellis was en-
route for Mrs. Caryl's villa, with
trunk full Of lovely dresses, that had
not cost so much in money as in art,
and taste, and ingenuity; and Rose,
quite lonesome and forlorn, stood lean
ing over the lane gate, under the shade
Of the big Observation-Disclosures as an
elegant little ph@ton and coal-olaek
pony went by, with the very hand
gentleman in it that Rose blue
eyes had ever seen; eyes that opened a
little wider than ever as the pony con
descended to be reined in beside the
gate, and the gentleman touched mis-
hat COurteOusly.
Il beg your pardon, but is this Squire
Ellis place ?"
eyes, sir, she said, with an agpra-
waiting little flush on her face
and is this Miss Ellis p
Il am Miss Rose My sister has just
gone away to Newport" she could not
help adding, with certain little pride
she realized, the moment she said it,
was egregiously silly.
Evidently the handsome stranger
thought ii amusing, for he smiled |
family with his mouth, while his eyes
we're Overlooking with merriment.
80 / am just too late, then. | am /
Victo. Lennox-a friend Of your aunt /
Mrs. Cary-and she delegated % me
he pleasant privilege Of escorting Miss
Ellis to Newport.
Rose laughed-her own especial, be-
sweet little laugh.
You've missed your privilege by |
ust eight hours, Mr.. Lennox If you /
sill drive up to the house, | am very /
ure papa and mamma win IL INK you |
or your good intentions"
A horses head was never turned /
quicker than Victor Lennox's black
)ony's.
Il certainly wish no thanks, Miss
Rose, but think an apology is due
Mss Ellis parents for my stupid awk-
yarGness in misunderstanding my
,rdeIs."
Rose walked demurely beside the
.arriage, so 1.-THE, girlish, graceful, so
aucy-sweet, that it was little wonder
dr. Lennox felt resigned to his fate.
''Vera would have been delighted, | /
lare say" she said, politely. ''She
vapt entirely alone but / dare gay /