River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1880-07-01
WINIFRED'S FLOTSAM.


hater that Guy Averill, at seven-and-
twenty, was still bachelor and heart
whole Until this summer he had
never been rich enough to support q
wife; it was almost more than he could
do to take care of himself, so he did not
feeljustified in paying attentions to any
lady seriously.
Although he was industrious and tai
ented, clients were few and far between
were almost unknown to the desery-
ing young lawyer until he did not so
sorely need them. One week-such is
the perversity of fate-aftcr he got news
that an uncle had died and left him his
sole heir, and found that he was sure Of
an income of nearly two thousand Il
year, then the world suddenly realized
that Averill was 4 very promising law
yerl
Having good income and prospects
of plenty of remunerative work, Guy
Averill began to think seriously of mat
rimony, and rather eagerly accepted IN
invitation to accompany his chum, Cas-
sius Barclay, to the little town Of New
Myrtle, where said chum's tiancee
lived.
For this tiancee, Helen Tremaine had
two sisters, and Mrs. Averill agreed with
Cassius Barclay that there were not
three such girls in the world as the
three Tremaines Mrs Averill had met
them one winter IN Washington and
afterwards had spent six weeks Mt their
house; hence Guys invitation, though
he had never seen one of the family.
He knew them all by description.
Helen was not pretty, but was domestic,
accomplished and very charming; the
next one, Winnifrcd, was great rider,
swimmer, scatter, archer-in fact, 'aw
fully fast" though magnificently beau
tiful; so Guy felt 4 strong presentiment
that while he would like Helen, and
tolerate Winifred for her sake, he
would be very sure to fall captive to the
charms of nineteen-ycIr-ol Marcia,
the gentle, fair, lovablc girl whose pic
ture he had so admired.
When he first saw Marcia he was II
little disappointed; Ter picture flattered
her; but he soon forgot that in CON
temptation of her graceful figure, her
gentle voice and her quiet wOmanlv
ways He loved to see a woman all
womanly. thought needle and not
pen should be her tool believed that
the freside was woman's sphere, and
so on; all of which conditions Marcia
filled.
"Your sister rides beautifully eX-
claimed Guy, a few hours after his ar
rival at Mrs. Tremaine's.
Yes" answered Marcia, swcetly
''She ought to, she spends hours on her
horse"
do you ride?"
Not much. | don't care for such
such violent exercise In fact, | don't
have much time for it, | have a good
deal of sewing to do, and" Marcia
hesitated and shook out her work rather
ostentatiously.
Il didn't know you had any little
folks in the house." said Guy, his atten-
ton thus drawn to the small apron in
her hand
ooh, we haven't. This is for some Of
our poor Sunday-schOolc children. When
am at loss for employment | always
know where to turn; i'll a manufactlr-
ing town like this there is so much suf-
fering."
'sDo your sister aid your
"Helen can't her rousseau keeps her
busy now; and Winifrcd-well, I'll
laugh to see her doing such work"
AS what ?" asked Winifred, who had
just entered.
Sewing or embroidering" answered
Marcia, not quite truthful, but Guy,
not knowing the difference between EN-
broidery and plain sewing, was none the
wiser.
What is absurdly known as fancy
work | utterly abominatc 1t seems to
me a great waste of time to pass hours
and hours in making hideOus tides and
mats, or high art curtains out of ticking
and such stuff.
Don't you ever sew .
Not if | can avoid it; certainly not
for amusement
Not for the poor?"
The poor p
YES. as Miss Marcia does.
On No. don't work for the poor
AS Marcia does" was Wnifreds con
temptuous reply.
And Guy was disguised How was
he to know that the little apron in Mar
cias hands would never have been
thought of if Guy Averil. Whose moth
er had written of LIS love for womanly
women1 had not been there to see and
hear of 1t
But though he was disguised with
this athletic young woman's sentiments,
he was bv no means so with her Her
dark-hluc riding-habits showed hersup-
pie form to perfection, her soft brown
hair was rullled by the wind, and her
checks with health and vigor, and she
was Il great contrast to her pale home
keeping sister.
And as the days passed Guy was
compelled to change his first opinions
of the sisters. Wmifred's health. splr-
its and temper seemed tie be perfect
Marcia on the other hand, sometimes
forgot her would-be gentleneSs ana
showed Il snappish petulance that
amazed Guy.
what helpful CHEEKY woman she
would be-" mediated Guy. but not OF
Marcia. No headaches, no Sulks no
sharp speeches. But there, in wife
one needs domestic virtues as we'll rs a
good disposition; her ability to dance
and ride skate and swim, shoot ana
drive, will not keep my clothes in order
will not direct the household. Fancy
this lovely Young Amazon trying 70 cook
steak if there should be rebellion IS
the kitchen,'
But though Guy thought he was fully
determined to marry some one NOR,
like Marcia. vet Nmtred ruled hi'
dreams by day and night. AT last he
got to this pass:
viii such girl ever consent Il
settle down to domestic life? Will sh'
not laugh at me if dare to speak @
love-"
One day Helen and Cass;,,s went to &
neighboring town on business, and Mar
cha, Winifred and Guy went rowing on
the river, a narrow, deep and rapid
stream. just after the girls had landed
Marcia spied an empty basket tioatin.
down the stream and declared that sh,
wanted it. so Guy rowed out alone t
get it.
Suddenly, they never knew why, tbs
boat capsized, and Guy in trying to re