River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1880-12-02
A DANGEROUS EXPERIMENT.

group vi plctty Sil hld9Ctilllt
back or foreground, as the case might
be, for their feminine loveliness. 4
trying position, certainly, yet one which
it would be doing Jack Harrington
grievOus injustice not to acknowledge
that he took to it mo st kindly.
\ trying position, even when tn
latest fashion, the newest thing in hats.
the last couture, is being discussed; but
doubly trying when four feminine
tongues are waxing both shrill and elo-
quent to the utter drowning of any
bass notes-one Of the tongues in ques-
ton belonging TO the fdnceS of the poor
martyr, and the subject-Gnother man!
Yet az ain my sympathy betrays poor
Mr. Harrington into the injustice
against which have just been striving
to protect him. If all the martyrs
went to the stake with such kindly,
smiling faces, surely our pity has been
utterly thrown away. They might
better bcstow it upon US, so Jack
doubtless thinks-we might bestOw 1t
upon the ''Other man.
a regular heart annihilator, my
dear" exclaimed little Ella Burrel, adj
dressing them all plurally by the sin
gular adjective, ''they say the walls of
his rooms are literally lined with his
trophies-a picture here, a slipper
there, a glove somewhere else, each
suggestive of a battle and victory.
Doubtless over his doorway he has
metaphorically inscribed, See the con
quering nero comes, and permits no
one but himself to cross the threshold,
lest the mantle Of fame should fall on
undeserving shoulders. "
Peals of laughter greeted this last
sally, in which Jack joined, murmur-
ing the air of the verse suggested.
but it's all true broke IN Agnes
Wait sit : no use trying to resist him.
Each one in turn thinks, up TO the
time of meeting her, it has been mere
pastime; it has been left for her to sub
iugate the invincible My sisters, be
warel It's dangerous experiment. "
Nevertheless, / should like to try
il" said another voice, almost as
though the words had burst from the
speaker without consciousness or volt
ton Of her own.
YOU exclaimed the three other
voices in one breath.
The masculine tones were silent, but
his eyes had turned with the others in
the direction Of the daring speaker, and
in their depths was a sort Of panied sur
prise.
Yes, l." she retorted, with must
cal little laugh. why not?'
What does Jack say?' said one Of
the three.
"He is here to answer for himself
Why should he care? Jack, may
not tlirt with Gerald Keene and beat
him with his own weapons, if | cam
Very lovingly the brown eyes looked
down into the wondrous blue depths of
those uptuncd to meet his gaze.
Il shouldn't like YOU to be worstcd,
Kate. he said, quietly. Pm afraid,
in that case, somebody would be more
hurt than either of the contestants"
Don't anticipate such a catastrophe,
nv lord. she retOrted, saucily, sweep
ing him courtesy. Il have no inten-
ton of returning you your freedom;
only | want the loan of mine for little
time. Give it to me, Jack. | shan't
have it long, even to play with.
This last sentence won the day. True,
he was to have her all for his own very
soon. this bright, beautiful, bewitching
girl-it was. after all, but child's
whim; but he withdrew active Opposi
ton with an ominous shaking of the
head, and sinking of the heart, which
he declared to himself both weak and
foolish.
Again the din of voices rose higher;
but one was silent-one had been silent
from the first In three pairs of eyes
was mirthful fun; in one pair, lurid
CLEAN of malicious envy. But at last
the little group dispersed. She alone
was left within the room. Then the
thin lips moved.
Il have lost him, Kate RushtonH'
she half muttered under her breath,
but you shall never iciH Gerald keene,
though your half hours triumph might
grow into lifetime"
The battle had begun. Was it to the
weak or to the strong?
Even now that Miss RuShton was
engaged, she could not refrain from her
old love of coquetry," the gossips said;
but what could Mr.. Harrington be
thinking Of to allow it,
What had he been thinking of not
To forbid it ut the outset?' he asked
himself, except that to deny Kate any
thing never entered the honest fellows
head.
Once he demonstrated with her. 1t
WAS after an evening party, when he
had gone idly into 4 dimly lighted con
servatory, only to stumble upon Kate
and Gerald Keene. seated in the half
light. among the fragrance and bloom
~. u to IN
each word she uttered, she speaking
far more with ewes than lips. He had
gone out from them cursing himself,
and the next day he told Kate the thing
must end.
Give me just week longer | don't
want them to say | was routed.
But long after he had left her, She
sat moticnleSs. One week, one little
week. and then She must give up Ger
aid keenc forever. OF course, there
could be no choice between him and
Jack. She loved Jack. In two short
months she was to be his wife, and
then-and then she must never see
Keene again-what was folly now would
be wickedness then.
But what is this quick pain mt her
ntHTl. SH8i per NtitlA any Std' I Al'
memory of soft goodnight swept
over her. the tender pressure Of a hand,
the yoiceful glance: and then the tears
start. the proud little head Is bowed.
and Kate Is sobbing like child-sob-
hing SO unreStrainedly that she pays no
heed when some one enters the room
and stands beside her. nor. sees the
flash of triumph in the dark eyes as
they watch her quivering frame-a
triumph no single tone betrays. and at
last he breaks the silence with one
word. the utterance of her name.
At It's sound, she starts to her feet,
impetuously dashing away the pearly
drops with her little white hands.
"Will you not tell me your sorrow p
he now says. very gently, taking her
little. unresisting finger in his. If |
may not relieve, may not, at least,
share?'
1T is nothing she answered, trying
To smile. = ana weak and nervous to-
day-that i all 1t Is not customary
complain; with me, Mr.. keene. do
assure you.
And YOU tell me ii is causeless p?
He spoke in low. incredulous accents.
Kate, he went on, do you think |
could look on any grief of yours I'M
movsd2 All. how easy it Is for rs 10