River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1881-02-10
A WISE LITTLE WOMAN.

| WISE LITTLE WOMAN.
Louisa Clare had gone out for walk
quite early that morning, and, as it was
Saturday, she had fingered over her en-
joyment of the beautiful day, the fresh
sweet air, and the cool breeze from the
sea. Louisa was a school teacher, and
Pm quite sure not one of the noisy
wild young creatures whom she
thought to guide in the paths of knowl-
edge enjoyed the weekly holiday as she
did.
But even Saturday was not all holi-
day-she had brought home exercises
to correct, and copy-books to look over
and she began to reflect that she could
not afford to stay out much longer, even
on holiday morning. She had sat down
to rest-for her long walk had tired
heron seat formed by an old tree
trunk that had lain long enough to be
| all green and moss covered; and only a
little way in front of her the sea wash
ed up against the rough, shingly beach
Louisa still fingered, and flung little
loose stones into the water, and as each
skinned the surface and disappeared
she thought, "Now, must really go
this will be the last"
| Then, with an effort, she rose. and
turned resolutely toward home; and as
she did so she became aware of the fig
ure of man at little distance. He
was walking rapidly toward her, and
| though she scarcely recognized him.
she was conscious of familiar look
| about his appearance-his figure, his
walk-altogethe she looked like some
one she ought to remember, yet could
not. As he came quite close, she ut
tered an exclamation which signified
at once recognition and surprise: and
she stood still staring at him and won
dering.
1t was Mr.. Glover-Glover the mil
iOnaire, as some people called him
but he was scarcely worth million, al
though he was, past all doubt, the great
man and the rich man of the place.
Among other things he was q power in
the school where Louisa taught, and in
that way she had seen him occasional
ly, and had even exchanged words with
him now and then. But never in all
her experience had Louisa seen Mr..
Glover-or any one else-look as that
gentleman now looked. His face wore
the pallor of the dead his eyes were
wild and haggard his dress disordered,
and his movements uncertain and
shaky, like a drunken mans. He
would have passed her by, unconscious
of her presence, without look but
louisa stepped forward, laid her hand
heavily on his arm, and called him
sharplyoby his name.
In long years after she often said that
something told her she must do so.
Mr.. Glover stopped and looked at
her stupidity, as though the sound of
his own name was strange to him, and
he was trying to think what it had to
do with him or why it was spoken to
MIN.
Louisa was frightened at herself, as
well as at him, and began to tremble );
and then her eyes filed up with tears
that presently rolled down over her
cheeks.
ooh, Mr.. Glover" she sobbed, "what
is the matter-what is the matter?"
And then Mr.. Glover-who was a
good deal of a gentleman by nature
seeing woman in tears, forgot his own
trouble and looked at her attentively
"Why, it is Miss Care-little Miss
Glare, the school-ma'am I" he said, as
he recognized her. "And what is the
matter with you, my dear? Why do
you cry, and who has been annoying
you?''
"No one-oh, no, indeed-and there's
nothing the matter except that you
seem to be in such deep trouble, sir,
and-I was afraid"
"And that's why you are afraid-you
cry for me?" asked Mr.. Glover "can
it be possible?"
He sat down on the moss-covered
tree trunk where Louisa had been rest
ing, and motioning to her to do so also,
he said:
sit down, Miss Clare, sit down"
Louisa obeyed instantly.
Are you very unhappy, Miss Clare?"
asked Mr.. Glover.
Unhappy sir-about what?
"Oh! nothing in particular. | mean
merely in general way.
Il am not unhappy at all, sir"
is it possible? And yet, your salary
let me think | believe it is some
thing about three hundred dollars
year that they give your"
Gust three hundred dollars year,
sir"
|, "And yet you are not unhappy"
every seldom. | am very happy on
the contrary. Ali sir-it is not alone
the possession of money that makes
people happy.
And then fearing that she might
have said something so personal that
it might be rude-for Mr.. Glover was
so rich and evidently not happy
Louisa felt the color mount to her
cheeks, and her eyes dropped before
the intent gaze of her companion.
Do you think a man might ever be
happy, and yet quite poor" asked Mr..
Glover-"so poor that compared with
what he had been, his position would
be one of almost poyerty?"
"Oh yes, said Louisa, with gen
tie confidence in her own words; II
am quite sure of that; for what does
the most extravagant wealth give more
than one can enjoy simply by having
enough? One can only eat or drink or
sleep enough" she added, with smile;
land those who do are not happier for
it."
Mr.. Glover looked at her as though
she had solved the great problem of
existence.
What a wise little woman ~ he
said; and then drawing a pistol from
his pocket, he rose, took a few steps
forward, ond flung the weapon from
him with such force that it went sing
ing through the air and fell into the
water beyond.
Louisa had started up with scarce
ly depressed cry of fright but as Mr..
Glover returned and reseated himself,
she sat down beside him.
Miss Clare" he said earnestly and
gratefully, you have seen me throw
that away; and but for your Intervention,
the tears in your gentle eyes, and the
hopeful courage in your voice, would
have done it. / will tell you now
what all the world viii know tomorrow
Il am ruined man. But l will not
die like coward; / viii live and face
the music, as they say. Goodbye,
Won wise little woman You have