River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1881-06-16
A LITTLE GOLD OWL.

| >Idll bEdbbJ OuGC NlObC III siiblli!
No? Let me tell you, then. "The
Frenchman understands best the art of
talking love, the Italian of acting it,
but he German rocks it to Sleep while
| the Pole ruins it all"
"And the American" pleaded mu
steal voice in the ear of the first speaker.
The lady made no immediate reply.
The pair stood in the wings of a tiny
amature theater in one of our large
cities, and the drama of Matrimony, in
which they had acted, was over. Both
were artists in the intense sentiment
of excitement which stlrs the ripples of
private life when theatricals and cha
rades become the fashion. Augusta
Bevan, tall, slender and proud, had re-
sumed her velvet walking dress, and
toyed with a tiny muf of pink satin
which was suspended about her neck
by means of ribbon. Captin Hornblow-
er, easy, graceful and elegant, bent over
her in attitude of devotion which he
had assumed with facility of glove
for the past fifteen years in the ball
rooms. of West Point, Saratoga and New
port.
Your muff seems to be sort of
fairy casket," pursued Captain Horn
blower. GIVE me a keepsake from
one of the pockets, beg, in remem-
berance of the night"
what shall it be-" retorted Augusta
Bevan' gayly.
She sought in the tiny pockets of per-
fumed and quilted satin, and drew forth
a glittering object. This was little
gold owl, beautifully wrought, with
ruby eyes and jeweled claws. When a
spring was touched, a slender pencil
case slid out of the birds head,
"Here is my gift" she said, gently,
and the gallant captain understood that
her words meant capitulatiOn.
Was he glad or sorry? He received
the little gold owl with ELUSIVE graft
tude, and kissed the hand which be-
slowed the gift but it was in the ma
! ture of this military butterfly to doubt,
unwise precipitation, if ne had not sold
himself too cheaply in the matrimonial
market, and if Augusta Bevan was as
great an heiress as she was reputed to
| be.
"My children, remember the Scotch
proverb, Those who fish for mipnows
never catch trout" said Mr.. Riddel,
behind them.
Mr.. Riddel, who invariably enacted
the part of benevolent old man, prof
fered his snuff-box to Captain Horn
blower with his quizzical smile.
''We are called out again y exclaim-
ed Mrs. Trentha.n.
There was II patter of applause, and
the four emerged before the foot-lights,
making their salutations in the most
approved professional manner. On
the stage stood Mrs. Trentham in a SUI
perb toilet, Augusta. Bevan, Captain
| Hornblower, and Mr.. Riddel. Beyond
the circle Of foot-lights was fashion
able audience, were blended satin, gold.
feathers and lace resembled parterre
of flowers while the little theatre, built
for Mrs Trentham, made charming
background for smiling faces. Ger
tainly the two actresses looked their
best, for Captain Hornblower, deeply
versed in such craft, had made up their
stage complexion, with the aid of rouge
and other cosmetics, moist purple
worsted furnishing the requisite sha-
dows beneath the eyes.
Said Mr.. Riddle, as he conducted
Miss Bevan home "You will not for
get my proverb, Augusta ?-Those
who fish for minnows never catch
trout"
The girl glanced askance at him and
frowned. Mr. Riddle, Invested of gray
wig and paternal bearing, was digni-
fed gentleman of forty years, lawyer
and manager of the great Bevan prop
erty.
''You have always warned me of for
tune-hunters, she exclaimed, petulant-
ly. els woman never to believe in
any one because she is rich p
Mr. Riddle remained silent, but the
blood mounted to her brow.
Said Mrs. Trentham to Captain
Hornbower, at little supper table in
fashionable restaurant: Augusta
Bevan really did very well tonight for
novice, except in the awkwardness of
her attitudes. Allow me to look at the
little gold owl she gave you behind the
scenes. All | saw it all. A manager
must be everywhere you know"
Very piquant looked Mrs. Trentham
as she spoke, coquette of as many sea-
sons as her companion had posed for
beau, an arch sparkle in her eyes, more
than suspicion of malice in her
smile; for to see any man admire an
other woman pierced her vanity, if not
her heart. and she could not rest until
she ad lured him away from his al
legiance, or at least sown mischief in
the path of possible lovers. Yet Mrs.
Trentham was most popular person
and an acknowledged leader of society.
Captain Hornblower resisted: but the
enchantress was adroit, witty, fiatter-
ing, and the supper good, and in the
end he yielded. The lady attached the
little gold owl to her watch chain, and
emerged into the street at 2 O'Clock in
the morning. When she reached her
home the little gold owl was gonel
She had lost it during the walk.
Next day Mrs Trentham sailed up to
Augusta Bevan at a crowded kettle
drum, took both her hands and ex-
claimed: "Oh, my dear, I'm SO dread
fully sorry! | am always committing
some folly. | do not deserve forgive
ness. Captain Hornblower gave me
| mean lent me-your little gold owl
last night, and actually lost it in the
street"
The Seyres teacup fell from Augustus
fingers on the floor. Mr.. Riddle and
Captain Hornblower stopped for the
fragments simultaneously, thus knock
ing their heads together.
She is disillsioned, thought Mr..
Riddel
The game is lost, reflected the gal
liant warrior, with unfeigned regret, "Of
course no woman ever forgave that"
AT 6 o'clock that morning young
Swiss maiden, by name Marie Hetzel
had gone on an errand 10 the market
| for her mistress. Marie was sixteen,
with round, brown face framed in a
crimped cap, and carried basket on
her arm. Her foot struck against a
small object; she stopped, and found
a small gold owl ON the eurbstoDe.
"Himmel" exclaimed Marie, and
sped with her treasure to the lager beer
garden where Fritz, her lover, was en-
! ployed as a waiter.
Fritz happened to be polishing the
rows of little tables placed in bowers of
evergreen. He was a prudent youth of
nineteen, with blonde hair and hard
blue eyes He examined the trinket
and put it in his pocket. The gold owl
might be very pretty suspended about
/ Marie's throat. even as Roman women
rel dice in their hairpins and chains, or
/ the Genoesa in their filigree earrings.