River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1882-06-01

the sympathy which a love tale, re
vealed or suspected, always excites il
true woman. Evelyn Morris die
paint those cards. She was favorits
of mine always, and when this society
was started, wrote urging her to TURF
her talent for painting to account
through us. They are greatly reduced
In circumstances, as you may have
heard, and she was glad to take my
advice. Their quiet life gives hel
plenty of leisure, and her things always
tell, they are SO choice and so exqui-
sitely DONE"
"Indeed. should think so. Where
do the family liver
~ think may tell you, though they
prefer to keep their retreat a secret
from most people. 1t is at Merton, a
village in Southern New Jersey. 1t is
an out of-the-way place. You have to
take three railroads to get there, and
there is long drive besides. l wish
you might have time to go down and
see them. They have few visitors, as
you may suppose, and an old friend
will be treat"
81 shall certainly hope to do So"
"When you return" continuedsMrs.
Curtis, perhaps you will kindly come
to see me, and tell me something about
Evelyn, whom l have not seen for
nearly two years, though we are con-
tinually corresponding about dinner
cards and the like"
ga thousand thanks" taking the
cards he offered him. at will be a
great pleasure to do So"
"You begin with the New Jersey Cen
trail, and change twice, but can't tell
you where you will have to learn
that on the road" went on his new
friend. Then, with a CLINT of fun in
her mobile face ''Good-by, Mr.. Dent:
don't lose your way. MERTON, | have
always heard, is a very hard place to
reach, and an equally hard place to
get away FROM"
So, indeed, Alex found it. A long
day of slow, jolting railway travel, with
continual stops and frequent changes,
ending with drive of miles over sandy
roads, brought him to Merton; and
once there, he was in no hurry to
come away. Evelyn Morris at twenty
nine was no whit less charming in his
eyes than in the early bloom of nine
teen. Nay, time had lent a further
charm, soft courage, ripened gen.
tleness, and amid the simple refine
ment of her surroundings her beauty
beamed with added luster. Alex gazed
at her with wonderment which he
could hardly conceal. By what ipcon-
ceivable good fortune had this lovely
creature remained till twenty-ninc un-
married. 1t could not be fer lack of
suitors. Even if, like the poets star,
confined in tomb" some eye. he
was sure, must detect and covet the
treasure. What happy chance had
saved her for him-and was it for him?
That was question which he longed to
ask, but dared not yet.
In single week all the friendly rela-
tions of old times seemed restored.
Alex secured a lodging in the village,
and spent as many hours a day as he
dared in the society of his love. AL
ways the same gentle welcome met
him as he sat by Evelyn's side, and she
wrought at her dainty handicrafts;
their talk bridged the long interval of
separation, and the old-time sense of
intimacy revived, blent with q new fas-
cination as each recognized in the
other the qualities which ten years had
matured and unfolded. Day by day
Alexis hopes strengthened, but with
the misgivings of true lover he de-
layed, loath to break the blessed'pea
and certainty of the moment by q
rash or premature word. At last he
spoke, taking the dinner card for his
text.
"You see," he added, "this was my
clue. 1, helped me to find you. And
now that have found you, will not be-
that / must ever loose you again. /
have loved you for ten years without
daring to hope that should ever have
a chance to speak my love. Now Ev-
elyn, dearest, tell me my fate"
She did not answer in words, but she
put her hand in his, and her eyes were
full of happy tears. He drew his arm
around the slender waist, and as he
stopped for his first lovers kiss, she
murmured, sat lastl'
"At last - he said surprised.
cat last" she repeated. "Oh, dear
Alex, foolish Alex, did you never guess
that when you went away so long ago
you carried my heart with your" Then
while he stood amazed, ga woman can
not speak though her heart break, she
may not speak what she feels. When
we parted that day l felt that l must
wait till you came back to me, and i
have waited, though dared not hope
you would come, l waited because |
could do no less than .wait-and you
have come"
care you in earnest? Oh, what a
blind fool l have been" groaned Alex,
81 could have come back five years
sooner had 1 dared to hope. Evelyn,
my dear, we have lost five years hap
piness."
dearest, why talk of that? You are
here now, and we are still young enough
to be happy for long time, if God lets
us live our time out. | am not old or
w,inkled yet, and | see no gray hairs
in that beard ofyours," raising her hap
Ply eyes to his face.
80 blessed little scrap of sikh" ex-
claimed Alex, apostrophizing, the din
ner card as it lay on the table, "where
should be now except for your help ?
How much l have to thank you for!
No cards, indeedi Evelyn, when We
have our wedding, we will have hun
dreds, thousands of cards. We will
send them flying all over the land, and
advertise our happiness on whole
reams of pasteboard, in honor of the
fact that it is to dinner card that we
owe it that after ten years of mistake
we have found each other out, and are
the happiest people in the world
Harper'S Bassar-