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

1t was not till the ice had come and
gone that he ventured on the question
which through all the progress of the
dinner had been uppermost in his
mind.
"By-the-way what has become of the
Edward Morrises. Miss Morris mar
ried long time ago, SUPPOSE"
''The Edward Morrises. Let me
think. 1t is a long time since | heard
anything about them"
''Are they not In the city?
"Oh, no! Didn't you know hdtY
Mr.. Morris lost all of his money, and
they went away. Where did they go |?
/ heard at the time, but it is so long
since"
eMr. Morris Why they called him
a millionaire. How could he loose all
his money!"
"Ohl 1t was that horrid business of
that-some railroad. never can rec
ollect such things. Atherton will tell
you all about it. 1t made an immense
disturbance at the time. And Robert
Morris-the other brother, you know
was found to have forged an immense
quantity of stocks, or bonds, whichever
it was, and ever so many people we're
ruined by it, or would have been had
not Edward Morris sacrificed every
thing to buy up the forgeries, and save
the family credit But it took all he
had to accomplish it. After that they
sold that lovely place of theirs, and went
to some little place-in New Jersey or
was it G jnnccticut ?-some little cheap
place, anyway; and there they have
been living ever since. met Evelyn
once at dinner; it was about four years
ago, think. She was staying in town
for few days, but forget with whom.
She was as handsome as ever. 1t does
seem a thousand pities- doesn't it p
that such pretty girl should be shut
up in pokey country village where no
one sees her"
"And you are sure she has never
married."
con no, certainly not. What chance
is there for girl to marry in place
like that?"
New Jersey, or was it Connecticut"
thought Alex; but he noted certain
CLEAN of amused interrogation in his
hostess's bright eyes, and having no
desire to arouse or sharpen any latent
suspicious which might be in her mind,
he dropped the subject. None the less
was he mindful to slip into his pocket,
when they rose from table, the silken
trife which might prove clew to lead
him to the hope relinquished SO long
ago. Evelyn Morris unmarried2 He
could hardly credit the tidings.
IL,
man hor equal in wealth and worldly
position, become the mistress of a
splendid home, and shine star of con-
stantly increasing magnitude in the
social sky, had been fixed part of his
boyish creed. He believed it abso-
lutely, and it had availed to keep him
silent when his heart would fain have
spoken.
What had he to offer the brilliant
girl at whose feet all the treasures of
earth seemed laid? A pair of strong
hands, heart that loved her, such
good or evil fortune as might chance to
be his portion-that was all. He was
very much in love, this young Alex
Dent of ten years ago; but he was wise
hey nd the fervor of his years, and he
had calmly reviewed the situation.
Why should he speak! Why should
he trouble this exquisite creature with
what must prove only vain complaint,
an empty appeal? AS well ask some
bright particular planet to come to
earth and serve for illumination to a
mud hoyel as to ask her to share his
uncertain fate. So he sailed away, no
words spoken, and carrying with him
the bitter conviction that good luck, if
it came at all would come too late fer
any hope of winning this one chief
good which his heart craved.
Good luck came in its own time. He
stood again in New York, at thirty one,
q. rich man, prospered beyond his
widest dreams, and holding an assured
position. He had liked many girls
during the ten years of his absence, he
had even been half in love with one
or two; but the memory of Evelyn
Morris had been spell potent enough
to prevent him overlapping the other
half. He was free still--a freedom he
had hardly rejoiced in till this day,
when in his incredulous ears rang the
news that his early love was still I'M
married.
For two or three days after the Hunt
ley dinner he went about like a man
in dream. He inquired here, he in
quired there. Everybody was ready
enough with histories of the great for
gerry, but no one could tell him any
thing about the Edward Morrises or
their whereabouts. The Robert Nor
rises were in Europe, living under a
cloud, no one exactly knew where.
But what seemed fatality all the fami-
lies whom he recollected as intimate
with the Morrises were abroad just
then, or in Florida, or scattered by the
changes which ten years had wrought.
| No one seemed to have cared to &C
quaint themselves with the movements
of the ruined family. The little ripple
caused by their departure soon sub
sided. People easily forget in the busy
life of cities, and all this had happened
nine years before.
In despair, Alex Dent at last betook
| himself to the rooms of the Decorative
Art Society, and produced his dinner
card Could they tell him the name
and address Of the person who painted
hdts He was anxious TOTO order
some others like it.
81 will take your order, sir" said the
business-ike young secretary. "You
will please give me your name and adj
dress"
But this was by no means what Alex
wanted.
Thanks; but should prefer to COM
municate directly with the artist"
Then seeing a surprised displeasure in
the face suddenly turned upon him, he
made haste to add, "The order will of
course be given in the usual way,
through the society, but it is indispen-