River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1882-04-27
AN EAST BLOW.

The summer hotel among the noun
tains was almost deserted. Half 8
dozen Of the late-staying guests were
gathered in the little parlor for theil
last evening. A high September vino
turned their thoughts to the desolate
ness of the winter months in the White
Hills. Maud Wellington, always a
leader in talk and action, called TO the
landlord:
"Come here, please. Mr.. Little; tel
us how you ever live here through the
winter ?"
"Wa'al you Jest come up here and
try one of our east blows. l tell you
you don't know anything about the
maountings. You only come up here
when it's warm and nice, and Mr.
George he drives his team around, what
dye call it?"
Tandem - suggested George.
Eyes, tanuum; and he takes you
girls to drive, and it's all very pretty
Jest let him be here in the winter, anC
he'd drive tantrum, sure enough.
Wouldn't it be fun?' asked Maud.
"Would you really take us in if we
came up next winter ?"
81 guess most likely l could. You'd
have to kinder put up with things,
though. I'd be real glad to see you,
naow; the winters is awful lonely y
Il am in earnest, and | will come il
the rest will. | think it would be jol-
w." said Maud.
Eyes, quite too awfully CHASTITY iol-
w." murmured her brother George,
whose slang was overwhelming.
The others all promised they would
join her if she formed party, and the
next morning they separated and for
got all about the plan and the promise,
rs people do.
twas late in December. The holt
days were approaching. Mand Well,
ington was restless and dissatisfied.
The season had been very disappoint
ing. Every body was dull and stupid
Germans were tiresome, dinners more
SO, and she was tired of Boston and
every one in it. And all this was be-
cause u certain Thomas Sedgwick
Thornton had not appeared in the city
as she had expected. 1t was none the
less true because she would have de-
MED it, AMI that she had always laugh
ed at him, and protested to hold him IN
the most perfect contempt. She knew
very we'll that he was a hard working
lawyer in New York with little time for
holiday making, but she was quite I'M
reasonable enough to think that such
trifies as business made no difference.
He ought to have admired her enough
to have made any sacrifice, and made
haste to continue the summers &C
auaintance. 1t made no difference to
her, also, that there were many others
as assiduous in their devotion as he
was remiss. He was the Mordecai at
the gate and she was unhappy. The
wind bowling around the house took
her thoughts back to the last evening
in the mountains, and a sudden resolve
made her spring to her feet.
Mother" she cried rushing into the
warm library, where her mother sat
doing before the fire. 81 have made
up my mind. We will go up to the
mountains and see how they look with
the snow on them"
"You crazy girl we won't do any
thing of the sort"
Mrs. Wellington always made point
Of seeming to oppose her daugl ter's
plans, but she always did Just what her
children told her 10 do. Maud wasted
no words in entreaty, but coolly told
her that she must go, without any more
ado.
With Maud to decide was to act.
George vas delighted with the pros pect
of such a Lark" he had not known
what to d. with the holidays. Notes
were Immediately sent TO those who
had been with them when the propo-
sition was made, and to several others
who might be cOngenial spirits. When
they had written nearly all Maud said,
with perfect carelessness:
al suppose you will have to write to
that Mr. Thornton. | don't think he
would add much to the general hllarl-
ty, but am afraid it wouldn't do tC
leave him out and ask all the rest who
where there"
Right you are!" said George. III
send an invite to the old dutfer; he's
not half bad fellow, after all. o
course he won't put i'll an appearance.
But it is the impossible which hap
pens. For some occult reason MIR
Welinton chose to join this wild expe
dition, and presented himself at the
appointed time at the rendezvous
With the exception of himself anC
poor Mrs Wellington, who had looked
already yictimized, it was as gay 8
party as Boston could furnish.
IS usual, il was Maud who was lead
er and prime fagorite. But she was ad
mirably seconded by three of hei
friends only little less brilliant anC
daring than she. Then there were two
or three society men who would have
gone anywhere that Maud and her Sc
proposed. Little did they care for The
grandeur of mountain scenery III Its sc
we're winter-dress, but the trip promised
much fun and unlooked-for opportuni
ties of carrying out certain intentions
Last and noisiest Of all came George
Wellington, q Harvard Sophomore
with an equally reckless and hair
brainsd ciassmate, whom the ladies
alternately petted, snubbed and useC
as foils in their most serious schemes
Mr.. Thornton felt out of his element
AS he had done so many times durlni
the summer. He was not keyed to tn
came pitch of high spirits AID unceas
ing gayety. He was grave, quiet;
man who was terrible in earnest abou
everything he did From the first mo
ment that he saw her he became fasci
mated with Maud, against his will ant
better judgment. Her beauty. wit, ca
prices, would not let themselves be for
gotten. He was angry with her, IA
heartily disapproved of her dozel
times a day, and then, when he wa
most indignant with her he DISCOVERIES
that he loved her with love which b.
could not reason away nor live down
He was more bitterly enraged with he
than ever to-day, as the cars rapid.
bore them towards the mountains. HI,
n,,r,l,I hin,Snlf and hiS fl,llv in raviri