River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1883-05-17
4 FORTUNATE MISTAKE.

''For value received, I promise to pay
to Robert Simms the sum Of"
Alice Birds lip curled and her face
fiushed-a miserable flush that would
have touched any one that loved her;
but her younger sister, Susie, who lolled
in an. easy chair, only said, languidly:
What disDleases you, ALICE"
''For value received" began Alice
again. angrily, as she threw the promis-
sorry note upon the old-fashioned wri-
ting table-"yes, that has been mammals
ruling principle through life; and [ must
say that she has discovered in many
most ingenious, if not always creditabie,
ways the fine art of getting the wor Tia of
her money. Am / worth the money?
wonder will Robert Simms think ! am
worth these notes that mamma has Civ
en- from time to time? ] wonder how
they came here, anyway? When / am
Robert Simms' dear wife, would it not
be well to put on my new barouche I'M
der Roberts crest, the motto: r or
value received?' Oh, Sue" she cried,
suddenly, i'm an appealing voice, ''how
could mother borrow money from that
man? How hate the few luxuries that
we have had lately, now that ] have dis
covered their sourcel We, who are SO
poor, ought 10 be ashamed to dress
above our means" Big tears fell slow
iy upon the offending notes. "Oh, what
blind fool nave been not to have sus-
pected thisl"
"Quite true, my dear Alice; you are
fool TO take a trihe so seriously" said
the lazy voice Of Miss Susan. IF Cous-
in Robert chooses to lend little of his
surplus money to three charming ladies'
whose circumstances are somewhat
stfaighteued-"
''For shame, Susie, cried Alice, in
dgnantly. GLOW are we to pay it, |
should like to know?'
You do know, my very dear Alice;
but don't be so emphatic-you are, in
fact almost violent. That last most un-
ladylike STANG Of the foot quite suggest
ed an earthquake.
ooh, If there could only be an earth
quake that would swallow us all mp to-
getherp'
"Now You are childish, Alice. An
earthquake? No, / thank yOu; leave
me out of it, please for ] have not vet
worn my new plush costume. Any way,
postpone it till after the next PRONE
made concert"
''If the costume We're mine, ! should
send it with my compliments to Cousin
Robert, as you cali HIM, although L
could never make ont why; his money
of course paid for it.
''Giye back my brown plush costumel
Alice, you are certainly insane. There
is the tea-belll Let us go down my
much troubled elder sister; and try to
smile upon your future husband for his
generosity"
Alice moved away, followed lcisurely
by Susan; and in the pleasantly lighted
parlor a dainti,y-spread little tea table
was awaiting them. Mrs Bird sat al
ready at its head, and cousin Robert"
laying down the evening paper, looked
up approvingly at Alice's flushed cheeks
as she entered.
"Ma1emoiselle, you are brilliant to-
night" he said, with rather an awkward
attempt at eourtly bow.
Alice could not force polite smile,
but grimly took her seat; and her Thoughts
were none too amiahle.
Robert Simms has an air of prop
gietorship" she thought. However;
he is not quite master of the situation
yet. Mammals sale is by no means eff
fected. What q red face he hasl And
such teethl He probably chewed to-
bacco before he was rich enough to buy
such good cigars. as we'll as wife. Oh,
how hard feel towards everybody
'sConsin Robert ate his mullins and
and admired Alice: Susan discoursed
placidly about various topics of the day;
Mrs. Bird, with an occasional anxious
glance at her eldest daughter, endeav-
ored to make herself agreeable to her
guest Her flattery was most delicate
and subtle, and her watChiIl tact made
even the commonplace remarks oil Rob
ert Simms seem almost brilliant. Alice,
in spite of the tempest of trOubles, could
not but admire her mothers clever
ness.
eyes" she thought, mamma ekes
out the m ms ideas as she does scanty
old silk dress, and makes them nearly
,bearable."
When, after most wearisome even
ing for one, at least, of the quartette
that looked so cosy as they sat around
the fire, Robert Simms had gone to h s
club and the two girls To their rooms,
Mrs. Bird sat thinking till the embers
faded to a sullen glow; her reflections
were far from agreeable.
s'IfI have overrated my influence
with Alice She thought, eli she should
refuse Robert-she certainly had de-
FAINT air to-night-wha will become of
us? The neighboTs say that he is a lard
man; but that NAV be from jealousy OF
his attention to us. / have striyen all
these years 10 give the girls chance to
make good marriage; and now, when
the hope seems near fultilment, TO have
that chit dare to defeat my plan. Oh, 1t
is too harassing, Was ever mother so
wretehed as II" she ended, YEARLY, as
she went slowly to her room.
Susan was sleeping the sleep of an
elastic conscience and an easy, luxury
loving nature; while Alice, with her
head between her hot hands, was matu-
ring plans which she soon set about car
ry1ng into execution.
She wrote tear-bistered letter to her
mother, telling her how she had found
notes of Robert Simms' by mistake as
she was searching for a bill-for indeed
mamma must know she had not meant
to be dishonorable; how she VAS
wretched in her present life, with ITS
shame and attempts to keep mp n lady,
like appearance before a world of peo-
ple richer than themselves; how she
could not marry Robert Simms If he
asked her, as she knew was expected OF
him: so she would go TO a school friend
on whose help she could rely, and try to
get some employment She would save
every farthing she earned, and send il
TO Robert Simms to pay tue disgracefuI
debt. ---------
IL