River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1883-11-15
OLD MEMORIES.

caIt2"
Eyes. of course; now do go. dear, I've
been here quite long enough"
Nonsense! Come here, Madge; I
want you particularly"
ooh, don't, Rexp-the last excla.
nation having rather a smothered
sound.
''Alice. do shut that door; those peo-
pie seem to think that every one must
be as iTnpervioust to draughtsas they are
And as her younger niece rose to obey
Miss Owen said, sharply, "And why on
earth does she call him Rex" instead of
bis own name?'
''Some love nonsense, | suppose"
said Alice, with yswn; "they are silly
enough for anything"
And she went back to her book, while
her aunt went on with her knitting, and
thought Of Alice's words.
"Some love nonsense" All. she
could remember the time when she had
stood by that very hall-doOr where
Madge and her lover were now quite as
happy, quite as thoughtless and quite as
cOntented.
What long time it used to take Har-
~ to say good night, an: how she used
10 watch until he was quite out of sight
under the dark trees of the avenue 1t
was al! pure happiness until RJsamond
came. Somehow, things never seemed
the same afteTWard. Harry used to wait
longer and longer to hear some favorite
piece Of music-and ROsamond played
so beautiiully-sO the good night talk
GhnFfnr q a rnf Enr
one grumble when Harry enjoyed good
music so much2
Rosamond was very pretty-every one
could see tina so it was no wonder that
Harry should admire her fair complex
ion and lovely hair and eyes, only 1t
was rather dreadful TO feel how plain
and unattractiye one must lOSk beside
her, she seemed able To do everything,
100; and every one praised her unafac-
ted manner.
I remember the knitting was dropped
here, and the face above it grew hard
I remember Harry telling me he
wished | could try to imita her
more, and making myself more gener-
ally liked. | suppose l must have made
some answer, but ] don't remember it.
] can only remember a blind, helpless
feeling Of misery and wounded pride
and love.
could not have changed so much in
a few daysand Harry had always till now
declared that | was the dearest and best
Cfail to him, and he wondor red every one
didn't fall in love with me- | knew that
was nonsense. but what was this?
/ went away soon after, and cried as
though my heart would break, and |
remember saving, over, and over, 'Oh,
not Harry not Harry" II seemed as
IL ! qnEJtA HI rlC a I
might keep his love.
| was dull and stupid that evening;
and though he kissed me when ne said
goodnight 1t did not comfort me much,
seeing tndt 1t was accompanied by II
wish dear, YOU wouldn't make Yourself
misersbIe about nothing, and would try
to take advice instead of sulking over
it,"
They were hard words, | thought,
but | tried to do a5 he said, though ey-
cry day | felt more and more sure that
the love which had been mine was civ.
en- to ROsamond, and at last our engage
ment was broken of.
1t is curious that the remembrance of |
that day should make me shiver now
after SO many years; but | suffered very |
keenlv
Rosamond went away, and soon after |
We heard that she and Hurry were en-
gagged
| remember hearing that people did |
not think | could have cared for Harry |
very muoh. ! took everything so quiet |
ly. ! was glad they thought so. Why |
should they have any idea of the bitter |
heartache seemed always now TO feIl} |
1t was little comfort that they should |
blame me instead of Harry.
Then, one day, letter came, telling |
of ROsamOnds haS.y marriage to man |
many years older than herself, but very |
rich
There was no word of Harry; and |
think ] grlevod more for him than | |
had ever done for myself / loved him |
still-hOw dearly no one guessed and |
toImented my self day by day with |
Thoughts Of him and his disappoint- |
ment.
am So thankful that saw him again!
My mother came to me one morning
to tell me q woman was waiting to see
me who would give 10 nlm3 or any |
message, but begged / would come to
her directly.
ran down, for some hing seemed tc
tell me the message con cerued the one |
loved so well, and | knew it was Sc
he moment saw Mrs. Lewis, liarry's
Did nurse and housek eeper.
She came 70 me and taking both my |
hands, she said
''Miss Ruth, | am come TO give you |
fresh pain l do not know how to soft
en- my message. Perhaps tie shortest |
way il the best. Master Harry is dying |
Miss Ruth, and he begs if you can So far
forgive him, that you'll let him see your |
face once more
For one moment | felt S though my /
senses had deserted, aud then | felt |
how precious the moments were, and /
hat the time for grief would come af-
forward.
1t all seems like dream. My mother
went with me. | remember hearing her |
say TO Mrs. Lewis, alt will kill her."
md reckless hope that it might sprung |
lp in my heart, and helped me to keep |
calm and brave
| heard my mother asking how the
accident had happened; but the old
woman could only tell her that three
lays before her master had gone for
ride IN the mOrRing, and in few hours /
lad been brought home unconscious,
With dark purple bruise upon his fore
head that the doctor had given.no hope /
II his life from the first; and that as
soon as he recovered his senses he had
sent to me, that he might see me before
he died.
We reached the emf OF our journey at
asst, and to Mrs. Lewis eager question
he man replied:
"Just rs you left him. The doctor IS |
with him now
Mrs Lewis went up stairs. returning |
n few minutes with the doctor, whom
she left with my mother, saying TO me:
Miss Ruth, will YOU come
| trembled SO that | could scarcely fol-
ow her till she said
He Las asked TO see yOu alone, nv
lear. Can YOU bear it. or shall YOU he
afraid?
''No, I said steadily; II would much
rather be alone
So she opened the door, and l went
m.
All thought Of Rosamone had He'd.
went up to m9 darling and took his
hand in mine.
my good angel, he whispered-"my
'mv darling Ruth And then an ex-
preston OF pain came across his face,
and he added. Not mine now; have
forfeited that
think al the love had ever felt for
him came upon me with twofold force,
and kneeling by him, | told him how
fully | forgave him, and sow dearly
.ovedhim, and how loved him then.