River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1883-07-26

! he makes his way straight TO the otto
/ man upon which Miss Bruce is sit
| ting.
''How selfish am, +" murmurs Dora TO
| herself. as she watches Franks tall
/ handsome figure crossing the room in
| order to turn over Miss Bruce's music;
and somehow everything seems a little
| dull and uninterestingt the girls mind,
and heartache accompanied her to
| bed that night
But it is gone by the morrow, and
Dora is her own sweet self; and as days
| 90 on she resumes her rather neglected
sketching, though by degrees she finds
how often she il without her faithful
| friend and she misses his cheerful chat
| ter and genial laugh more than she will
| acknowledge For Frank Carleton's
| testing words seem TO have come true,
| and he shows no signs of his evident
admiration for pretty Nellie subsIdlng
| for it is at her side he fingers now.
| And there is evidently good under
| standing between them. for 1t necess-
| itates much log talk and apparent pur-
suasive eloqHence on Franks part; and
somehow lie thought of those two will
persist in Obtfuding itself on Dora's
mind, no matter what she is doing.
At last matters come to crisis.
| picnic is arranged to be held in some
words few miles from inland, and dur
Ing luncheon on the grass Frank and
Nellie are, al usual, together. and the
girl is in much merry mood that 1t Is ev-
ident she feels very happy. Dora feels
more than ever the foolish position into
which her girlish ignorance has led her
respecting Frank, for more than one re-
mark reaches her referring in no Halter
ing terms to his conduct. But she de-
mands him on every occasion, and in
such a sweet, unconscious manner, that
suspicion ~ q once dlsarmed respecting
the state of her heat.
But the effort to dissemble her disap-
poiutment in Frank sudden avoidance
| is too great to-day, and she manages al
ter luncheon, u steal away entirely
alone, intendingtO sketch pretty little
glade she has often visited.
But when she>reaches the spot she
merely seats herself on the banks, and
gives herself up to her own thoughts,
ard tbercely argues out her own unreal
sonableness as she terms it. But the
process does not appear to be satlsfac-
tory, for presently one two tears force
themselves slowly from between the
closed eycIids, and the girl gives way to
passionate flood Of tears.
BY degrees the sobs subslde, and the
soothing effect of the soft, warm air and
subdued quiet around begin to be felt,
and leaning her uncovered head against
the hard trunk of a tree, she falls fast
asleep So fast, indeed, that the sound
of advancing fOots cps does not make an
eyelid culver; and when Frank Carleton
reaches her ne stands for a moment
looking down at the little figure in its
attitude of careless grace with an ex-
preston upon his face that is not exactly
+, II e Nice Malta
Bruce.
Just then Dora stirs little, and
weary little sob bursts from the pretty
parted lips This is more than Frank
can bear, and in moment he is kneel-
ing beside her, and the startled girl IS
taken tenderIy in his arms, while the
curly head leans for moment uncOn-
sCiously against his breast
'What is it? where am II" 'murmurs
Dora, and looks up SO quickly that soft
mustache brushes her cheek. 80 I,
Carleton she stammers, ying to dis
engage herself and blushing deeply at
the position in which she finds herself.
Dora, darling" says Frank, earnest
Iv, "what do these tears mean? Tell
me, dear?" and he holds her so firmly
She can scarcely move.
Nothing much" falters the girl, blush
ing again as she recoIlects their true
cause. AT least nothing l could tell
yOul" she concludes, as Franks's gray
eyes looked into hers, as if to read her
very heart.
Now, Dora" he says reproachfully,
II thought you and | agreed always to
tell each other our trouble. Do you call
call that looking upon me rs your
iriend?"
"But | could not possibly tell you" re-
peats DoGy, succeeding in drawing her
self away, though her heart beat wildly
at the tender look upon the handsome
face looking into hers. Glow is it you
are here" she asks, to change the sub
ject; "and where is Hellie?"
l followed YOU, child, is the reply,
ignoring her latter question. lntend
to know the meaning of these pale cheeks
have noticed them for the last two OF
three DAYS, and want to find out If
there is any reason for them. DO you
know what would give half my lite to
know that they did mean?" he says pas
sionatey; while Dora, little frightened
ALTERS out timid NO" without looking
at him.
"Weu, wont tell you yet" he says,
more quietly, "but l will let you into a
secret that will interest you about Nellie
Bruce. What is it, child? Are You cold
or faini?" for Dora started and closed
her ewes.
ono, she says, with asmile. Go on,
MIR. Carleton"
"Wen." he continued, ''it turns out
that Miss Nellie was few months ago
engaged 10 one of my most intimate
friends, Harry Sylvester, and rare
good fellow he is too; but they managed
to quarrel over something and the affair
was broken off, though both were as
al, lava 10 p.IylI hn [ hn n
9ened to hear poor old HATS
woes at the time, and from putting
two and two together, and
writing a letter or two to Sylvester, /
shrink I have managed that all will be
well again without any compromise OF
dignity on either side. Mrs. Darlington
has asked Harry down next week, and
so told Nellie; SO let US hope when
they meet they will see the error of their
WAYS once and for all. Why, Dora, how
pleased you look; you care to hear about
a love affair after all"
ait isn't that thought you cared-I
mean, Nellie cared
Were YOU iealOus?" interrupts Frank,
passjonately. "Dora, my own darling,
is it possible that you love me after all?'
and he takes the sweet, blushing face
between his hands and looks down into
do YOU know, my dear one, have
loved YOU since the first week | came
here. but Won seemed such sweet, calm
little maiden that | despaired OF even
making Won think OF me, so, darling,
may / confess and tell YOU | fell into
your pretty little plan of friendship just
| to try and see il could awaken any
deeper feeling in that pure little heart,
'Oh. Frank" says Dora, reproachful-
", lifting her lovely dark eyes to lis
face, then dropping them at what she
reads there, was that quite tair?,'
Everything is fair in love and war"
replies Frank, fondly kissing the pretty
| lips softly, with an air of proud pos
session. Especially when the strategem
ends in surrender"
And Dora leans back her dark head
against his shoulder, signs contentedly,
and says-nothing.
| He Knew Him as "a Liar.
| Uncle Hank Allen was perhaps the
fs.E.~. i -,