River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1883-08-09

very quietly THANK you-good night and
she vanished into tho gulf Of light, and left
him alone ia tho outer darkness
II
"Wheres Verriker gomez" was Capt Here
ford's morning greeting as Decina appeared at
breakfast q want to settle that trip 70 the
Corner Graf. and now he can't be found. /
wish 70 heaven young people would have some
consideration But Decima prudently re-
Trained from all remark Atdinner her faith
er's indignation was sill higher
"What on earth that young fellows up to nc
0ne can thinkl" he growed over his thin soup.
sStarted Of at sunrise this morning; w0U8lnt
take a guide-only his alpenstnck and uaile
ooois, anu TWO Gays proYl7lnh7- must Dc niau-
ness IN his family Bah! beastly stuff this
AXE il awavi"
At supper he was cynical This comes OF
picking up travelling companions! The young
fellow looked gentleman, but no donbt be 5
one Of the swell mob-just see il my dressing
case is intact, will you, d cie?-or flying from
his creditors At ali events, one gentleman
does not treat another in this way. Pray, nd
he honor YOU with his plans Decley"
"Ao, papa, said poor Decie, hut she con d
| say no more; only she knelt long, long time
before her window that night looking up al
| the Matterhon's jagged peak, a. i shone -
/ the moonlight
All the next day it was the same; moro irri-
| iatiou from her father; more apprehension IN
/ her own heart and sort Of slckaning feeling
| Of unsp0ken terror People a. the motel began
to wonder, too; 10 speculate what The rash young
American could have meant to do-When he
would return; to talk Ct the folly Of venturIn2
| to climb without guide; to shake their heals
The hot day had cooled of Inio another
brilliant night, and again Decima bnelt at her
low window ia the white moonlight, trying TO
sOothe feyeiish headache and To pray; when
all at once some one doomed out OF tho shadow
belOv-s0me one whom even that light showed
n ha nd IL 81
an eager voice whispered her name; and,
borne high On the POM of a tall aipeHstock.
something was laid gently down upon lac WIN
| dow-iedge at her side No need To see what u
was; the prayer ended in a passionate thanks
giving. and while burst Of welcome con-
gratuiat ous aud questions burst from the
hotel party below, the yale moonlight shane
| upou a girls face press ID upon the small hard
pillow OF a narrow bed. and a starry white
| flower, believed with happY tears
| Half an hour later, az Capt Hereford sat
smoking his cigar upon the deserted balcony,
| Ralph Verriker came to him, erumpilHg an
envelope in his hand, and looking disturbed
and agitated
''Ml. 7 speak to you on matter Of great inn
portauce!' he asked. u have just found a
| telegram awaiting me from America, SUNNI m
| ing me home at once. Some one Is dangerous y
| iIl-it does not say VINO. but fear II must
| be my mother | must start at day
/ light tomorrow; too much time has been
| lost already by the telegram following
me about so But before l 60 / must
/ say a word to you, sir l don't suppose You
will be much surprised that l have learned 70
/ love your daughter-no one could help II. ]
| should think: and | hope-I dare 10 hopt-su
| likes me just little. May write to her: /
| ought 10 tell you l am not rich man. nave
almost nothing of nv own. for though my
uncle makes roe fair allowance, / have a
cousin who is his heiress, and he viii leave me
nothing, But / am yOung-l am strong-l can
work. I viii get something to do at once, If
! only You will give yeur consent
student Of Lsyater might have reapea
wears Of education from a study Of Capt Here
| forl's face during this address Surprise, be
| wllderment, conservation, chased cacn otheg
over his c0untsnance, ami eventually gave way
| to a strange expression, winch 1t was, uutOrlu-
uately, too dark for Yerriker to Observe or he
might have been a wiser man To tell the
! truth Decma5 father was too self-engros5ed
| 10 have noticed Rllph's devotion; and
| perhaps even had this sutton been the man OF
means his appearance and surroundings had
| led Capt Hereford to believe Elm, il would
have been a sore struggle to consider AIs
danghter's happiness before his own; but as
{ was this candid avowal Of poverty, for many
reasons. took away his breath, ana decided the
question on the instant His only Thought was
how most plausib!y 70 give an absolute check
to such rresumptuous hopes
"My dear VerrikcT.n He cleared his throat,
,
very l confess l never guessed at this
TIL very recently, but it's ont of the question
/ duite Not alone the nationality and limI ed
/ means-I trust I'm as free from narrow
/ prejudices any man-but The fact 10, my
| dear fellow, my daughter is-ah-hum-
already engaged"
/ 'Eagayed?" uttered Verriker in a voice OF
Mortified iucredulity-
yes, YES, " rojojned the reprobate growing
holder with success 'Why, the weddings all
| but settled-oid friend, Won wv, and all that
| Po0 my word, I'm sorry, Weir kerr aud there
was enough shame left IN tho old man to make
him blush in the darkness.
"But Miss Hereford" -tammcred poor, be-
wlldered Ralph; 81 had thought had dared
| TO hope ana he stopped short
Eyes, yes, | think she feared So | saw 1t in
her manner. She's Young. YOU know. and
tender- hearted; perhaps she seemed too kind.
There, there Verriker, don't tako Il % heart
and for moment even this villain was touched
with remorse.
| Poor little Dncie. No need for her to blush
and tromble, and steal INTO the breakfasJ-room
/ with towncast ewes and noiseless step, next
morning Only Ralph's vacant chair stared
| her ia the face and her father was deep ii q
week-old Times.
! ooh, by the way said he with an of-hano
( air. avoiding her eye ''Vcrriker's gone 10
4 earnest this time. He came home late last
| night and found a telegram, so he's off for
| America early this morning Bore, isn't 1t:
/ Didn't even leave Won message: but no doub
he meant me 10 say everything clvll Can yOr
start for the Corner Graf to-day? Why, child,
! what makes YOU wear that ugly scrap of edel
weiss in your brooch? 1t is 4 beasdy plant, and
bears as much resemblance to flower as a
/ sea -aGemone does to an anlmalH
| All, we'll 1t is woman's part in me to watch
4 and wait with pleasant, smlirg face and break
| ing heart Why should Decima have had q
happier lot than millions OF sisters? This
| NJ WtlltgUf
| the hair, and duils the eyes, aud ploughs ugly
lines in a smooth young face, and steals away
/ tho youth, and the brightness, and the spring
WY should Decina complaint She had wha
what most women haye-a relic o.
two, a torn glove shrivelec
scrap of flower, memory q
| heartache What would she have more:
| Life was not over for her yet. alas There was
her old father; and to him she devoted herself
| little dreaming, poor child, OF the cruel wrong
/ he had done her; and as the months dragged
| away, newer, more urgent cares and troubles
began 10 push the old pain into the back
yround-till there came a dlv when cooper
| alive company broke, and with 1t went all the
committed pension her father bad invested 10
H. and they were pcnnIless; she young
and strong. and eager to work, if only she
could find work to do; and he weak Old man,
| stricken into HSudIshness by the blow thar took
| AWAY hls all She would gladly work. IT work
wore only ~ Ne found; but every place seemed
utter DESPAIR, she called on an old friend, a
| lace manufacturer, and asked II she might moi
/ try some of the lace-wOrk Buckingham women
| ID in their own housekeeping, mending 81
| drawing threads from the machine made lace.
Old Mr. Stacey's gold eye glasses needed fire.
luent polishing. add his handkerchief came
| .nro constant use as she talked; but he was toe
/ shocked at her story 10 answer anything bn
| that she ought to have better work than tuaf L
| io and she was turning rather sadly to s.
when he called her back
| ''Bv the way, Dece," he said, perhaps yot
| .auld help me You have been n Switzerland
| D. YOU know Swiss flower called the edei
| Utiss2'
| pa she know il? Her heart leaped up, bu
| she assorted very quietly
| Because I'm at my wits end An Americai
| buvor has lust come over, and wants io ORDER 8
| large amount of lace with tho pattern of a.
| elelweiss I shall lose the order If ! can't eX
| eoute IN the next fortnight; and where 10 &C
| the design I don't know. I've sent right ant
| left AMI can't find even picture OF the thing
my designers don't even know 1t by name fpt
i don't happen to have q sketch or specimen o.
/ II, do you:"
| "Oh. YES. I have-I have a flower
| ''Na-have YOU? BY Joyel how lucky
| Could you-would you mind lending 1t TO in'
/ for few days%"
"Oh. bat believe 1 could dc better thar
! that think, with a little help, could de
1 sign you a pattern. picked up little de
| signing al the School Of Art years ago, and
| know something about lace, for don't you re
member your girls and | all learned TO max
| uINow- lace ouca, for tUu2'
1 "UpOu my soui,' said Mr.. Stacey, quit