River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1883-08-23
THE HEIRESS.

awfully annihilating to Mr.. Harry
Browne, standing on the lower step OF
the piazza at the Seaside house.
every well; go, ofcourse, Mr. Browne,
if you prefer; but really l think it is too
bad of you"
'tOf course it IS" added pretty Miss
Hunter, with the golden locks and baby
blue eyes that were considered irresist-
able by the generality of the sterner sex.
"Of course it is too bad, when
YOU know that to a dozen ladies staying
at the Seaside there are only such few
gentlemen. know what the trouble is,
though don't !. MIR. Browne? You
are tired of us--the same over and over
and you are reserviug your forces I'M
til the much talked ofand anxiously ex-
pected beauty and heiress arrives upon
the scene"
Harry tunred lazily around and smiled.
81 am afraid I shall have TO incur a
great risk in contradicting lady," he
said good humorediy.
Naughty Adele layton flashed hum a
half.indignant, half-sarcasticg glance from
her black eyes and said:
''And when this heiIess has arrived
/ dare say Mr.. Browne will loose inter
est in his solitary boat rides and fishing
excursions, while we forlorn maidens
get through the day as well as we can
for lonesomeness. Mr.. Browne, you are
selfish"
"Well, yes, rather, if always wanting
the best of everything concerned is what
YOU call selfish. But / will redeem my
character by proving to you that which
will doubtless set your hearts at rest. /
don't believe in your wonderful coming
beauty and heiress to begin with, and
in the second place | would commit
hacikari before I'd marry an heiress>
Now, am ] vindicated?'
He bowed and walked off just little
10 the discontinue of the ladies on the
niazza--went off to the beach where his
boat and fishing tackle awaited him,
with more of Disguised impatient look
on his face than was customary with
him.
"What lot of idiots fellow comes
across in the course of his life! Because
a lot of pretty girls lose their heads
when a wealthy beau comes along, they
argue. with a woman's senseless persls-
tency, that the men are as mercenary as
themselves! Marry an heiress! not II
she were as beautiful as-as Venus, and
every word she dropped was transmit
ted into a koh-i-noor"
Mr.. Brown pushed off in his surf-boat,
dashing and plunging through the
breakers like sailor born and bred. lie
rowed out a mile or two to another fish
-, a Of ha
cd bows. s and 10, with wide-brimmed
hats, and bright tanned faces and brown
ewes. A tall lad of 49, worried and anx-
ions looking, who was evidently dis
MAYED at the increasing swell of the sea
and the freshening sonth wind, was OF
this company, and also young girl )
with lovely dark grey eyes, grave and
thoughtful, vet bright and flashing, as
she looked at Harry while he rowed
ne rer and nearer in response to the
halo of the boys.
A decidedly nice-looking girl, hardly
what one would call handsome, and YET
fine pure. fair complexion, ever so light
" sun-tanned, the scarlet mouth Sc
tightly closed, the waving, deep gold
colored hair, thickly braided and hang
ing down to her waist, and the glorious
gray ewes made whole that Harry
Brown quite thorc ughly admired as he
pulled alongside and spoke to her.
"You seem to be in some difficulty
he remarked touching his hat courteous
ly.
She bowed.
E'Joe is rather demoralzed, I think.
| There is no danger, is tbere?" Harry
glanced at Joe's scared face, and the
restless antics of the boys in the tiny
boat.
eff you had a man in charge who
knew his business there would be no
shadow of danger AS it IS this young
man has no excuse for venturing so far
out"
eve were fishing" she said, in a
pleasant, apologize way, 'and didn't re-
alize how far we had gone. well"
with a troubled look that was more anx-
ious than fear, I'VE must do the best we
can. Perhaps You can tell Joe what to
do with the hoat?"
Harry replied, "If you will allow me
to exchange places with your pilot, |
will row you ashore. am Harry Browne,
of -, brokers, --- street, at pres
ent staying at the Seaside house"
You are very kind Mr.. Browne, and
| will thankfully accept your offer. My
name is May Harper"
mutual introduction amused her, and
Harry made up his mind that she was
the very incest girl he had met in many
a day.
well then. Joe, jump in here and
row yourself to the shore. You won't
have any trouble to take yourself only,
will your
The alacrity with which the lad
changed from the Bella to the Tadie
was sufficient answer, and neither Harry
nor Miss Harper could help smiling as
Joe put for the shore
II dare say he thought it was all
right" May said, alphabetically.
Had no Business TO think so, though.
Shall take you straight back, Miss Har-
per, or would you rather fish awhile
longer"
eff you please, | viii go back. Aunt
Jane will be worried about me-"
She leaned against the side of the
boat, trailing her hand in the water,
while the children sat quiet as mice,
watching Harry with awe and admira-
ton, as he pulled long, steady strokes
that sent them spinning along. while
Harry thought: She is the mou5 sen
sible girl | ever came across, Pretty
modest, dignified, pleasant, with no
sham reserve about her, any more than
too much freedom. And what through
lady she isl know it as well as if
had met her a thousand times"
And May, setting opposite him, watch
ing the water as it danced and sparBled,
thought if ever there was true gentle
man in manner, speech and action, it
was this handsome stranger who was
rowing her to shore.
"Will you tell me opposite to which
hotel. | am glad to row your" he said
as after a most delightful hours CONVEX
sation he rested on his oars and awaited
her commands.
She laughed.
ooh, no, not at any hotel. ! am stay
ing at one of the ishermen's cottages
about two miles further down on your
left"
Harry was delighted with the prospeg
Of continuing with her.
Yes. know where you mean. The
place we call Sandy beach
Yes, and you an'timaglne how love-
" it is there-old-fashi rather
crowded quarters, to be sure, but with
the faintest vestiege Of anything like fun
or style"
And Won actually are boarding there
Miss Harper? Why didn't you come to
one Of the notes.-the Seaside for in
stance? It's nice house, and pleasant
company is there
May smiled.
Not I. came TO the seashore to en-
ioy myself and get away from fashion
and dress aud tiresome people"
And you have succeeded in enjoying
yourself at sandy beach,
admirably. these four weeks. You
are the first devotee Of the world that /