River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1883-11-29

and their board won't signify. They
can go 10 the public school, and I'll
make their clothes, If you'll buy the ma
terlal."
"Aurilla, you are genuine womanl''
said Mr.. CLAY. earnestly. "None of my
cousins have spoken to me like this"
Perhaps perhaps they didn't think
ofit!" ALTERED Aurilla
Possibly" dryly remarked Mr.. Clay.
''But, Anrllla," gently retaining her
hand, us it of nv children only that
you Think Have you no tender, plying
feeIing-the sweet sensation that is akin
to love, you know-ior me? Aurilla will
You be my wife?"
And Aurilla did not refuse.
Now that you have prozlsed to mar
ry me, said Jerome Clay, 81 will tell
you all my plans, Aurilla. | have
bought house here
Here, Jerome?"
Eyes, here. Will you come with me
to look at it7'
Il will go wherever you wish, Je-
| rome," said the bride-elect, in sort of
innocent Dewllderment.
Mr.. Clay put her into little carriage
at the door, and drove her up the noun
tain.side through the huge, stone gate
way of White Castle, TO the velvet lawns
in front of the colonnad- 4 portico,
where statues of Ceres and Proserpina
stood in dazzling marble on either side,
and an antique sun-dlal marked the
golden footsteps of the God of Day.
Its beautiful place" said Aurilla,"
he answered quietly, sit is our home"
"You mean to tell me, dear" cried
the delighted widow, "that you've been
fortunate enough to receive the agency
| thought Mr. WRIGHT
MIR. Wright is the agent still" said
Clay.
"What | mean is that | have bought
White Castle and its ground This fine
old house is to be your home hencefor-
ward, Aurilla."
But, Jerome, I thought you were a
poor nan?"
did l ever tell you SOP" he laughing
ly retorted. Ibid ever tell anyone so?
If the good people in Elm Mountain
choose to believe me pauper, is it fair
to hold me responsible for
their rash consciousness? No, Aurilla!
In money, | am rich-rich beyond my
widest aspirations. But when first
came to Elm Mountain, | believed
myself bankrupt, indeed, in the sweet
coin of love and human kindness. Sweet
heart, it is so with me now. 1t was vOuI
hand that unlocked the gate of happi
ness to me; it shall be your hand that is
to reap the rich reward"
lie bent, and kissed her forehead ten-
d9rly.
but the children?" she cried.
'The children are with their maternal
aunt, at the Windsor hotel in New
York." be answered. "The boy is soon
to enter college, and the girls are both
engaged to be married to southern gem
tlemen, and after a brief visit here will
return to New Orleans with their aunt
So, my darling, your tender solicitude
was not required after all!'
Aurilla sighed softly She had soir e.
how longed for the tonch of little chill
dren's hands in her own, the sound OF
small, child voices in her ear. But she
looked into Jerome's loving eyes, and
was satisfied. He loved her-was not
that enough?
And the Three Old Maids are sharper,
more untidy and shrill. voiced than ever.
since they have realized the fatal mis-
take they made in refusing the ovcrtures
of their cousin Jerome.
And a man9uvering, managing crea
ture is the tenderest appellation they APP
ply to Mrs. Jerome Clay. Things would
have been so widely different if they
had known.