River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1884-08-07
CERTRUDE'S RESOLUTION.


@Just wait until Mr.. Right comes
along, laughingly responded her friend,
Lucy Evans.
"There will not be any such person,
in this case, was the decided answer.
ooh, mol OF course not. A certain
young lady is so unattractiye, and not
bit of firt either" said Miss Evans
with mild sarcasm,
Gertie colored, and rolled her lovely
blue eyes up at Lucy in way that
most people, men especially, found ex-
tremely fascinating.
Now, Lu, " she cried, you're making
fun of me, and I'm in dead earnest. /
know it's all very nice to have plenty of
5eaux, otherwise girls would be obliged
to lose many a good time Tor how could
we go to parties and places of amuse-
ment unattended? But as for being
married, that's different thing Why,
don't know single thoroughly happy
welded couple, and don't believe you
do, either!"
''Well, answered Lucy, refectively,
II had never thought about it before,
but must really confess you are in the
right.
''Iknew 1 was! !" triumphantlv. Now
just let me name over e few of the girls
who were schoolmates with us, and
whose prospects certainly We're fair.
There's Annie Lawton-only been MAR
ried two years, and her husband scarce-
y spends an evening at home with her,
much less takes her anywhere. and
Annie always was the gayest of
| Che gay. / don't see how she bears such
neglect Then Nettie Cummings, her
husband already notorious drunkard.
| To he sure, she had driven him to it by
being that detestable thing, a married
| hirt. Lizzie Gerard confirmed in
valid, to whom her husbands wealth
brings little happiness, Florie Merton,
| united to o poor man, with whole
brood Of little ones to bring up. Flo
has TO work hard enough now, if she
| never did as a girl. So | might so on
al infinitum. Bah, It's enough to dis
gust anyone with the whole subject
No! Tn an old maid, and | mean to
stay one?"
"Not such very old one, )" said Lucy,
smilingly. But seriously, dear, j
think you are little too harsh. !
know can trust my Horace, a tender
light creeping into her soft eyes, and
playing about her sweet lips, land |
hope he can trust me. y
81 should hope so - cried Gertie, Civ
| ing her friends hand little squeeze.
"Do forgive me, Lu! / ought not to
! have run on so, aud you just on the
brink of marriage yourself. Horace
! Vincent is a splendid fellow, and I've
: no doubt you'll be the model couple |
have looked for in vain so long"
| "And make q convert of you:"
Eyes for | already am convinced that
marriage ought to bring happiness. If
it does not, wherein lies the difficulty"
IF on the wife's side, OURS shall not
/ be failure!" answered Lucy, touch
Of noble pride and confidence in her
voice,
"There comes Mr.. Vincent, now," ex-
claimed Gertie.
$50 it is" said Lucy, glancing eager
/ ly out of the window.
Stopping only to fasten a few fresh
flowers at her throat, she ran down to
meet her lover, with face illumined by
happiness into positive beauty.
Left alone, Miss Meserve sighed au-
dibly. How full of JOY she is, she
murmured II declare it is enough to
make one envious, roaming idly about,
toying with the many knick- knacks
which she already knew by heart, in a
restless aimless fashion.
1t was an inviting room, this of Miss
Evans, exhibiting the quiet, refined
taste of the young mistress in all its APP
pointments. OF its two windows, one
| looked over trim fields and distant,
wooded hills, to where the sunset rays
painted the sky. The other looked
straight down the broad, shady road
which led to the heart of the dear old
town. Coming up this street was a
horseman at sight of whom Gertie ut
tered little cry ofsurprise and delight.
"Rodger Magill! How splendid
havnt seen him but once since he gradu-
ated from the medical school three years
ago, and went North to enter hospital
as house doctor | wonder if he has
obtained a good practice yet. How
handsome he is !" as the gentleman dis
mounted. "Oh, dear, don't look fit
to be SEEM" with a Disguised glance at
her simple muslin. ''Rodger always
was so particular about a lady's attire.
| wonder if Lu was expecting him. ]
should have thought she might have
told mel"
''Gertie dear" called her friend,
"come down There's some one here
who particularly wishes to see You"
Gertie blushed. Directly" she
answered, stopping moment to calm
her unwonted excitement
The picture that met her eye as she
entered til drawing-room was lovely
one. Lucy reclined gracefully i'll low
rocker, and behind her chair stood her
lover, tall. slight and graceful, bending
his proud head to catch her low tones.
| Near by, Magill, magnificent of form,
rarely beautiful of face, with manners
that were the ideal of ancient chivalry.
He, too, was standing, and as Miss
Meserve approached, he met her more
than half way, bending low as he
said
what happiness is mine, in once
more meeting one of the loveliest
daughters of my dear Southern home.
"A rose without compare"
Gertie, though in former days accus-
toned to his fowery compliments felt
conscious of blushing wildly, but native
wit and good breeding enabled her to
reply appropriately, and to lead
the conversation to safer topics.
''What wonderfully pretty little
witch she isl" thought Magill, eff she
were only elegantly dressed, she would
be lovely" watching the play of the
dimpling mouth, the sweep of the curl
ing lashes, and the deep-set eyes, 50
unbelievable, whose flashing intelli-
| gence revealed high order of mental
activity and power. Aloud, cousin
Lou, will you not play something for
me?"
Fond as ever of music, Roger" in
| quired Miss Evans, as she arose without
further urging.
| more so. +" escortinty her to the SPLEEN