Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1884-04-04
LOVES FRul1IOI.

ES"iIAA4ol MIA DanVefSl was Qafk, VIII p
riLliant coloring, her friend Beth was
very fair. 5s.$
s 10 look st Beth one would immediate-.
l. II imagine . home shut away from the
distractions Of the world Of fashion, and
hour spent in doing deeds Of charity.
But it would be d mistake, for al
though no more charitable heart ever
occupied . maiden's breast, Beth had.
left q homo Of luxury and elegance TO
visit her favorite school friend, and,
though by no means frivolous, shall
low girl, was one Of society's brightest
ornaments, winning, by her charm and
intelligence, the palm from her more
SNOWY, yiyacio,ls sisters. 4g ii
Upon the open page before them was
4 pictured a mans handsome face, with
features regular and denoting high
character. 5ss.5t,-j,+ II
Beth exclaimed in pleasant adnaira-
tion: So that is Mr.. Heith, your
brother Roberts friend? What SPLEEN
did face!---how glad I am that I shall
meet and know him! What contrast
to the dapper youths of whom your set
begging your pardon, Nita--seems to
be rather largely composed"
Nita laughed little, then pouted.
{. E"You are not complimentary, Miss
Ellis; but don't raise your anticipations
too high. His face is handsome. III ad-
init; but" .
just then a loud call from the hall
below, in Robert Danver's voice, inter-
i rupted Nita's sentence, and without
waiting to finish it she ran to the door.
Carriage ready, sis! You'd better
hursy-you know Prince doesn't stand
very we'll" -
A short while later the two girls,
seated beside Mr.. Danyers in his stylish
equipage, We're whirling along the wide
road at 8 pace that made Nita's cheeks
glow and brought even tinge of deli
cate color to Beths unusually pallet face.
She was dressed all in seal brown and
the dark lace was eminently becoming
to her pure complexion and haxen hair.
AS they drove carriage containing
one gentleman passed them,
Robert lifted his hat, while Nita
bowed, and Beth, raising her brown
eyes sinterestedly to his face, saw in life
the original of the pictnre she had ad-
mired SO much.
"A perfect Apollo!" she thought to
herself
From that time out Roberts theme
was his friend, the perfection and no.
bility OF his character, his benevolences,
and SO on. To all of which Beth lis
tened without comment; but Nita broke
in every now and then with some ban
tering remarks, until at length Robert
was obliged to turn the conversation in
to channels more agreeable to his lively
sister.
=, That evening the bell rings and the
servant brings in to the ladies Mr.
Heith's card
AS they enter the drawing room, Nita
q little in advance, Beth is conscious Of
q sense of overwhelming surprise and
pity, for the tall form that rises to meet
them does so with the aid Of crutches.
That, then, is what Nita meant.
il, With an effort she composes her face,
that is always too ready to translate her
emotions, and performs her part in the
introduction that ensues. But not be-
fore lie Grand Heith's keen percep-
Flons have seen and understood the ex-
precision Of the brown eyes that had met
flls one brief instant, and had then so
quickly evaded his gaze - ~
i / am sorry I promised to come," he
7 thinks to himself. "Whenever 7 break
through my resolution of keeping only
ito myself I regret it,. 1t will be the
last time. Everyone shrinks from me,
qdeformed hulk that i ami" a.
81, Thus for a few moments bitter
thoughts throng through his mind but
they are dissipated ere long, for, with
hes exquisite tact and irresistible charm,
Beth soon brings to him forgetfulness
, of aught save herself. ~ .
She fascinates without an intention of
so doing, simply because she can not
help it; and she has conceived more
than ordinary liking and sympathy for
this noble-faced man, who has been en-
sdowed with so many of natures good
gifts to be deprived of One that men
prize beyond all others that strength
and comeliness Of frame without which
mere beauty Of feature counts as moth
ing. t..s s4ss 51 3. .>.,.ss LII
And so Mn. Heith's coll. is but a pre-
Jude to many others His own home
is not Tar distant, and his, magnificent
conservatory supplies out Of its wealth
OF bloom a daily excuse for visits which
he is never made to feel are unwelcome
5.$ One day, after two months have
elapsed, as he is alone with his friend
Robert IN the latter's particular sane
tum, Lie Grand asks question.
DO you consider me insane in loving
your sisters friend, Robert? Would
you advise me to try my fate and gain or
b lose all ?n ''t aS az. ,s |8
& Roberts reply is unhesitating.
I'd II Any girl you care for might feel her
Z self honored !" Ii .5s5 @
And 50, at the earliest opportunity,
/ LIE Grand risks all upon a maiden's yes
or no NJ 4aS S5E#9 0 u 5s
He speaks frankly and eloquently.
4 He tells Of a boyhood and youth embit-
tered.by the nnisfort tune that she alone,
5sof all he had ever met, seemed neither
4 to notice or to.care for. b
.5s AS she listens, Beth. s whole frame
tremble's and her eyes droop beneath
] the ardor Of lie Grand s fervent passion.
Do not speak further. Mr., Heith, Z !,
ahe says i must NOT listen. Until The
last few moments / had no idea YOU re-
garded me In any other light than THAT
OF an sgreeabl friend. If Ihad thought
otherwise, I should have told you what
do now that { am already betrothed ! Z
' Betrothed Z!