River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1884-10-23
MIRANDA.
.une Prize Story.

"oo a sunny III y duA
Romulus Corners looked its best. Not
that its best was anything to boast of.
for it was not much of place, consist
ing only OF a dozen or SO struggling
houses, two general stores" and a
meeting house, on line of the Bosnia
wa and St. Paul railway All the
buildings were of wood, and most of
them painted dark and hideous brown
though here and thers yerandah of Vi
vid green or brilliant blue doorstep
marked the dwelling of some unusually
ambitious Cornerer. All dwellers at
the Corners agreed that old Deacon
Tiffany's house was "the smartest in the
lot, and this certainly could not be de-
MED; it stood on a small piece of rising
ground overlooking the railway
track,a somewhat conspicuous posi-
tion, where the eleven different
colors which ornamented its front
could not fail to be observed of all trav-
elers. These eleven colors were the
pride of the deacon's heart; he would
stand by the hour and contemplate with
PLACID satisfaction and modest pride
the green and yellow stripes of the We
Tanda, the slate-colored cornice, or, best
of all, the gorgeous new bow window
"to Mirandy's room" The deacon Ger
tainly had, as was said admiringly at
the Corners, "an eye for colors." Even
his bee-hives were all painted either
yellow or blue, and instead of being
clustered together in corner, as is
generally the case, were scattered pro-
miscuously about the garden, according
to new and original plan received by
tlfeir owner, to whom their appearance
afforded the keenest satisfaction. 1t
was his greatest pleasure in life
to stand at the gate of a sum-
mer evening. attired in a striped
flannel shirt, palm-leaf hat and pair
of trousers depending ON the apparent
ly frail support of one suspender, luxu-
riously smoking a long stemmed corn
cob pipe, and contemplating with inno-
cent and profound admiration his many
colored domicile and its surrounding
beehives. The prospect might have
been slightly married for some people
by the effect of Mrs. Tiffany's wash
ings," which were invariably in full
view on either side of the house-it was
peculiarly of Mrs. Tiffany always to
have something "on the line" But the
deacon didn't mind; on the contrary,
he rather enjoyed the sight of few Ii
lac calico gowns and "rising sun" coun-
terprnes tapping in the breeze. ut
kinder brightens things up, We see, " he
used to say But fond as he was of
bright colors and generously as he had
been able to crafty his taste it did
ones heart good to see how careful
the deacon was of his less FORUM
ate neighbors' feelings. He would
stroll down to the village of an evening,
and, gazing mildly at the particular
dull and dingy shade of brown which
ornamented the residence of his friend,
the blacksmith, would hypocritically
remark that he didn't know but what
such color as that wasn't best for the
eyes after all, " and that ''ef it hadn't
bin for Mirandy's coming home he
didn't know as he would hevput tibet
thar shade of blue onto the bow-win-
dop; but gals generally has leanin' to
blue"
Miranda had been away for four years.
First at school in far-distant eastern
city, and then without coming home
she went to Europe for "a year, partly
rs governess to the two little sisters of
former schoolmate, partly as compan-
ion to their fussy invalid mother.
Mrs Tiffany strongly dissaproved of
these proceedings. She was not Miriam
da's own mother, and naturally her own
girls. Ag and Liz, took precedence in
her ewes. She didn't see why that
pale faced Mirandy should have all the
book-larnin' and travelin' thar was goin. ]"
But on this point the deacon. usually
mild and yielding, had been firm and
LOYAL to the memory of his first wife,
the pretty, gentle, eastern girl, whose
'book- larnin had been almost her only
consolation in the pine soltitudes of
Romulus, and who had begged of him
mot to let Miranda grow mp West. !"
And the deacon had promised and brave
" kept his word, in spite of the seold
ings and lachrymose complainings of
Mrs Tiffany the second and her girls.
Twice during the four years did the
l. -
last Miranda is coming home. 1t is the
14th of June, and she is to sail for
America the 18th, and the deacon
stands at the gate and lets his
pine out half dozen times as he thinks
of his little gal" and wonders how she
will like the new paper In her room,
and whether "thet thar mosquity-cur-
tain hadn't oughter abeen blue instead
o'pink."
Far away in the smoke and noise of
London, Miranda Is parting with Fitz-
gerald.
you know. j." he says, az shall be back
in New York next year, probably for
eood-and then l shall pay visit, to
what is it?' smiling. "Remus ?-no,
Romulus, and carry you off like the
knight in the fairy tale, / hope"
''You won't like it-Romulus, / mean"
she answers, the corners of her mouth
trembling; tit is so Different
hate it Z" with quick passion, "and yet, -
dropping her voice, Il hate myself
more for feeling SO. o, help me,
help me bear it all! !" she cries
suddenly. turning to him with piteOus
little gesture. He soothes her half inn
patiently-is it shade of annoyance
which crosses his face? And then,
you must be brave. Miranda. he SAYS.
She moves away from him, pushing the
hair back from her forehead and look
ing up steadily, Yes" she answers.
L will be brave and patient. Then
presently, as if longing to be assured,
''You-you will come. I know you
will. with little break in the voice
she tries to keep SO steady. "Of
course, he SAYS, lightly. She looks at
him half wonderiugly. This parting,
which was so terrible to her, can it be
but q small thing to him?
A dreadful feeling of doubt and
loneliness comes over her. She turns
TO the window in dumb agony and
gazes into the crowded street Fitz-
gerald PAGES the room few moments.
Then he comes up to her. Mi