River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1884-08-07
LOVES STRATisEM.

| and IN time would possessa larger for
tune than any one else in Bloomingdale.
Yet with all her advantages Lilian's cup
of happiness was only partially filed.
Suitors thronged around her, but met
with no success, for the girls magma
ton had wrought her IN ideal picture
that won her hearts strongest admira-
ton; it was the pictareof a man, lofty,
generous and noble, possessing coun-
tenance dark, passionaGe and unlovely,
yet truthful and sincere, with
eves penetrative and stern, yet
fascinating and irresistible
the picture of man between whom
and herself there lay a gulf so broad
that her widest hopecould never cross
it, 1t was picture sle could not drive
away, and was always accompanied by
a memory Of the poor law student, Ed
gar Wharton, in the office of Mr.. Tate.
The presence was unyelcome to her, but
what could she io2 When she thought
by strong effort ofwill she had driven
/ it away it returned 70 her the more for=
chilly The fact was the pretty Lillian
was in love without being conscious of
/ it, and as her tathes on his deathibed
had bequeathed herto Hugh Thuston,
he son of his dearest friend, whom she
had never yet seen, she believed she was
performing a solemn duty by trying to
keep her heart pure and free for the
strange lover, of whom she had began
to think with someanxiety as the time
pecified for their marriage was not now
so very far in the future.
Edgar Wharton had come to Bloom
ingdale ostensibly to look up his law
| studies in the offic Of his old college
chum, Mr.. Tate. He had brought with
him from a finishing school to her
fathers house the adorable little Nina
Evermore Repot said they were be-
throthed, but wha such sparkling lit
tie fairy could se in the dark stern
visage of Edgar Warrior, with his years
outnumbering hersby half, was prob
lem difficult to solN
1t was entirely different with Lillian.
Her acqusintancewith Edgar imme-
diately ripened int warm friendship.
Their tastes and ajoyments were con-
genial, and in tie enjoyment OF his
society she even learned to love the
repelling sternnes of his department,
which others so deprecated.
This happy conpanionship, while it
gave Lillian pleasTre, also caused her
many grave reflections. The time was
fast approaching Which she herself had
| fixed upon for her marriage with Hugh
Thornton. RumGs came to her of his
wonderful attainnents. She heard of
his great eloquene at the bar, of his
high position in society, and of his
frank, honest chancter, but she was un
moved by them dl, and thought one
look of affection fom the eyes of Edgar
Wharton would je more to her than all
Hugh's shining qualities. This look of
affection, howevel was denied her, for
in her CONSCIOUSNESS of the wrong she
was committing, her manner toward
Edgar was distant and cold. What
wonder, then, wis it that he repressed
his warm feelingsfor her? When re-
port became current that a marriage
between Nina and Edgar was
soon to be concluded many laughed and
others effected .regret that they were
| unsuited to eacl other. 1t was Lillian
only who turnel pale. She knew her
hearts secret tlen. Edgar had never
given her Cause to think he enter
tanned even nrtiality for her, and
she felt mortifiedtthat she could not re-
press the blind nfatuation that led her
to love so dearlr one who thought OF
her merely as a Ileasant companion for
his leisure hours Her heart, too, up
braided her for The wrong she was in
fiicting on her friend What right had
she to come between Nina and her lover?
One bright September morning
Blooniingdale was undergoing an ex-
element. A grand picnic was about to
take place in Lovely spot short dis
lance from the town, and all the young
people were anticipating great pleasure.
GLOW do / look, Lillian ?" said Nina,
as they stood waiting on the piazza for
Edgar Wharton's carriage. "How do l
look? Pretty enough to bewitch my
dull, lifeless Edgar? Do you know L
made him half jealous last night by tell
ting him Hugh Thornton was coming to
Bloomingdale next week, and that, If
we were not careful, you would be mar
ried before us? His face grew crimson
at first, and then 10 pale that began to
think seriously ofmaking you present
of him"
1t was Lillian ttrn to pale and crimson
now, but with strong effort she re-
pressed her feeling and replied, with a
light careless Laugh:
"There could nWer be any sentiment
n common between Mr.. Wharton and
myself" !,
$50 he says" answered Nina, with a
roguish smile, "anl that he should SOON
er hope to inspirea marble statue with
love for him than you"
HE has been making my life study, ?
thought Lillian, as Nina turned away
chow well he has succeeded in gaining
a knowledge of ny heart" 1t was
painful to be misunderstood, yet how
much better than that this cold, calm
passionless man should know of her
mad infatuation fol him. She would
end this struggle ntween duty and in
clination and write to Huge Thornton
to come and take her away from her un-
happiness.
The picnic, under the shelter of the
great oak trees for which the spot was
celebrated, was grand success. The
ladies were graceful and pleasant, and
the time was happily passed with mu-
sic and dancing, fitting and love max
ing until evening was drawing near,
Then the ladies busted themselves In
preparing the supper, which they spread
upon an improvised table. There was
great display of tempting viands, and
the guests were soon seated around the
board to partake ofthem; but SO busy
were they all, so gay with jest and rep
artee, that no one observed a gathering
of storm clouds in the heavens until a
heavy peal of thunder broke upon them,
sending shower Of rain on their yet
untasted supper.
The rain poured down in torrents, and
as fash succeeded flash and the deep
thunder rolled, the party, after rushing
wildly about in the storm, finally found
protection in rocky cave at no great
distance When they were assembled
and were CONTEMPLATING each other on