Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1884-09-12

" lar upWn " benton statIon 70 pass Sunday
at s. ucie William 81 farm. s ss M II
After that he came down eYery week q two
until October. They read, and talked, and
walked and drove together, and it was all
Heaven to lisle and yeritable Eden to Richard.
He was deeply in love with the girls inno-
ceace sweetness and unaffected good sense
. He was facinated with tile repose and calm OF
this quiet retreat 30 unlike the rest Of his whole
Life 3Hef felt as il he cottld live aud die happy
and contentel man with Lisle his Oniy COM
panlon ii he could remain here
But the world, his business duties, Law else
wherein a world OF commerce and fashion,
and he did not ask Aisle to share that world
with him. . ~. 4 2. !, s "A
He went back to Albany in October without
having committed himself, yet knowing that he
loved and was beloved by Lisle Ii, Il 81 Z 81.
All his happiness he found in her letters
Other women seemed false and fictitious when
compared to her f.: t., =, H.. d. "A ~ 4ge4%ss
Still he could never think OF her in these
circles where he had BEEN reared. Fer simple
grace and unaffected manner would seem like
a lack of polish there She would be cruelty
criticised; and how would she ever manage q
trains .$s.s l. II IA
All, no! he did not feel equal to the occasion,
and yet he was wretched without her. 1.g#.
r he wrote her tender letters full of love and
respect; and he called her the star of his life
and the Light of his heart; he spoke with eager
ness Of their next meeting---at holiday season;
but ne never mtimated g desire or intention to
have her with him in his Eastern home. II
AS for Lisle, she poured ont her heart to him
all its wild sorrow, terrible loneliness and
sweet affection thrilled through her written
words. - .s...5
Her words were source of mingled delight
and despair to him. To be loved by so charm
ing creature was the most exquisite happi-
ness; yet his heart was tender, and he could
NOT bear to give her pain. He could only pray
f3Hrf Iafh a,, = hon
He passed the holidays with her. In her
neat cashmere dress and with the sunburn all
bleached away, she was prettier than when he
parted with her. And before a blazing wood
Gre they passed delightful hours with books
and each other
All, yes, it was beautiful dream. But
would it not become u painful reality if he
transplanted her from her native soil?
She was sweet rather than handsome; she
listened rather than cOnYersed; she was sim
pie and unassuning rather than picturesque
in attire. She would not be at home in his
world; and constrained Aunt Ruth and loud
Uncle William, would they not be d laughing
stock for all his circle?
Yet how could he leave her again? Still, he
did leave her, with only ''bG true to me, little
sweetheart shall come again i'll q fen weeks"
as a promise asked or given, or hope to
tighten the dark gloom for L!sle.
He felt unhappy aud miserable as soon as he
left her. Yet he would go again soon.
It was, after all, very delicious to have such
sweetheart hidden away in sly nook where
no one knew her-where their wooings were
az sacred and as free from gossip as the twit-
cering of the birds in Il leAfy forest.
Would it not be cruel to drag her out before
the cOld-eyed criticism and vulgar comment of
merclleSs dissection?
He half dreaded opening her first letter af-
ter his return. He felt sure it was one agon-
lied cry Of loneliness and despair.
Yet he was conscious Of q keener sense of
disappoi1ltrn ont than Of relef when he found
it was, iastead,a very pleasant, friendly letter,
relating occurrences at home, books she had
read, and her ideas Of them, with a polite re-
ference to the pleasure his visit had given
her.
Not letter he could find fault with, yet not
satisfactory letter at all.
In his reply there was perhaps more ardor
and warmth than ever before. 1t was long
time before he received reply to thisso
long that he grew almost desperate with sus-
pense
that she was about to start to New York city
en- visit to IN old schoOllnate.
''She went abroad two years ago and made
somewhat romantic marriage year LATER"
Lisle wrote. ''She has since returned, and has
all winter been urging NE to visit her I hope
you will find time to run up and call while /
am there"
Richard laid down the letter with almost
chill at his heart
His sweetheart in New York! And she
chopped he would CALI" Why had she not al
lowed him to escort her through her long jour
ney! Was it not his right? Why did she
treat him in this distant manner?
He went to New York before she had been
there two days and called; but she was not at
home.
She was the guest Of people of wealth and
fashion, he Judged by appearances And again
an uncomfortable query rose in his mind How
would she appear in this new element? He had
an opportunity to judge of this ere many days
passed.
On his return, disappointed and unhappy,
that evening, he found a handsomely engraved
card awaiting him, asking his presence at No.
1850 to reception given in honor of Miss Lisle
Ashley.
He did not make any attempt to see her be-
fore that evening. Somehow sudden barrier
had arisen between him and tho idol of his
dreams, which rendered hi1n slightly afraid of
her.
1t was with great deal of trepidation and
many fears that he presented himself on the
evening appointed at No. 1890.
When he entered--he was iate--he found
himself in the midst of a brilliant circle of So
ciety people-many Of them his intimate &C
quaintances.
And presently he deserted the object Of his
search across the hall conversing easily with
Senator Roman, the most intellectual man of
his circle.
Yet it was Lsle She was dressed in a
beautiful trailing garment of rich material,
which fitted her round figure perfectly, dis
closing her lovely throat and bare arms. She
welded q handsome fan with skilled grace, and
charmed the brilliant senator with her accom-
pished art Of listening, as we'll as with her
bright repartet,
just as oRicha I'd approached her, her hostess
advanced from an opposite direction, and with
ont seeing him, or not conscious that he had
not yet paid his respects to her guest, bore her
of to some new suppliant for her favor.
1t was half an hour before Richard found an
opportunity to reach her side Then he had
only time to give her the formal greetings Of
the evening, to hold her gloved hand one mo-
ment to meet her calm, sweet gaze with re-
proving, searching eyes before she was again
called away. -.'-
She was g. social success, and became i'm
mensely popular. +
$50 naive, so bright, 30 simple and child
like, so cute" were few of the expressions
Richard heard applied to her, as the evening
wore on.
GA wild rose in dollhouse atmosphere" he
thought. Chow long before she will lose her
sweetness and freshness, wonder All, how
lovely she is !! never dreamed she could be so
lovely. And yet I would rather see her in her
print gown. How dare these people discuss
her So my own wild rose-my 1ove!" " r
His eyes followed her wherever she moved.
Such easy grace such an unconscious air Of
her own lovelness, such fine conversational
abilities az she possessed. Senator Roman
was heard to say that abe was one Of the most
thoroughly charming women he ever met.
And she was one of the loveiiest, it seemedt to
Richard. Eler fashionable couture, her elegant
toilet the touch of powder on her complexion,
completely transformed the pretty rustic to q
beautiful BELLE
Richards heart swelled with pride and pain
Why had ho been so tardy? Why was she not
his acknowledged fiancee now? Why, indeed!
He had no opportunity to see her alone that
evening. But on taking his leave he asked if
he might call the following afternoon.
i"Yes, she would be charmed to see him !" y
He called at the appointed hour, to find Sen
ator Roman just before him, and two other