River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1884-09-11


time TO fy that he might seek her presence.
He passed the holidays with her. In her
neat cashmere dress and with the sunburn all
bleached away, she was prettler than when he
parted with her And before blazing wood
fire they passed delightful hours with books
and each other
All. yes, it was a beautiful dream But
would it not become painful reality If he
transplanted her from her native aollY
Sire was sweet rather than handsome; she
listened rsther than eonyersed; she was SIM
pie and unassuuIing rather than picturesque
IN attire She would not be at home IN ms
world; and constrained Aunt Hnth and loud
Uncle William would they not be a laughing
stock FOR all his circle?
Yet how could he leave her agalng sui, re
did leave her. with only she true 10 me, nttle
sweetheart; I shall come again IN a few weeks,
as promise asked or given, or nope %
Tighten the dark gloom for Lislei
He felt unhappy and miserable as econ as he
left her Yet he would go again soon
1t was. after all very delicious to have such
a sweetheart hidden away in sly nook whore
no one knew her-where their wooings were
as sacred and as free from gossip as the twit-
sering of the birds in a leafy forest.
Would it not be cruel to drag her out before
the cold-eyed criticism and vulgar comment of
Inerclless diSsectiong
He half dreaded opening her first letter af-
ter hts return He felt sure it was one agon-
lied cry of loneliness and despair.
Yet he was conscious OF a keener sense OF
disappointment than OF relief when he found
it was, instead,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
a satisfactory letter at ALI
In his reply there WAS perhaps more aruor
and warmth than ever before. 1t was long
time before he received reply to this--so
long that he grew almost desperate with sus-
pense.
Then there came brief letter telling him
that she was about to start to New York city
on a visit to an old sehoolmate.
''She went abroad two years ago and made
somewhat romantic marriage q year later,
LisIe wrote s'She has since returned, and has
all winter been urging me TO visit her hope
am there.
Richard laid down the letter with almost a
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 boon
there two days and called; but she was not al
home.
She was the guest of people of wealth and
fashion, he Judged by appearances, And again
would she appearin 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 handsomely engraved
card awaiting him, asking his presence at No.
1880 to a reception given in honor OF Miss Llsle
Ashley
He did not make any attempt to see her be-
fore that evening. Somehow sudden barrier
had arisen between him and the idol of his
1. ,olfgr t.ff frlII Nf
her,
1t was with great deal of trepidation and
many fears that he presented himself on the
evening appointed at No. 1850
When he entered-he was late-he found
himself in the midst of brilliant circle of So
ciety people-many OF them his intimate ae-
quaintanceS.
And presently he deserted the object of his
search across the hall conyersing easily with
Senator Roman, the most intellectual man OF
his circle.
Yet. it was Isle. 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 handsome fan with skilled grace, and
charmed the brilliant senator with her accom-
plished art of listening, as well as with her
bright repartee.
just as Richard 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
off 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 social success, and became I'M
mensely popular
80 naive, so bright, so simple and child
like so cute were few of the expressions
Richard heard applied to her, as tho evening
wore on.
"a wild rose fin a hot-house atmosphere" he
thought Chow long before she will lose her
sweetness and freshness, [ wonder. All, how
lovely she Isl / never dreamed she could be so
lovely. And vet would rather see her in her
print gown How dare these people discuss
her so, my own wild rose-my love-
His ewes followed her wherever she moved.
Such easy grace, such an unconscious air of
her own loneliness, such fine conversational
abilities as she possessed Senator Roman
was heard to say that she was one of the most
thoroughly charming women he ever met
And she was one of the loyeiiest, 1t seemed 70
Richard FER fashionable couture, her elegant
toilet, the touch of powder on her complexion,
completely transformed the pretty rustic to a
beautiful belle
Richards heart sweled with pride and pain.
Why had he 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.
''Yes, she would be charmed to see him.
He called at the appointed hour, to find Sen
ator Roman just before him, and two other
callers came later
She entertained all graciously, but Richard
left without tete-a- tete.
He was obliged to return to Albany that even
ing and business detained him there several
fs. hgf grrra hDr
gone out for drive with Senator Roman.
Mrs Metcalf, her hostess, entertained him
with A maddening account of the brilliant sena-
tors devotion.
ssSuch a success as dear Iisle has made at
once" 81 am quite charmed, though expec-
ted it. Demure and unassuming and simple
as she was at the academy receptions, Lisle
was always belle. She would look absolute
lv plain some days in her quiet dress and with
her still ways and i'll the evening she would
astonish us all by her exquisite toilets and
brilliant manners The society youths and
the staid old intellectual professors were equal
ly wild over her. | always thought she would
make brilliant marriage. have been urging
her for a year to come to New YORK.
but she was fascinated some way with that
lonely country nook where her uncle resides.
/ am so glad l dragged her out of it, and
what handsome couple she and Senator Ro-
main do make Everybody speaks of it
Rio hard thought that he would so mad be-
fore he got away. Would that woman ever
cease talking.
But how amazed he was to find that the lit
tie rustic whom he had feared to present TO
his circle of fashisnabie friends, was a belle
who had always been able to shine in society.
He went home and wrote her very humble
little note, asking her to be kind enough TO
appoint an hour when she would be at liberty
to see him ''without her satellites"
He received pleasant reply by return post
stating the hour when she would be at liberty
and pleased to see her old friend.
He kissed the little note as rapturously as
Lisle ever could have caressed his letters In
her lonely days upon the farm
Yet. when he called it was very stately
Young lady who greeted him, with Mrs. Metcalf at
her side; and Mrs. Metcalf never left the room
for one moment.
Lisle was cordial and gracious, yet Richard
felt as if thousand miles lay between HIM
and this girl, whose charm and sweetness and
worth he had been conscious of for many
months but whose entire suitability for the
station of his wife he had doubted or at least,
had questioned.
And now he would have gwen half his life to
know that he could win her
Had he lost forever the golden opportunity
for perfect happiness by his hardness and
blindness and stupidity?
SO it seemed His efforts to see her alone
proved unavailing Some one was always
present when he called Sometimes Senator
Roman, always Mrs. Metcalf.
HAS YOUR hostess constituted herself body
guard OF one to protect you?" he asked, in an
ungracious aside, one day, when he was thor
oughly irritated by that ladys seeming uncon-
sciousness of his restless, eager manner.
Isle looked at him with questioning surprise
and disapprovaL
81 desired Mrs Metcalf to assist me in enter
tanning all my callers" she said
''You were not always so conventional" he
retorted; 'and see no need of it now"
Her face flushed slowly.