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

oolu L-uBhf tudt Sl0 loved HIN Wu0u SIT
knew she should be parted from hin
forever if she married the husband
chosen for her by her father. She had
| betrayed the confidence of her Little
friend Nina, and was practic.
| ing deceit toward Hugh
| Thornton. The girl was driven
| to desperation At last she determined
| to see her betrothed husband, to lay hel
heart, with all its infirmities, open foi
his inspection. Perhaps he, too, would
be glad to be free. Surely he would
not marry . girl who had given hel
heart to another. She would throw
| herself ON his mercy. She could but
marry him after he had distinguished
the hope she had been cherishing.
The autumn had now passed away
and had been succeeded by pleasant
open winter. Gossip had tired of Lii
ian and her affairs. Nina glided about
like sunbeam. refusing to be jealous
Of her lover, but when questioned about
him always wore that applicable smile
that puzzled all the wise heads in Bloom
ingdale.
The theatrical season had commenced
in New York, and celebrated singer
there was creating whirl OF excite
ment throughout the whole surround.
ing country. 1t had reached as far as
Bloomingdale, and as music was pas
sion with the young people of that town
a party was speedily gotten UP to visit
the city and hear the famous cantatrice
Lillian gladly accepted an invitation t.
accompany them, after having writer
| to Mr.. Thornton to meet her in New
York.
The morning was bright and beauti
| full when Lillian arose from her pillow
to look for the first time into street o.
the great city already filed with hur
rying people. Scarcely was her toile'
completed when letter, bearing the
Washington postmark, was handed tt
her from the door. Yes; it was as she
acknowledgements would decide hel
fate and she would know whether she
was destined for life of happiness OF
for one of bitter misery.
Lillian looked queenly in her seat al
the opera house that evening, and many
questioning eye in the vast assemblagc
was bent upon her. Edgar sat by hel
side listening to the glorious voice O
Madame Blanco, when suddenly ht
laid his hand upon Lilian's arm, with (
shiver that went like an electric shocl
to her heart, and whispered to her
"Hugh Thornton is here" Following the
direction of his glance she saw leaning
against pillar, a young and elegant
man, whose light, curling hair shaded
| but did not conceal massive forehead
His laughing eyes were riveted on hel
face, which displayed the confusion into
which she had fallen. Edgar saw only
her, and his pale face grew paler az
he noted the exertion for self-possessior
| that Lillian was forced to make. Min;
could not refrain from giving utterance
rather loudly, to her surprise upon de
| tecting Hugh Thornton among the au
| dience, but was embarrassed when sht
became aware of the attention she wa
attra citing.
cit is all over" Lillian said to Edgar
as he handed her from the carriage a
the door of her hotel, "We have beer
very happy, too happy! Try to remem
Der me kindly" Springing past him
she sought her private parlor, and
throwing herself upon sofa, burst int
a passionate flood ST tears. She haC
at last seen Hugh Thornton. He wa
handsome, possessed fame and talen
that the world had acknowledged, ye
all this was nothing to her compared
with the love of the poor, dark visaget
student, Edgar Wharton.
As she lay there, utterly abandoned
to grief, strong arm passed around hel
and gathered her to its owners heart.
"You have seen him, Lillian" sai'
Edgar, in his full, deep voice. A sol
was her only reply. HE is splendid
fellow, while L"
"Oh, spare me Edgar! love you
only you! You are all in all to mew
An expression of JOY passed across tn
students pale face.
| 'sThink seriously, Lillian; before yo
answer me, he resumed. Will you Civ
up your brilliant prospects as the spous
of one whom all delight to honor to be
come the wife of man who can prom
Use you nothing but life of obscurity ?
Anything, everything, SO / am no
separated from you."
Again that joyful expression fiitte'
across the face of the questioner. A
that moment gay laugh attracted thei
attention, and Nina accompanied b.
Hugh Thornton, entered the room
Hugh advanced to Lillian and raised he
hands to his lips.
81 see you for the first time he said
"I would gladly have come to yo'
sooner, but you forbade me-"
I'm my letters / have informed you,
said Lillian with downcaat eyes, tha
my heart has long been given to anoth
er; but if you insist upon the fulfillmen
of my fathers promise | will marry yo1
and devote myself to your interests
You will forgive me the wrong l hav
done you, and my hand and what cal
claim of my heart are at the dispose
Of"
"The real Hugh Thornton !" cried he
whom we haye known under the nam
of Edgar Wharton. at is You VIII
must forgive us now. Conscious of m.
unattractiveness, almost deformlty
how could expect to wear so preciou
jewel unless / won it first? For TIN
purpose l beguiled Nina to aid me, ant
for this purpose also my handsom
friend Edgar Wharton lent me HI
| name, WHICH HOW Icbuln w Hill uli
furnished. A fair exchange is no rob
berry, dearest; Nina will be much bette
pleased with the elegant owner OF
than she would have been with me, an
you, know, will prize the poor studen
none the less for being the somewha
more distinguished Hugh Thornton.
Lillian stood as calm and dignified a
if she were already invested with tn
honors of her new station. A lttl
anger was in her eyes, but few kisse
when alone with her lover and an In
situation that all is fair in love settle
the matter, and made Lillian just
happy as any one need care to be.
Well, they are married now, the pal
of them. Let those who visit Washing
ton this winter pick out the homeless
man in the Senate Chamber and tn
handsomest woman in the gallery, an
they will not be far from the truth
they guess they are Hugh and Lila
. Thornton. Philadelphia Call.
AWAR STORY.