River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1884-10-30

L
| talked-of ward, he found himself actu-
ally nervous and excited Scott, who
| had received the news with stolid silence,
gazed with establishment at the specta-
| Gle of his master, fidgeting-a actually
| fidgeting-Irom the window to the arm
chair, like the veriest school boy. The
/ generals mind during the unusual mi
grations presented brilliant panorama
of future success He saw yesta of
long social triumpLs in which he shared
largely. Then he fell to thinking what
| the queen of all these joys would be
like; tall and stately, small and fragile;
blue. gray. brown, black ewes; complex
ion as fair as lily or dusky as the pro-
verbal berry: a Cleopatra or Gretch-
en-, soft as a ball of down or sturdy
as the Morse daughters. One thing, at
any rate, he was certain of: she would
be young. With life's spring dawning
on her cheek, how could she be aught
but charming? 1t is wonderful how
man like the general, who had lived so
many years and had so much experience,
could have made this mistake Pigs
beauty is all very well; but youth is
more than often connected with indiff
erent skins, lengthy limbs and gawky
forms generally DESTROYS of wriggling
out of their garments. His wishes in
this case were father to the picture, and
he ended by starting to welcome the
traveller with the personification of fe-
male loyliness before his eyes. .
He knocked briskly at the door In
Charges street, and smiled benignly on
the man who opened it and preceded
him up stairs. The sun was lingering
on the walls as he mounted the stair case,
and the evening air came in sweet and
fresh through an open window. 1t had
been very hot all day, and the general
was surprised at first to find bright
fire burning on the hearth of the room
/ into which he was ushered, until he re-
membered that of course the travellers
would be chilly. The room was empty,
but from an adjoining chamber came
sounds of voices, loud and almost dis
cordant. The general shivered. Could
hers be one of them? He hoped not.
1t was apparent to the meanest intelli-
gence that some sort of alteration was
proceeding He grew nervous. Rows
and disturbances We're at all times APP
palling. After a few moments the
voices dropped and he let his eye wander
round the room. In one corner stood a
huge travelling case, with labels all over
it masses of wraps vivid scarlet, bear
skin rug and an unmistakable Scotch
plaid were tossed unheeded on the floor,
while parcels and snail boxes were
strewn around in the widest profusion.
The hands of the clock moved slowly
on. Waiting is always annoying, now it
was most provoking. But just as he
was debating whether to go or stay the
door of the inner room was opened, and
pale, fair, faded woman of about 40
made her appearance. The general
advanced with a low bow.
How do you do, Gen. Biddulph 2"
she said, in languid tones, extending
thin, delicate hand. 81 am so sorry to
keep YOU waiting, but [ was Detained by
Dessa, (sighing faintly). The general
fastened to push an easy chair for
ward. Il am really quite glad you
have come" continued Mrs. Comyns,
sinking into the chair, and drawing the
shawl closely around her, for she is
altogether beyond me"
Are you abiding to Miss DAILY ?"
asked the general hastily.
Yes, =" sighed the lady. out of
friendship to Mai. Daily l undertook
the charge of his daughter; but / was
totally unprepared for her wild temper
and ways
"She is high-spirited7 suggest
ed feebly.
Very" Mrs. Comyns replied dryly.
"My health is so bad am quite incom-
,,afa,,+ 70 p,onara baY -
MAY | not see herr" asked the gen.
eral, after pause.
"She will be here in minute. I
daresay you heard some sounds of
quarreling when you came in. Yes, |
thought so; that was Dessa giving her
ayah a lesson in fact pulling out the
poor creatures hair in handfuls." The
general uttered an exclamation of dis
may. L think it is only right to let
YOU know what she is" the lady con
tinued holding out her hands to the
fire, though to him the room was in
sufTerably hot, unless YOU are pre-
pared; perhaps you are. Has Maj.
DAILY told You anything about herr"
The general was reluctantly compelled
to reply in the negative.
Just as | expected; he is too lazy to
do anything of the sort. My own
opinion is that he is too delighted to get
rid of her for time. [ am not sur.
prised"
But she is so beautiful?" said the
general, apologetically, the picture of
his visionary ward rising clearly before
him.
Mrs. Comyns turned her head aside.
a., L. 4
somehow the general traced suppressed
merriment in her tones.
"She is brunette, then? he asked.
anxiously.
Mrs. Comyns laughed softly MY
dear Ger Biddulph." she said, looking
at him for one moment, II see you are
not an courant with the state of things
May | ask if YOU rem ,mber the late Mrs.
Daly?"
II have no personal recollection, GER
tainiv: but I know her to have been
beautiful and amiable woman" he re-
turned promptl-'.
chat vas the first wife; mean the
second"
"The secondt" repeated the general,
bInkly.
It is most extraordinary story
Major DAILY. in one of his eccentric
moods. wandered mp country, fell, i'll,
and was carefully nursed and tended by
native woman of inferior rank. With
zeal worthy of a better cause, Major DAILY
sought her out when he recovered, and
he married her. "
Mrs Comvns' soft low voice died
away. The general stood silent as
statue. Then this GIRL" he said, at
length, isis
Black" observed Mrs. Comyns,
"black as your hat on the chimney. A
sound of rapid movement came from
the inner room, the door was burst open,
and before the general had time to re-
cover himself girl stood in the open
ing. ''Ah, here Is DeSsa. Dessa, this
Is your guardian come and shake hands
with him"
SPECIFICS with astonisment and vex
alton, the poor man gazed with horror
on the figure before him. Squat, short,
dressed in the most unearthly garb
with huge gold rings dancing In her
black ears. and innumerable silver BAN
giles shining on her dusky arms, stood
the beauty of his dreams, the heiress,
his ward He advanced feebly, with
outstretched hand The girls face ex-
banded into broad grin, her white
even teeth cleaning like pearls in their