River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1884-10-16
MIRIAM DOUGLAS.

pardon. So quoth Eliza, rellct OF Jo-
siah Minis, the sexton, to her ledger,
the Rev Julius Byron.
what bore exclaimed this gentle
man, "When l really haven't the time
TO attend to anything except these let
tiers"
~ have an errand which takes me
past Piper and Tipson's; / could buy
you new satchel, if you would trust
me. Going among all these fine PEG.
pie at the wedding with your lock tied
up with bit of string wouldn't do al
all, sir"
"Thank you, Mrs. Minis; have great
trust in your judgment, and should be
obliged if you would attend to this mat
ter for me, and save me going into
town"
As the door closed after his landlady
the Rev. Julius Byron resumed his
writing with sigh of relief. As he sal
leaning his head on his disengaged
hand "a hand beautiful enough to atone
for plainness in all other features had
Nature willed him to be plain-Julius
Byron was an ideal picture of stu
dent brown eyes with fairy, dreamy
look, hair long enough to show a ten
dency to wave loosely back from his
forehead and pale, clear complexion,
set off by golden brown velveteen coat,
which he wore when in his study.
Twenty years old, incidentally
handsome, gifted with winning man
ners, and shepherd Of flock most will
ing to be guided, Julius Byron, as if by
miracle, had escaped being spoiled
and petted into effeminaey. His safe
guard lay, perhaps, in pair OF soft
eyes which had held him spellbound for
few rapturous weeks, and the witch
cry of which had lasted over three
years of almost total separation.
Miriam Douglas, dispensing tea and
gingerbread to horde of charity chill
dren in the park at Mount Edgecombe,
was one of the prettiest and dantiest OF
modern Hebes, in muslin dress in col
or matching forget-me-nots and her
eyes equally well, and with roses at her
waist and throat which stole their deli
cate tint from her cheeks. Miriam was
seventeen that day, and the blue muslin
was her first long dress; to this the las
sic paid far more attention than to the
admiring gaze of two dreamy brown
eyes. After the feast there were offer
ings of flowers, good wishes and rather
too many kisses and embraces from the
charity children, and among her other
trophies Miriam Douglas carried away
the heart of the Rev. Julius Byron.
Had she known this it would have af-
fected her less than the consciousness
that the Barclay girls, her former play
mates, were curiously aoniring the
grown-up womanish arrangement of her
bright silky hair.
There were few tennis parties and
five o'clock teas after this, during which
Mr.. Byron worshiped this divinity from
afar. She seemed little in awe of him,
and rarely spoke to him more than five
minutes at a time. What a delightful
task it would be to chase away the timid-
lty from the soft, fawn-like eyes, and
how pleasant to think that the sea-shell
pink stole to her cheeks from JOY Mt his
approach.
Fate, however. cruelty interfered
with Mr. Byron'B dream Of awakening
loving confidence in the bosom of this
bashful maiden of seventeen. In three
short weeks, before he had made any
perceptible Roadway, Miriam was sum-
moned to the bedside of dying relative,
and Julius Byron was called to parish
in commercial town.
Three long years this idyl had been
in the past; and through all this time
the memory of Miriam Douglas exclud-
ed any other love from the young cier-
gyman's heart, though many We're the
goddesses willing to be therein en-
shrined.
He wondered at himself; she had
slipped completely out of his material
existence; he knew not where she was,
or if she was dead, or worse married
Still. with all this uncertainty, he could
not forget her, and a voice within him
seemed to whisper that they should
meet again.
The rapid skimming of his pen over
the white page was stayed for the sec
ond time by heavy footstep at the
door outside; and Mrs. Minis, painting
and crimson from the ascent of the
stairs, exclaimed
"There, sir; You could not have found
a better or cheaper satehel yourself, If
you had searched the town from end to
end. Piper and Tipson say on their
oath that it is first-rate one and you
needn't fear exchanging with any one
by mistake, for they had only one OF
the kind. This decided me to take it,
for being rather an absent minded gen
tleman, you might easily pick up the
wrong bag"
"Thank YOU, Mrs. Minis, thank you
each time that you do anything for me
you give me fresh cause to admire your
clever management and forethought.
In the wedding to take place ON the
following day, Mr.. Byron felt no par
ticular interest. The contracting par
ties were almost strangers to him, as
were also the guests, with tn exception
of Willis Howard, q school-chum OF
DAYS gone by, and a friend ever since OF
the young clergyman.
Owing to the illness of the brides
mother, the ceremony was performed
at home. 1t was pretty wedding, the
bride graceful, sweet and pale as q
lily In her sheeny fieecy drapery; and
among the guests was the subdued mer-
riment when prevails when the enter
tanners exhibit unreseryedly the signs
of Joy and sorrow-the smile and tear
both coming from the heart
After the ceremony. Mr.. Byron be-
took himself to a dressing room to fold
his surplice and replace it in the satchel
chosen by Mrs. Minis. While so en-
gagged a letter was handed to him with
the word Immediate" written con-
spicuously on the envelope. The con
tents were as follows:
@MARLow Hall, Thursday, 18th.
"If the Reverend Julius Byron could
find it convenient to offieiate at pri-
vate baptism this afternoon at NARROW
Hall, he would confer great favor on
the undersigned. Mr.. Byron is re
auested to pardon the apparent brus-
querie OF this notice. as the case is
urgent. The two p. m. train stops al
Portland station, where carriage viii
be in waiting.
STANFELD MARROW"
@You viii go, i supposed" said Will:
Howard, to whom Mr.. Byron presently
showed his note.
ssOf course. one cannot refuse such {
summons. 1t is probably question O.
life or death
II am due at Uxmore to-night-rath'
er a different errand from yours-a mas