River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1885-10-01

during the day, of his excellent position
and prospects.
"A friend of Miss Keith? Anything
especial, do you understand" asked
Mrs. Walton, at the close of these COM
muncations.
why, no; not at present; but you
know how these things are likely to
turn out. when a pair of pleasant young
people are good deal together, Mrs.
Meddows answered.
And Mrs. Walton, asserting, saw no
reason why her own dear girls should
not improve their opportunities.
So Josephine and Elinor gave the
new conner their best attention and
sweetest smiles. Between the two he
was so much engrossed, that he had
only now and then a word for Marian,
while Mr.. Hastings gained scarce a
syllable, beyond the courtesies ofintro-
duetion.
a book, however, readily consoled
him. From ITS shelter he observed the
movement of affairs, and felt a fore
boding sympathy which, had she once
suspected it, would have appeared Of
all things most foreign to the occasion.
She was only pleased, thus far, in see
ing Godfrey pleased proud of the adj
miration she was sure he must excite.
Anything else came later.
OF course Elinor was asked to sing
and complied with her usual ready
grace. She had delicious voice
which taste and study had done their
best to perfect; no wonder that
Godfrey listened with delight
81 have not heard you, yet he said
turning to Marian.
And will not tonight. Some other
evening, perhaps, when we are alone.
You couldn't enjoy it after that she
answered.
"When we are alone!" Words so
easily spoken, so difficult of realiza-
ton. Often as Godfrey came, the
requisite solitude did not occur. The
door was sure to open. presently, and
Mrs. Walton sailed in, stately in silk
and enbonpoint, or Elinor appeared in
search Of piece of music. Once there,
how soon, how naturally they absorbed
all Godfrey s attention!
The parlors We're common ground,
Of course; yet Marian sometimes felt
/ impatient The Waltons should re-
member, she thought, that old friends
might like to talk occasionally of
/ things a little different from the every
day themes of mere acquaintance.
I One evening there was unwonted
/ freedom; both mother and daughters
were at the Opera-the parlors were
quite empty and deserted. If Godfrey
would but come now, what a long,
quiet visit, what a good talk of old
4 times they might have.
Even as the wish fitted through her
mind, the bell rang, and no appeared.
/ They had an hour or two entirely to
themselves. Mrs Meddows just looked
in, nodded a friendly greeting, and
went about her household cares.
But it was not the delightful inter
view that Marian had anticipated.
Geoffrey was not in spirits; he seemed
absent, preoccupied. He quite forgot
to ask for the music promised so long
ago. Not that she cared for that; she
was willing enough, at any time, to be
excused from displaying her powers;
still she noticed the omission, and she
could not but see, and be troubled in
seeing, that he did not enjoy the even
ing as she thought he must.
At his next coming She watched him
carefully, saw how his eye sought the
door from time to time; how his face
! frightened when Elnor entered. She
turned away, walked to table, and
mechanically took up book; a dismal
annual that had Jain, month after
month, untouched by mortal hands,
save when the housemaid busted the
room. With trembling fingers she
I turned the leaves, and saw, as in a
dream, the wide-cyed beauties staring
or simpering at her from the page; and
all the ti,ae She Kept saying:
lis il so? 1t must be. and did not
see it, Oh, ii cannot be But it is So
and | shall have to see it,
Only one person noticed her, the
others were in the group that always
/ formed about the Waltons. Mr.. Has
tings, sitting a little apart. saw some
thing and OWNED the rest.
Poor little soul! knew what was
coming l wish l could help hex, bat
what can anyone do?' he thought.
He hesitated moment, then
/ addressed her. 1t was better to recall
her to herself before her agitation was
observed.
She started at his voice. but con
trolled her own, and replied. The
answer given. She would eladv have
kept silence, bordering her bitter
/ thoughts, but he talked on. The effort
of attention and response Gained her a
little.
Presently Josephine Walton crossed
to her from the other group.
1--WE arr going up to our own room,
she said. Mr.. Elliott wishes Elinor to
sing, and you know this piano is sadly
ont of tune You will come with us,
/ of course.
/ Mr. Hastings was also asked, but
excused himself. Josephine was in
/ high spirits.
/ GLOW you have been flirting tonight!
/ was never more amazed than to see
/ you forsake Us all so cody, and march
across the room. Mr. Hastings, toe,
who never speaks 10 lady! 1t was a
regular coup de MAN., she said.
/ Marian did not admire this style of
testing; it was opposed to her canons
i OF good taste. But she was glad if
any one could imagine her in spirits for
1 Irritation.
The evening was got through some
how; then came solitude, and the
misery of reflection.
They have so many friends, and
had no one else, y she thought. just
one to think and care anything about
me! And now to have him drawn away
entirely forgetting me! Oh, it is too
/ hard! too hardn'
Very likely; but the course of events
does not change because mortals find it
hard From this evening it became
manifest what that course would be.
Elinor's destinations began to be
Openly ACKNOWLEDGED
/. Hitherto Marian had been the
ostensible object Of Geoffreys' visits;
/ 1t was for her he inquired; if others
wished to see him, it was in her society
that he must be found, But now, the
Waltons. more secure in their position,
ceased to haunt the parlors. Godfrey,
sought them in their own apartments,
Marian grew used to his stUdiedH-
careless conjecture as to whether
/ Miss Walton were at home tonight
/ his suggestion that they should ask
her for a little music. By-and-by she
found it unnecessary to accompany him;
in time, he went directly to their rooms.
without the ceremony of asking for her
in any way
1t came about quietly enough, no one
was surprised, not even Mrs. Medt
dows. Indifferent persons nigh
wonder casually, how Miss Keith
took this state of affairs but no one