River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1885-01-15

| went to her chamber after he had gone,
and secretly whispered to herself that
he was horrid.
She didn't like his watery- blue eyes
and broad smile; and his hot breath mp
on her cheek, when he turned her music
made her shudder.
No, the truth was that Lord Luther
was not so bad, as lords go, but her
heart was all given to her little dream
of Launt Winslow, and she wanted
none of him.
| The less often she saw Launt, the
more she thought of him, and the
warmer and sweeter were her thoughts.
Well, Lord Luther came again and
again, and yet again to the Boscobel
mansion, and, it turned out, asked
Peters permission to pay his addresses
to his daug hter, for Lily's father said
Lord Luther comes this evening to
see You. Ii he asks you to marry him
You will consent"
Such a wild, white face as the child
turned upon him.
But Peter Boscobel was lighting q
cigar, and did not see it again before it
dropped again.
II can not 1 can mott! l can not ="
cried Lily.
| 1t was already o'clock then, and the
short November day nearly done.
Pretty soon a servant came into the
drawing room to light the gas, and in
five minutes more the bell rang Then,
hearing the dreaded voice asking for
her, Lily started up and ran out of the
| house.
Bare-headed, she ran across the
broad flags of the yard, and then,
chilled by the sharp night air, darted
into the great carriage house, where
were ranged the Boscobel coupe, the
barouche in which she drove and her
fathers Stanhope, beside various other
vehicles.
In twinkling she had leaped into
the barouche and covered down in q
corner upon the velvet cushion, pant
ing and listening.
| Poor Lily! of course she had behaved
in very panic stricken and unreason.
ing manner, but it did not take much
reasoning to assure her that she did moi
want Lord Luther, with his fishy eyes
and broad smile, to make love to her
Lily could bear good deal but she
could not bear that.
So she sat painting and listening,
with burning cheeks and a beating
heart, when she heard step which
nearly made her heart leap out of her
mouth.
She held her breath, hoping, after
an instant, that it might be Jerry COM
ing to lock up the coach house. But
it was not for the voice said:
Miss Boscobel-Lily-will you
allow me one moment?"
A little changed with agitation, evil
IDENTIFY, but Lily knew Launt Winslow's
voice. Then she saw him step IN at the
open door.
"Oh!" she cried, covering her face with
her hands.
"What is the matter? Are you fright
aned? Have / frightened your" he
asked gently.
mo, no; not you'll" said Lily.
He came to the side of the barouche,
and stood there, with his hat in his hand
and his foot upon the step.
Pardon me, but have not spoken tc
you for so long. l have learned bad
habit of lingering near here lately
with faint smile. From the street
l have seen the light shine out
from you chamber every night for .
week"
He paused. To Lily his voice was
sweetest music. Between thinking OF
this and wondering what he would
think of her situation there, she was
nearly distracted. But Launt Winslow
went on quietly talking
81 saw you come out tonight and
come in here. You are cold !" abruptly,
for Lily was shivering. In moment
he had pulled off his fur lined coat and
wrapped it around her carefully, in
spite of her protests. Indeed, she was
not so cold in her blue velvet dress as
she was agitated.
II fear you are afraid of me. Dear
child, why should you be? love you
Lily" he said tenderly.
Then Lily began to cry.
"Poor little thing meant to make
you happy" he said, standing there
quietly.
But from Lily's sobbing breath he
certainly could not guess how very hap
ply his mere presence made her; and
the reason he evinced no surprise at the
very singular fact of young lady sit
ting alone in q lonesome coach house,
in her fathers carriage, on cold No
vember evening, was because he had OBJ
served Lord Luther's goings and COM
ings-ard when he saw the little figure
flying out of the house directly after
that gentleman admittance, he guessed
somewhat at the truth, and determined
to strike while the iron was hot. II
Lily would not listen to Lord Luther,
perhaps she would listen to him.
"Your father dislikes me Lily, but /
don't know why. A mere matter of
star or button, [ think, in my fathers
day. Surely am not to blame. | am
an honest man. / have something OF
wealth and position, and I love you
dearly. Surely you do not dislike me,
Lily"
A little white hand stole out from I'M
der the overcoat and was received in
his; and then Launt Winslow went on
more hopefully with his love making.
And the clock struck eight, and nine,
and ten, while they talked, exchanging
mutual condolences so sweetly that the
moments flew, Lily's silvery syllables,
and even musical laugh, at last min
Cling with his own eager and earnest ut
terances.
The time flew with them; but not SO
with Peter Boscobel.
He came in directly after Lord Lu-
Their, and found the latter alone.
Then the search for Lily commenced.
All through the rich rooms, at the next
door, over the way. Lily could not be
found in the neighborhood.
Long before, Lord Luther had de-
parted much offended.
As the time passed, Peter Boscobel
grew distracted. Lily's absence spoke
as never her presence had done. He
had been cruel; he had driven his child
away.
1t was past lit was nearly mid
night-when he was walking the floor
of the long drawing room like crazy
man.