River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1885-08-06
CUPID'S TRIUMPH.

few marriages please everybody, sec
ond marriages especially. Why, 1t
would puzzle conjurer to tell, but the
fact remains, and in the case of Mrs.
Vanstone's re-marriage, after a long
widowhood, nobody was satisfied. Old
servants sulked; relations looked black;
Mile Vanstone retired to her room,
drowned in tears; Charley stalked
about the woods, pretending to shoot
cartridges and squirrels, and avoided
the step-paternal presence as much as
possible.
.'Oh, George, what shall do?" said
Mrs. Beverley was the lady's
new name-ready to cry.
Don't mind 'em dearr' said the
squire, with great, rolling laugh.
They're only children; they'll grow
wiser as they grow older. y
But the squire's determined good hui
NOR aggravated his stepchildren more
than any amount of positive opposition
would have done, and they made no
effort to conceal their feelings.
II never, never can call that fat man
fatherr' said Mile.
My dear, he don't want you to, "
said Mrs. Beverley.
81 can't endure the sight of himn'
pouted Mile. "And Charley says ex-
actly the same thing"
Charley is a disobedient, migrate
full sont' sobbed Mrs Beverley.
But here the squire himself came to
the rescue.
Young people," said he, 81 don't
object to your making yourselves as
bIa nc 1v0,, lilo Int ,rn,, ~ +
torment yeur mother. I'll have none
of thisr'
Mile lost no time in carrying this
revolutionary speech straight to her
brother.
VERY WE'LL" said Charley, coolly;
"we'll accept the challenge"
"Fll not submit to his tyranny"
said Mile. 'lve got plan"
$50 have l." said Charley, ''lots of
'em; only they don't seem to work
when try to get them into practice. "
'pve been writing to Louise Vane,
said Mile.
"Who the dickens is Louise Vanep"
ooh, Charleyr' with shocked look,
''you must know Louise Vane-my
dearest friend-the only person in all
the world who thoroughly understands
mer'
at seems to me as if | had heard
the name before, now you mention it, "
said Charley, rumpling up his brown,
curly hair. ''But why should you
write to her? and what has it got to do
with our affairs?"
"She sympathizes so thoroughly with
me- said Mile. ''She considers Sec
ond marriage as sinful as | do And
she has asked me to come to her and
stay as long as l please. And there is
nice hotel in the village, Charley;
and her father is very hospitable. And
there is fine supply of trout, and de-
lightful shooting, Louise writes, and
plenty of agreeable society"
''Not bad idea," said Charley, re-
flectingly.
So that very night the young people
deserted the shadow of the same roof
that sheltered their hated step-father,
leaving the orthodox letter on the ira
ditional pin-cushion.
"Oh, George what shall we dop"
cried Mrs. Beverley, turning pale when
she comprehended that her children
were gone.
Give 'em their heads" said the
squire, composedly drinking his coffee.
''Never drive young colts with too
tight rein. They'll be glad to come
back in six weeks, or less, see if they
ain t."
"But it's such fuss about nothing"
said Mrs. Beverley, half-laughing, half
crying.
THAT'S the beauty of it," said the
squire. That's precisely what they
enjoyr' and the jolly old fellow shook
with laughter.
Louise Vane received her former
schoolmate with effusion.
Her father, stately, middle-aged
gentleman, spoke few kindly words
of welcome.
"Oh, dear!'' said Mile, when she
was alone with her friend. II do hope
we shall not disturb Mr.. Vane.'
Nothing disturbs papa" said Lou
Use. ''He will never think of noticing
such chits as we are. Every old maid
and widow in the village has tried to
marry him ever since poor mamma
died"
''How dare they" said indignant
Mile. 81 think the legislature ought
to pass law against second marriage.
They are wicked, sinful; an outrage on
civilization"
"Of course they are" said Louise.
"But don't worry, darling. Remem-
Der that you are with me now.
And the two callow young doves
fluttered into each others arms, with
renewed vows of eternal friendship.
Three months of happiness at Vane
Lodge followed. Mile and Louise
read their favorite authors together,
and worked hideous Kensington screens
and impossible portieres in crewels.
And all this time neither she nor
Charley wrote line to Mrs. Beverly.
liam afraid they have discarded me-"
said the poor lady. Il fear that they
never mean to forgive me-" she added,
with deep sigh.
MY dear, don't be gooseI' said
the squire. you don't regret our
marriage, do you?'
..Neverr' said Mrs. Beverley, with a
CLEAN of spirit.
Neither do Ir' said the squire
laughing.
But one day Mr.. Vane called his
daughter into his study. with serious
face, and when she came out she was
drowned in tears, and fed straightway
to the haven of her dearest friends
room.
"Darlingr' cried Mile, ''what is the
matter? Tell me, beseech you"
1.-THE worst that could possibly hap
penl" cried Louise, tragically. Papa
is going to marry again!'
Mile crimsoned to the very roots of
her hair.
HE told me so himself said Louise,
81 never stopped to ask him who it
was that was to desecrate our happy,
happy home, | just clasped my hands
and cried, 'Papar and ran away, sob
bling as if my heart would break. Oh,
and / had so hoped that when / was
married we could stay on here Just the
same; but, with a stepmother, of
course, nothing win ever be the same"
.'You married, Louiser' cried Mile.
didn't he tell you? But it only
happened this morning. Charley has
asked me to become his wife.
s.But, " faltered Mile. s.if your step
mother loved you very much indeed -