River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1885-03-12
THE MISTAKE.

! lb Is 80 IrlBHliulIy uull mere, OK
claimed Miriam Creswick, with her "Di-
ana bow" of mouth stretched in
most protentious yawn. rs there
nothing here but crochet work, wild
strawberries and tea parties?"
Miriam was tall and dark, with
creamy complexion and eyes that SEEM
e., to melt and swim like stars hiding
away in shady springs. And she wore
soft, sweeping robes that fell around
her in statuesque folds, and moved
with the slow, royal grace of a queen,
SO that Constance Dale looked up to her
with girhsh admiration as the incarna-
/ lion of all that was radiant in woman
/ hood.
"But thought you came here to
/ realize and recruit ats the winters dis
| sipation, Miriam" said Constance,
$50 did, but don't mean actually
to stagnate if | can help it,"
/ Constance looked puzzled. Miss
Creswick laughed.
1.-The dear, unsophisticated little
fairy" she cried, gayly. "The sewing
circle aud a portfolio of embroidery
patterns may be enough for you, but
won't suffice for me. / must have a
Irritation or two to spice the mono
tony"
"But l thought, Miriam, that Judge
Daltons SON"
STUFF and nonsense!" interrupted
Miriam, with good humored imperi-
business. ''Of course Tn to marry
Percival Dalton some dav-or at least
so the elders say, and I've no doubt he's
very fine young man ="
ooh, Miriam, you do not mean that
you have never seen him."
"Why are you so Mortified at that 2"
asked Miss CresNick, half turning, so
as to fasten a spray of rosebuds in her
midnight dark hair. 1--WE aren't en-
gagged, nor shall we be, probably, until
it is ascertained whether or not / shall
suit my lord. He's rich and he's hand
some, if report be true, and that's pretty
much all l care for"
"And when does he return from Eu-
roper" asked Constance in breathless
interest.
an September, / suppose. Come,
COMFY, don't you want to walk down to
the post Officer" I'm tired of doing
nothing"
The two girls had just emerged from
the shady line upon the country road,
when a tall young man of the fair haired
Saxon style of face passed them, care
lessly doffing his hat to Constance
Dale.
"Who is that, Con" whispered Miss
Creswick, turning her stately head to
look after the vanishing figure.
"Mr. Egerton's nephew, Percy
Wylde."
"The parsons nephew? How hand
some he Isl Why didn't you introduce
him?"
"Shall / call him back ?" asked Miss
Dale, laughing.
Nonsense. Is he a villager?"
"No; he is here for few weeks, en-
joying our fine scenery and delicious
mountain air.
Good" said Miriam, nodding her
head. 1--WE can help amuse each other.
"Miriaml" cried Constance, with
face that was really shocked; you
would not firt with him merely for
pastime?"
"To be sure / would" laughed Mir
lam. Don't be a fool, Conny-men
are our natural prey, just as we are
theirs"
And she only made fun of poor Con-
stances indignant remOnstrances.
81 hope he won't speak to you, that's
ALL" said Constance
You're not in love with him your
self, cara" laughingly demanded Mir
lam.
"Of course mott" flashed out Con:
stance, with flaming cheeks; "only l
do not like to see any creature, wheth-
er brute or human, hunted cruelty
down."
at won't hurt him." said Miriam
dryly.
And, true to her word, she did not al
low twenty-four hours to elapse before
she got acquainted with the parsons
good looking nephew.
Apparently Mr.. Wvlde was quite
ready for Irritation and to speak the
truth it would have been rather difficult
to avoid falling into Miss Creswick's en-
chantingly spread snares. Picnics,
boating parties and dreamy rambles up
the SIRENS plans, while Constance looked
on grieved and troubled, and sorely anx-
ious to warn Percy Wilde against the pit
falls he was so surely nearing.
But what can | sayl" sighed poor lit
tie Constance Dale. Miriam is so beau
tiful and so fascinating, while / am moth
ing but a country girl"
SO the time passed on, until the ripe,
full beauty of the summertide was at
its height, and Miss Creswick was pack
ing the trunks to join her aunt at Cape
May.
"Of course, it has been very charm
ing here" she said, us she sat on the
old farm house piazza in the moonlight
the night before her departure; "but
one can't dream on in Arcadia forever"
Percy Wylde sat silent by her side
and she fancied that his face looked un-
wontedly pale III the moonlight.
"Then You are determined to go, Miss
Creswick?"
AZ must" she answered, infusing
bewitching softness into her voice.
MY future fate is to be at Cape May
next week
"Your fate?"
"Fhe man whom / suppose am to
m rry!" Miriam added, caressly.
Miss Creswlck"
"Mr Wylde!"
"Then | am to understand that you
have been deceiving me all this time?"
"Deceiving yon, MIR. Wylde? Indeed,
am ut loss to comprehend"
"Stop, Miriam" the young man in
terrupted, speaking in low, measured
voice, which awed the coquette more
than any burst of fervid passion or over
towering rage could have done. $50
you mean to tell me that you have de-
hberately enticed me on all those weeks,
knowing that at last you should cast me
of as a plaything, of which you had
grown weary? Miriam Creswick,
should scarcely have believed this of
you"
Miriam colored scarlet, and tapped
her foot Indignantly on the floor.
ut was your own fault. Mr.. Wylde.
''Tt was-and I accepted the conse-
quences of it." he answered calmly. AZ
would rather be myself than you, Miss
Creswick. A disappointed man may
vet find some sweet drops in the cup of
life, but heartless firt can never Who'll
" respect herself or be respected by
otbers!"
Miriam bit her. lip 1t was not such
fun, after all, to be lectured after this
fasion by the man she had befooled so
delightfully."-. Nor did she regret the