River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1885-07-02

| she said, enthusiastically. 81 am so
| glad you came to me. have Marie for
my own use, you know, but there IS
another-Paula Ware, such sweet
girl, really hesitated about dismiss
| ing her. But if knew she could OBJ
tain another position l would be de-
lighted. I'll send for her now, and you
can talk matters over. Meanwhile, /
must tell mamma of the good luck.
am really very fond of Paula"
How matters seemed to work right
into Ralph Winston's hands. Paula
came in half shyly, half reluctantly,
and stood before him waiting for him
70 speak In silence he drew folded
paper from his pocket and gave it to
her.
One startled glance from the great
brown eyes, aud her head fell upon her
breast; she stood there trembling from
head to foot.
Paula" said Ralph, kindly, "that
note came into my possession by a mere
chance, but am glad for the opportu
nifty to speak to You and warn you of
your danger. So Roy Marchmont has
asked You to go away with him2"
yes; but he meant it kindly, l think"
she answered, TREMENDOUSLY. HE has
been very good to me-he is my only
friend"
"A cruel friend, said Ralph, beneath
his breath Paula, such man would
break dozen hearts like yours. How
happens it You know so little of the
baseness Of this world? 2"
"How could z" she asked.
His manner and tones had treasured
her, and his was a face to be trusted.
81 lived all NV life with my uncle"
she continued "He was a strange man
and together we lived alone in coun-
try village He would not allow me to
make friends He, himself, taught me
all that / know, and it was only at his
death that ] knew what it was to meet
strangers He meant that [ should be
wealthy, but he speculated and lost
everything. So / came here to work,
but it is hard for me. [ miss his love
and kindness II Only Mr.. March
mont has seemed to care for me, and"
She broke down and wept bitterly;
then, when the storm had passed and
she could restrain herself, she fell on
her knees beside Ralph and raised her
face appealingly
Tell me-do you know that he is not
friend ?"
"A friend never trifes with trusting
heart, never scorns and ridicules an in
nocent girl, never plans to wreck her
life. Roy Marchmont is betrothed to a
handsome heiress; they are to be mar
ried tins winter, and yet he has tried to
win your love. and Child, child, how
innocent and blind Won are!"
How could / know, how could
know she sobbed. Tel me, what
can ] do?'
'.Will you follow my advice?"
''Yes-onlv tell me-
''You must leave here-never see Roy
Marchmont again. Ny aunt is going
to England soon and needs compan-
ion. Viii you so with herr"
Paula bowed her head and rose, a
strange look Of decision on her lovely,
dark lace.
Eyes, | will go, " she said quietly.
You are very kind-I-I thank you"
Six months later. Alone in his room
Ralf Winston reau letter from the con-
tinent-read and re-read one particular
paragraph near its close.
you will be surprised and no doubt
pleased. Ralph, to learn that my young
companion is now an heiress in posses
sion of fortune far exceeding yours or
mine She met her father two months
ago. 1t is rather romantic story. Her
father and his brother, the uncle Paula
lived with formerly, loved the same
woman, and when the younger won her,
his brother became his worst enemy.
The wife died few years later, and
about the same time their child was
stolen He had searched for her IN
vain neither she nor the brother were
to be found This doubtlessly explains
the life Of seclusion Paula's uncle forced
her to lead She was recognized by
her close resemblance to the mother.
Is it not strange? Paula's last words
ere we parted were words of thanks for
YOU, Ralph. for obtaining a situation
for her in her need, ! suppose. L was
much attached TO her, but with her beauty
and intelligence she was always meant
for Il lady
Ralph sighed as he ended the pc
rusal surely not in regret for Paula's
good fortune. 1t came to him then
that he had been more than interested
in her welfare, and now they might
never meet again.
The months sped by; year had gone,
and then, summoned one day to receive
visitor he came face TO face with a
slim, stately beauty, radiant in velvet
and Jewels, a whiteplumed hat crown
ing the jettv brnds above a face OF
dark, rare loneliness.
"Do YOU not know me Mr., Winston?"
a sweet, plaintlye voice said. HAS the
name Of Paula Ware 50 soon slipped
your memory? Yes | am she-Paula
Ware, and had not the ocean rolled
between Us all these months, | would
have come before to see you-my best
friend !"
Frank and impuIsive as ever, Ralph
thought of her words when she
had gone. and wondered why
they trilled him so, why she had
come to him after all that while to re-
call the past. II was few months after
that he realized it all-why he had be-
friended Paula, why she had sought
him. These human hearts are so often
hard to understand.
1t was not Paula Ware, but Paula
Winston. who said
Ralph, do you know that Roy
Marchmont never married? / met him
abroad while with my father, and he
dared to come to me to make peace and
seek my fagor-he thought | loved him
still. | knew that | never loved him. |
scorned and despised him then, for, oh,
Ralph. to you l had given my whole
heart, unsought. undesired as l thought,
but | loved You, and had we never met
again-but that could not bel was re-
solved to see you, to prove myself wor-
thy. to win your love, Ralph"
"And
When q woman will, she will,
You may depend ont
quoted Ralph, gayly.