River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1885-10-08

were dressed in holiday garb. walkin,
in picturesque groups; laughing, chat
tering, and while avoiding, vet glanc
ing saucily at the young men, VIII
standing or seated, also in pairs o
threes, would discuss the weather an,
the fishing and the cattle while Away
keeping the young ladies in sight. I
happy, pleasant picture; and Pete
Whitney looked on at the scene witt
great delight.
He determined to give himself a hol
iday. too. He could cot do bushes
amid such scene. So he made friend
directly, and inquiries indirectly con
corning the premises he had come t,
take over and have transferred. Ill
learned that the house lay away from
the village; it was a mere farm hous'
amid trees, enclosed by a wall and pal
ing. 1t has been untenanted some time
The family had sold everything, anC
quilted the village some days before.
They were poor?" suggested the
Englishman.
The man addressed shrugged hi
shoulders IS he replied
''Well, not entirely The good mar
and his wife had died. His sister anC
their daughter lived in the house til
the last harvest. The son was away il
the army of Africa. Young NJ. Des
moulins, the miller's son, had paiC
much attention to the young lady, anC
had been repulsed by her. So being
the owner of the property, he has TAX
en- his revenge, and managed to fright
en- them away. Poor girl. He was {
mauvais sujet!''
But he had no right to do so, sale
Mr.. Whitney. The house was mort
gagged to an Englshman; ne is dead
now. Ii was handed over as security
for advances to the young soldier 5 faith
/ er.
That is as may be- The house is
I closed up, the af1iches of the sale are
on the doors. 1t is desolate-empty
/ is it far from here?"
well, no. A walk of perhaps hall
an hour or so Will bring you there
amongst the trees wonder. You see
those tall poplars, those to the east
ward?"
Peter Whitney nodded assent.
up there you will find the place; il
stands above the road on your right
hand; a little path leads up to the house.
I ou cannot mistake it. =
Thank you, monsieur" replied
/ Whitney. Il think | viii 90 and see
/ it.
Peter Whitney made his way toward
| the poplars and passed them. He
then plunged into more wooded coun-
try, and the road tended southeast.
Then he came to a gate and path on
/ the right, as indicated. He entered
and assembled the path, passing in the
! direction whence he had come. But
in a moment he recoiled in astonish-
ment.
Seated on a ruined portion of a wall
was young soldier, apparently on a
/ furlough. A small bundle lay beside
/ him in the rank grass: 4 short stick was
/ still hooked within it. The mans atti-
tude exhibited the deepest detection.
/ His head rested, hatleSs. on his arm;
! his attitude, the limp and hanging
/ right arm, the hidden face, the whole
pose of the poor fellow, told a sad story
of disappointment. He had returned
/ full of life aud ardor to the place, per
/ haps his home, and had found it desert
/ ed; the torn bills of sale still Tapping
! idly in the autumn wind which stirred
! his tangled locks.
/ Peter Whitney, Notwithstanding his
very unrOmantic name and calling, was
eminently sympathetic. Of course he
/ had no business to be so, but nature,
/ though she may fit Us for certain call
4 ings, does not deprive us of our better
feelings. We may harden ourselves,
and pride ourselves On our sternness.
/ But Peter didn't. Lawyer though he
was he was tcnder-hcarted.
Poor chap. he mentally remarked,
''he has found his home deserted. Oul
house, by the way. All! | may gain
some information here.
1t was rather a contrast to the cheer
| ful scene which the Englishman had
Just left by the shore. Here the soil
| tude tended to sorrow and love; to thC
/ pity which is born Of sorrow, and akin
4 to love. The setting sun threw It's
glory upon the tree-tops in the south
west, and the poor young soldier lay
despairing, travel-stained and overcome
with grief, as the shadows crept slow
/ " along the ground in sympathy.
The Spectator after while advanced
and then paused Again he advanced
dan touched the young man, who arost
with suddenness, angry at being dis
/ turbed.
He glanced at the Englishman, ther
turned round again without speak
/ ing.
MY friend, said Mr.. Whitney
kindly, ''can 1 assist you? You art
/ i'll. sorrowful; | may be able to helI
YOU. Do YOU know this placer
Know the place indeed! Was he
not a native of it? Had he not lived
there until the conscription came, anC
when he was paid to take the place O
another young man. The money was
welcome.
SO much the stranger managed tC
gather from the half indignant remark:
of the soldier, who at length yielded
to the kindly influence the English
man generally exercised He sat up
this young Frenchman, and, after 4
few minutes, recovered his Vivacity
He told how he had been treated.
You went as a substitute. then?'
Yes: my relatives were poor; the
man had held ont threats. | loved my
sister-oh! where is she? Monsieur We
were not always poor; we held up oU1
heads once. The Republicans brough
orr family down. We We're for the
old regime. we others, but | went
My poor sister promised for marriage
by her enemy and mine. Oh Pulche
RE! ma belle Sour, ma pouvre petite!
''Pulcberie your sister! Not Pulche
rie Malais?"
The same. monsieur. How could
you know? You are English" sale
the astonished Frenchman.
Yes; but | am also interested il
this house and in her. An English
firm owns the property; the rent has
not been paid; the former owner, the
Enclishman, is dead; all in chaos; bu
Your sister
Yes, yes; tell me of her.
''she is in London-was in LOndor
a few days ago.
Then Peter Whitney told the young
man of his meeting with the young
lady, and of his having escorted her tt
Lincoln 5 Inn Fields.
"Ah, YES, Ii is there her benefacto
used to live. She has, no doubt, gone
to him. Our aunt knew him well. II,
was lawyer--un ayocat!'
What! an English solicitor? Wha
was his name?"
"Bernardin-M. jules Bernardin-h,
z1os ON. fyiauI He bpIpaj Ms. hn as