River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1885-03-05


hearts transfxed with arrows, has led
to this mistake But it was by an error
of him to whom theY belong that | am
wearing them" 1t would have been
awkward to say the least, to have vol
! unteered this explanation in a crowded,
| fashionablet horoughfare to one to whom
/ | ought to have been an utter stranger,
and further, l could not tell how she
might act-it might occasion a scene OF
which / had the fear arising from mex
perience.
/ therefore determined to maintain q
| prudent silence and wait developments.
| The sister was already out of sight.
probably in furtherance of the desire SC
| hurriedly expressed that her brother
should have the opportunity to win the
love of her favorite school friend Mabel
But was so disposed, had been the
brother that was supposed to be?
Such might have been the case, fol
! Mabel was beautiful beyond a doubt
| with eyes that seemed to command rath.
| er than WOO ones admiration, and with
| figure perfect in movement as In grace
and form.
But ! had seen the sister of the I'M
known whose clothes | wore. i had
felt her arms around my neck, / had
seen her eyes look into mine, and had
| felt the pressure of her lips, and 1 was
conquered. [ felt new life borne
| within me, new hopes, new aspirations
and a quickened impulse rising into love
that made me blind to AIabelsbeauty, had
she been a thousand times lOvelier than
she was.
The silence, however, was at last
broken 10y my companion, who said,
Your sister has been uneasy about
You, she was afrail that you would not
be here in time for the hop this eve
ming"
Indeed, I said, scarcely yenturing
/ to add more.
Yes, said my fair companion, "she
| told me that ~ had oyer-worked your
self and seemed afraid that your health
was Welding to the strain, but 1 thinl
her fears were groundless."
| To this | scarcely yentured any re-
ply for fear of bungling. l had my
/ clew and that was this There was
going to be hop" at the -- Hotel
that evening, and my fair friend evil
! IDENTIFY intended to attend in company
with the unknown" Fortunately
/ had brought with me an evening suit
for change, | determined therefore to
/ be there, and hoped, after an explain
/ alton with the Unknown, who [ had no
I doubt would be there, to obtain prop
er introduction to the sister, for whom
| | had obtained a most ardent feeling.
As soon therefore, as I could do SO
with discretion, and cautiously weighing
every word / said for fear of precipita-
ting a premature disclosure, escorted
my companion to her hotel, and plead
! ing an earlier engagement left her, nc
! doubt much wondering at my reserve,
which, however, she may have attribut-
ed to my excess of application to my
/ studies.
In the evening, after careful toilet
and with feverish and impatient pulse
| made my appearance at the "hop,
and looked anxiously round the crowd
ed room to see if they We're there, l
soon saw them and could perceive that
| they had recognized me even in my
change of clothes. for, with cheeks of
richest crimson, the sister of the "un.
/ known" was speaking to a gentleman
whose snow of beard and venerable APP
pcarance suggested the relationship OF
/ father, and evidently was the subject
of conversation, for soon, with some
what hesitating step, but calm demean-
| or, lie came towards me and said, ten
dering me his card
"Sir, / have not the pleasure OF
knowing you, but have reason to be-
ieve that my son, who | am sorry to
say is slightly indisposed, the result of
| excessive study, mIstook your garments
for his own after bathing this morning
was this the case?"
| informed him while offering him
my card that such was the case, adding
that while regretting the cause, in the
illness of the son. [ could but feel
pleased as it had procured me an in
/ PRODUCTION that hoped | might be per
| m;tted TO continue.
Looking at my card he said. ''What
are You the son OF my old friend, Had
of Havertree?"
81 am" [ said.
why" he replied, "many legal
bout we have had together; most glad
am l to see you" And then he took
me to his daughter and her friends, and
though at first there was a shyness,
with her deepened color, yet soon it
moved away, while with the dance the
color became permanent, and many a
time since then her arms have formed
a circlet for my neck, her sweet lips
pressed to mine, while her eyes gave
signal OF her happiness-but, reader,
don't be shocked, for ere another sum
mer's sun had passed we two were man
and wife.