Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1885-07-10

ed 50 plainly in his face. / was peeky,
odious, and I hated myself. .@
Are you sure you mean what you
say 2" I asked, hesitatingly.
YES" he said simply, and I knew he
was speaking the truth. ~.. ....
"And if you meet prettier and nicer
girls than I am, You won't like them
better than me-"
"You are the prettiest and incest girl
in the world"
II don't want you to say that; I want
you to promise me never to love any
one better than me-"
Ishallnever love any one half SO we'll.
And so the romance of my life began.
When I was seventeen my father gave
his consent to my engagement with
Guy, and we were to be married when
I xas twenty. The course of my love
ran very smoothly; Guy took houors at
Cambridge in his third year; I was
eighteen then, and was taken to town
for my presentation. I stayed with
Connie, but I made not the slightest
sensation. I was not pretty, and with
one exception, I positively hated and
feared young men. was farouche and
conscious Of being quite the plainest in
the family Little Ismay grew more
beautiful every day.
CHAPTER II.
"How she IS growing up" It was
Guy who spoke, and he was referring
to little Ismay, who was crossing the
stepping stones to come to us. I sat
on the river bank, and Guy lounged at
my feet. Something in his voice made
me glance down at h;m.
"She is the flower of the flock. Every
one saysso. Far prettier than Connie.
"Then you don't include yourself in
the beauty competition, Jullet?" and
he laughed.
II never thought of comparing my
self with Connie, and she is nothing at
the side of lsmay.'
"But you are far away the best Of the
three. Ju."
II feel annoyed at your remarks.
wish people would never allude to my
looks; and above all, that they wouldn' t
try to console me for my lack Of beauty
by telling me that T am amiable (Which
isn't true), or that have the beauties
of mind, or stuff of that sort"
Ismay came up and seated herself by
Guy. Two more beautiful faces could
not have been imagined. His, clear,
dark and classical; hers equally per-
feet, with d complexion of pearls and
roses, with golden hair, anu dark, gray
lustrous eyes.
II hope I am not de trop," she said
calmly, settling her muslin skirts, "but
I thought JUS voice sounded somewhat
cross, and [ am come to make peace.
more likely to create discord,"
said, impatiently. Guy looked up
quickly. and then ulurlnured something
about the golden apple.
"Do you remember Paris and the
APPLE" asked 1smay looking straight
into his eyes. IF I had been there, I
think it would have been given to me-"
l was accustomed to hear such remarks
as those every day, and I only laughed
but Guy had not seen much OF Ismay
during the last twelve months; and he
stared with astonshment at the auda-
cious beauty. She returned his gaze for q
lew seconds, and then cast down her eyes.
That was only acting. Whatever lsmay
was she was not shy.
l tried to talk to Guy as did when
we were alone, Then used to chatter
by the hour together, rigmarole he used
to call ia onc-sidel conversation on
every imaginable topic, which I knew
interested and amused him, although
he rarely spoke, but was quite content
to listen in silence. But felt some
how constrained with that graceful
white figure before my eyes, and when
1 looked at Guy, hewas looking ut Is
may, and had apparently forgotten me.
I rose to my feet abruptly.
"Where is Juliet going?" asked
Ismay of Guy. He raised his eyes
languidly.
care yoe tired Of the river?"
eyes" and I turned to go. He rose
also.
''Aren't you coming, Isnay?"
t'No, and I'm vexed with you for
leaving me. It's nearly year since
I have seen anything of you, and /
wanted to hear all your news, where
you've been, and what you've done, and
rything," She sat pouting on the
bank, and he stood irresolutely beside
her.
''There's really no reason why YOU
should dog my footsteps" I said mag
unanimously. Pray tell Ismay everything
worth telling. | am going home.'
And home I went, and all the way I
wondered what those two were talking
about, and mentally scolded myself for
an unreasonable feeling Of grief which
had stolen into my heart on that sum-
mer's day.
That same evening after dinner I
went and sat alone upon the stone bal
ustrade overlooking the tennis]awn.
I was alone for what seemed to
me very long time. The rosy
after-glow melted into the blue, gray
sky; the moon launched her silver
boat, and here and there star fickered
in the heavens. The corncracke was
busy in the hayfelds, and the scent Of
the roses and honeysuckles in the ver~
ande stole through the soft air.
l think ! looked nice that night; not
beautiful, I could never be that, but as
pretty as most girl. J. wore white
frock and a pearl necklace, and my
fair hair was twisted into heavy loop.
Guys voice reused me from my reverie.
"Look up at me-" he placed his
hands on my shoulders, and I looked in
to his eyes. He laughed and sat down
besides me.
"You have a queer expression in your
eyes tonight, Juliet. What is the
matter?"
II don't know. Something is going