River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1886-03-18

scissors as il fot wager. / looked "A
him inquiriuglv. and She introduce,
him as MIR. Da isl He got mp, cum
sily. let the scissors fall, picked then
up, and sat down, red in the face.
suppose | smiled at Cousin Diana, fo
she frowned suddenly. | gave her Ia,
invitation. and she ungraciously said
Il don't know that / can get readl
to come. \ family party, suppose
every uncle, aunt. and cousin Won car
rake and scrape?'
mo; everybody in Thornbury vii
be there. Well, come if you can.
And | turned To 90. She FOLLOWED
me TO the door.
.Who is your friend, Cousin Dlana?'
Nobody 10 invite, She answered
pertly. He comes from Newton OF
business this way.
.He ism much Of a beauty
I'VE can't all be handsome. Vol
know. / guess he feels quite as well "a
if he were a beauty What's your bur
~ 2''
And 90 we parted. happened tC
look back from the gate, and saw tina
the young man WAS on mis- feet. IL,
was gesticulating, and his face wa,
very earnest indeed asked Over
when | reached home il he had cYcl
met young man named Davis. II,
never bad
Our rooms were full ON the nolan
choly-merry occasion OF Owens fare
well party. He was popular, and al
our friends gathered about him. CoUs
in Diana came early, and took the
situation Of silent spectator in a. re
mote place as possible. was almost
ashamed OF the contrast of my dres,
with hers. She wore brown meriuo
and a narrow lace ruifle; her light hail
was deliberately braided. These were
all the pains She had taken in the way
of adOrnment.
Diana We're has come SO on pur.
pose, because it is to Edith Talbot 5.
said an amiable guest.
''Shc has not, said another. From
what source can fine wardrobe like
Edith reach her
Owen heard this, and eyed me with
a sarcastic smile. Prudent men Ike to
see the women OF their choice poorly
dressed and owen Joined Cousin Diaua
with look If satisfaction which penc-
ualcd me 10 the bone spoke Ia
mother Immediately.
y on may depend upon it, Owen has
some design regarding Cousin Diana.
1t bursts upon mc at once, when ]
might have suspected it before What
do you think OF it?'
don ike il. and would not be-
lieye it if ii hail not been done so often.
We're and Talbot matches have been q
rule.
The upshot Of the party Was an en-
gagement between them, made ten
days before his departure Cousin
Diana showed no citation, and received
Owen attentions with serious silence.
He seemed to take an extra degree OF
manliness and responsibility 1t was
not q Jolly business with any OF Us. !
venurcd 10 speak 10 Owen about hi,
haste, and suggested that he was scarce
IL acquainted with Cousin Diana. for
which was laughed TO scorn. He was
very busy and excited over his depar-
tme. Otherwise. considered, lac must
feel that there was an entire .ack of
Joyous warmth on her part. But what
could nc expect Not "a complete
change in girl because she has
promised 20 marry a young man al
some distant and unknown period.
was miserable. and took t0 violent
exercise in these last moments, especial
II in the evening. Strange enough, |
discovered that Cousin Diana was do
iug the same thing. What allied her =.
Did she wish To escape from Owen, u
did She walk under the stars for the
sake of being alone. her own sweet
thoughts TO render She avoided
me: perhaps She never knew ne. Her
appearance was skulking, her bonnet
being pulled over her face, and her
figure closely wrapped in a great shawl.
There's many slip between the
cup and California said the same
friend have quoted. Diana We're is
not sure of having Diana Talbot cut on
her tombstone.
In one Of my last walks before Owen
sailed, on an evening when the wind
whistled in my ears, was startled By
a voice close 10 me.
faint very pleasant to be on any
road tonight. Maybe you don recall
ne? There's more folks than YOU that
forget How's your cousin Diaua?'
"What no you mean. sir? ! de-
maaded. recognizing Mr.. Davis. To
brighten folks 10 DEATH?
Excuse me: ! mean no offence.
Misery loves company. You know he
is up there Well, Miss could 60 to
California too if had q rich father in
stead Of poor sick one. No-dura
me if leave him for any girl, Excuse
me. ! do believe Thorubury is kinder
upset, So mauy being round nights,
But the road Is open to everybody
lie vanished toward tHc light which
shOne in Cousin DIANA window just
ahead of me, for | had happened into
the lonely road which led to John
Vere's.
Ny walks came to an end, and Owen
was gone. Quiet settled over rs.
Cousin Dina kept indoors; ! heard she
had perpetual toothache. ami was busy
with her fall sewing. We did not meet
till Owen $ letters came, and then only
to exchange few commonplace re-
marks.
Diana We're behaves with alt the
OF a widow; she is really an
example. was the saying in Thorn
bury. She refused an invitation to our
winter cotillion parties and was rarely
seen anywhere eXcep, at church, where
she wore so serious an air that it was
suggested She might be under con
viciion.
Mother thought She behaved ex-
actly as a well regulated young woman
should; but father still shook his head.
He believed her accountable for Owen s
sudden change and departure.
should make the best Of il, mother
urged, and try to influence and attach
Cousin Diana, for Owen sake. Per
haps She thought ! lacked in friend
illness. and did not make sufficient adj
vance. 1t might be true, and with this
idea I started for Cousin Diana's with
the intention of paying her It long
afternoon visit.
It was a cold dag. and as / neared
the house ! thought it wore an in
hospitable air. The doors and shutters
were fast closed. / entered without
knocking. In the passage ! heard the
hum OF lively, eager voices. A.
opened the door dead silence fell.
Cousin Diana rose hastily, with such a
surprised exp sion that | in
stantly became embarrassed enough
10 run away. 4 was de trOp. MIR.
Davis" was there. He was not
troubled by bashfulness this time. but
cody nodded from bis louDging-place
on the sofa.
How is Your father, Cousin Diana?
| asked. for the sake Of making a re-