River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1886-01-07
ONE TRUE HEART.

ONE TRUE HEART.
you are getting too fond of
Elfrida," said Mr.. Arnold to his
employee, a young, handsome fellow,
with brown, curly hair,
TOO fond of her, sir?" stammered
the young man, surprised and con-
founded.
Yes, too fond of heri" said Mr..
Arnold. Il saw you last night stand
ing at the garden gate. and you held
her hand for five minutes, and when
you said goodnight, actually kissed
her. Can you deny this?"
Il have no wish to deny it," said
young Frank Nettleford. miss
Elfrida did not seem angry with me
for doing If. 1t was an impulse l
could not resist, sir
"You should have resisted, sir"
said Mr.. Arnold, getting very red in
the face How dare You kiss my
daughter?"
eve are engaged, sill"
Engaged" said Mr.. Arnold, while
Frank closed the door Of the private
office. How long have you been
engaged?"
'Since last night" said Frank.
blushing like a girl. at was when
she consented to be my wife that |
kissed her. That was the first kiss /
ever gave her.
"And it will be the last" said Mr..
Arnold:
Il hope not, sir. II you were TO
separate Elfrida from me it would
break her heart.
And Frank pictured her as he had
seen her on the preceding night, clad in
the blue silk ball dress, trimmed with
lilies. How lovely she looked, and
what white, shapely shoulders she had.
You are talking nonsense, Mr.. Net
tleford. My daughter is TOO young to
think of being engaged; she is only
seventeen. Why, it is only the other
day that she was put into long frocks.
BE more discreet in future, sir, and |
will still employ you. If you persist in
trying to see my daughter against my
will, you shall quit my service at once.
1t was very ungentlemanly of you to
try to win my daughter without con-
sulting me. | consider you have be
haved badly"
"When | escorted Elfrida home"
"AIiss Elfrida, Il you please"
well, when | escorted Miss Elfrida
from the ball last night, the words
slipped out, will YOU be my wife?'
cannot withdraw them now. You do
not know how L love her. Your daugh-
ter is the most lovable and beautiful
girl in the world.
You are at liberty to think as highly
of my daughter as you like said Mr..
Arnold; but you are not at liberty to
marry her. l have higher views for
her future. Promise me that you will
give her up. and you can remain here;
but if you persist in trying to see her,
you will leave my service in week. :
VERY well, sir" said Frank, Il will
leave this day week. | would sooner
lose my situation than lose Elfrida."
You are throwing up a good situs-
ton" said Mr.. Arnold. times are
hard; you will find it very hard to find
another place; but if you will be head
strong you must 60"
That evening when Mr.. Arnold ar
rived home, Elfrida was surprised to
see that he was quite alone.
why, where is Frank-Mr. Nettle-
ford. mean?"
He is not coming here any more,
| you sly, wicked little jade" said Dir.
Arnold. II have told him to go about
his business. He will leave me next
week. 3"
why, papa?" asked Elfrida, know
4 ing perfectly well why all the time;
and She turned very pale.
Il have dismissed him for kissing
you last night" said Mr.. Arnold.
what right have you to be engaged,
you weak-minded baby?"
81 love him. papa. l couldn't help
it."
''But you shall help it," said Mr..
Arnold. You shall never marry
/ Frank Nettleford with my consent. All
through you have been obliged to dis
miss him, and he will go to Sampson
Il Trudge's, and | shall be ruined
ruiued, do you hear-and you'll have
to wear shabby hats and sell your
piano"
& Trudge's,' = said Elfrida.
"Do you think he'll starve?' said Mr..
Arnold.
Yes he would sooner starve than
90 to the rival firm. lie would do
nothing to injure the father of the girl
he loves"
Time will show" said Mr.. Arnold,
with a peculiar smile. Then he added,
Il tell you whom you must marry. He
is very rich, and very fond of you.
"Who?" asked Elfrida, with feminine
curiosity.
Young Partridge. the son OF the
mayor. He is very rich"
HE is a nice young fellow, said FL
frida, musingly.
$50 he is" said her father, $50 he is,
my dear"
Yes, he is very NICE" said Elfrida;
"but not like dear Frank"
Frank is a scamp cried Mr. Arnold,
and then he sat down and wrote a letter
inviting young Partridge to come aht
spend the next evening with him.
He came, but Elfrida was very cold
to him.
At the end of the week Mr.. Arnold
shook his head. She is very fon' OF
Nettleford, he told himself.
Quickly the day came when Frank
Nettleford had to leave Mr.. Arnold;
very sad he felt as he passed through
the door for the last time.
Not far from Mr. Arnold's shop he
met a gentleman. who came up to him
with a smile on his face.
''You are Mr. Nettleford." he said,
looking at the Young fellow.
Yes" said Frank, wondering what
the man could want with him.
"You have just left MIR. Arnold's,
said the stranger.
"What is that to vou?" cried Frank,
rather savagely, for this was sore
subject.
II viii tell you" said the stranger.
my name is Sampson, of the firm OF
Sampson & Trudge. Hearing that you
were going to leal Mr.. Arnold. have
come to oser you s situation in oui
firm; you shall hare double what Mr..
Arnold gave you. What do you say tc
that?'
Il thank you for your offer, Mr..