Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1886-01-08

Obliged TO meet him, and viii, have
no doubt, soon forget this little mis-
take. = 335#8
She rose and kissed her dauphte Ter,
led her unresisting to the door, and
advised her to retire to bed early and
go to sleep,and forget all about It.
Elizabeth silently obeyed; she knew
it was useless to attempt to move her
mother by arguments or persuasions;
besides, she felt too confused, too be-
numbed, like one who has had q heavy
blow and feels all deadened. .tI''.z
+ Mrs. Howard went down and told
her husband and Emma that Lizzie
had taken her advice beautifully, and
quite seen the wisdom Of it. ss...&l
"She has gone to bed, and Ihave no
doubt, I'd -eavorite and expressive
expression-"she will soon be all right
again. It is quite u common episode
in girls life. All" with a sigh, II
went through one myself; but 1 have
quite got over it-quite.'' =
1t was a favorite "Reminiscences of
Mrs. Towards. Many years ago she
had been engaged for q few weeks to a
young man, but soon broke it of, as
she did not consider him steady. and
as within year she married MIR. How
ard, it may be conceded that she did
get over it" very satisfactorily.
Meanwhile, her daughter, whom she
expected to inherit her own well-con-
trolled feelings, lay awake, looking
with q numbness neither resignation
nor despair, out on. the stars. .>~.,
. There are some hearts that cry out
and make q moan over their crushed
hopes; others keep silence and look
with unweeping eyes ON the fragments;
some weep the bitterness out of their
hearts; some carry it for ever with
them as their constant friend. Perhaps
with Elizabeth the bitterness was
greater in that in the burden laid on
her was the sting of truth.
Nothing" the doctors said, stmuch
the matter, but g. little weakness; the
heart weak; avoid worry, and take
life quietly.
Perhaps the worry to be avoided
was the disturbing element which had
appeared in the shape of a new admir-
era Reginald Branksome a man some
eight years older than harself, of good
name, of good position, and, better
still, of good disposition.
"1n every way suitable for Miss
Howard, said the neighbours. So, too
Elizabeth was forced to acknowledge
to herself.
He truly loved her; OF that there
WAS no doubt. He was an honest
hearted man, kind and just, and trust
worthy to the utmost. There was nc
obstacle to their marraige; indeed ev.
erything pointed to it as the proper
conclusion. She liked him, she thor
oughly respected him; she confessed
that any one who married him would
find the blessing OF a good husband,
and yet-oh, hayward heart! that
would not tread in the right path
but wander into the tangled byways
amid the briars and sharp thorns!-
yet Elizabeth could not put from he1
sight the dark grey-eyes that were sc
utterly unlike the honest brown eyes
could not close her ears to the soft
slight tenor, so utterly unlike the deer
bass tones; could not forget the low,
ing words SO easily spoken, so utterly
unlike the few hesitating sentences il
which a love that she knew was 'ten
der and true'' was offered to her.
Her lover did not press for an an.
swer, but waited hopefully, till seeing
by her pale cheek end weary look
that the indecision was becoming
equally and agony to her as to him:
self, in a few gentle, yet determined
words, once more pleaded his cause
adding:
II must go to town to-day, but Or
my RETURN"
She caught at thereprieve, and MUIR.
mered:
Eyes; when you come back will tell
you"
II shall be back on the 2sth. Oh
that is the day of your garden-party
Well, with so many people, it may be
easier to speak to you; and" lower.
ing his voice, "somehow l cannot fear
what you have to tell me-
He pressed her hand llngeringly, an6
with a look of trust and love left her
".
It was the morning Of the 28th, a
morning grey and still, that ushered
in perfect summers day, bright anG
warm, and cloudless, cooled by g. soft
wind.
Elizabeth rose with a cheerful heart.
Her decision had been made; such love
and trust deserved but one answer
and that one she would give, truthful
ly and without reserve.
At br eakfast, amid the merry talk
one voice rose:
"Who did you say, jamie, was com
ing with the Hudsons? Major who?
"Major Anson-a cousin, l think
"Never heard of him BEFORE"
mo; I think he lives at x, miles
away, and this is the first time he's
been here"
"Why, Lizzie, how hot you look!'
'Do you feel faint, my dear?" sale
her aunt kindly; "don't do too much
to-day"
"No-yes, thanks" stammered Liz
zie, then, rather hurriedly: II think
l know this friend of the ,Hudsons-at
least l did, if 1t is the one who married
a lady whose name he afterwar6
took.'
Eyes, that's the man. Why, it i.
funny you should meet here. Where
did you know him?" j.. 49,. F..
"And what's he like?''
But further questions were checked