River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1886-06-24

showed happy proprietorship of
this brown-eyed, dimpled, cOntented
girl, who was neither a belle nor a
beauty, but simply domestic in her
tastes, and was ever ready TO make
tart for tea, or read aloud in the dOmes-
tic circle. as circumstances ordered.
She was so finely balanced, so healthy.
50 restful in her atmosphere, that DIR.
Robert Ellen never took the trouble To
really think about her during the three
weeks he spent at Dovesdale. He sim
ply enjoyed her presence, her pleasant
face. her sweet voice, her whole har-
mOniOusness. In a thousand kind
ways she ministered to his weakness of
mind and body. Her friendiiness,
frank aS light itself, comforted and
sOothed him, until nature and Mrs.
Coffee's tact rendered him sound in
body and almost in mind. One sharp
application was needed, however, to
complete the latter.
The melancholy which hung about
this strong and handsome young fellow
was very becoming, it seemed pity to
dispel it; but his wise friend did not
falter in the duties of her administra-
ton;
He was about to depart, his visit be-
ing AT an end, when he referred 10 his
sorrow rs incurable.
Had she proved unworthy of my
love | could forget her: but what can
cure grief at the loss of one so devoted
to her duty?'
Devotion to her duty! Fiddlesticks,
Dear Rob, excuse me. but the truth is
that yainer, more exacting. more
selfish creature than Cleone TratfSrd
never existed. 1t is time you knew the
truth. She married that old Shylock
for his money. and wouldn't have mis-
sed it for any thing. You are one of
half a dozen de,uded victims mourning
over the loss of her pale-blue eyes and
blonde hair. one tenth of which wasn't
her own, | assure you. Why will men
aways think light-haired women an
gels? As for Cleone Tratford. She was
thirty if she Was day. She had
angled for old CrWsus until she got
him: and she never mad ANYMORE idea
of marrying you, q poor doctor, than
she had of marrying her father 5 coach
man
With this gigantic lea in his ear,
aud offended for lifc with Mrs. Coffee,
as he believed. our hero started for the
city. But growing vitality gave him
vigor and discretion. He pronounced
himself fool before there came the
frienGliest and unconscious letter from
DOvesdalc.
Busy As you may be. you must not
forget to come to Is for a visit of a
night at least on Wednesday. We are
to have a little party to welcome a
friend OF Hope s.
He smiled ANONYMOUSLY until reading
the following sentence. Then cloud
began 10 gather on his brow. \ friend
of Hopes?-of course lover. He had
never dreamed of such thing; but Of
course thee was no reason why Hope
should not cave a lover. She was
/ pleasing and good. He thought of her
warm brown ewes, her SunShiny smile,
her kind, magnetic hand that had
cooled his brow and soothed his nerves.
[ Only the day before he had stopped nj
a store to purchase a French print of
/ a lively peasant girl with face like
nope Devon's. lie had pinned it over
/ his dressing table. and had meant,in a
4 few DAYS. to write and tell Mrs. Coffee
I that he had photograph of her favor
\ tie. He crushed his hat over his eyes
and strobe modify down the street
l Unconscious where he was going, he
was arrested at sight of a gloved hand
/ becoming crOm carriage. Mrs. Coffee!
You have my letter? BE sure and
come on Wednesday Hope will be
glad to see YOU. Not coming? Why
nOt?" searching his face with her
shrewd, kindly eyes.
He had certainly no presentable rea-
son for refusing. He had become con-
vinced that he had been fool in the
matter of Cleone Trafion. the girl for
whom he had attempted his life. The
closing thought confirmed Mrs Coffee
statement. and he was anxious to re-
deem his character for good sense in
/ the ewes of his good friends and prove
+ himself not ungrateful.
Il had not meant. but | viii If YOU
wish it-at least, if it will please any
body
1T will please me. | am in town
shopping this afternoon. Let me see
7 you early Wednesday, and the brett
rolled along.
lie dressed himself moodily the fol-
. lowing day and rade out TO Dovesdale.
/ The crimSoning October landscape
was beautiful but he failed 20 feel its
/ charm-nature was out of tune for him
! that morning. He looked bitterly at
/ the great gray mansion which had
Deen TO him such a haven of refuge.
Was his starving hear neter to have
/ food? Was there absolutely nothing
I for him in this world but pain and
aud disappointment? How little he
had dreamed whittier be was tending,
to be made so miserable by news that
/ Hope Devon was to be anothersi but
/ Fate had preserved him from destruc-
+ tion-only to drop him into other
deepS. Well, we'll the kind girl, who
would be such treasure 10 the man
who had won her. should never be
troubled by pain of his. Hope Devon
should never dream that her healing
had hurt him.
She came into the hall to greet him.
She wore a pretty white dress gar
landed with scarlet maple leaves. Her
bro~n ewes were warm aud happy
You We're very good to come.
closely pressing his hand. II was
afraid YOU would not-that YOU had
forgotten us. / would ike YOU to
know a dear friend of mine. who was
a great comfort to me when poor papa
lied. in England. two years ago-Mrs.
Morningtou She has just come
home.
A plump, kindly little woman, who
evidently could not help being kind to
everybody, VAS presented as Mrs.
MorDington. His greeting of her was
warm enough 10 please even Hope;
and then the latter took his arm. and
they walked through the parlors and
hall. and into the parlors again. while
thew chatted, and Ellen believed there
never was such a happy company nor
such a lovely day.
Yes. his heart was caught in the re-
bound: he realized it before Mrs.
Coffee playfully made the accusation
to his happy flushed face, when they
,l,o,,x.,H - - alo,a for- a rnouaanf