River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1886-07-22

I greeable To you, my presence a trial!
/ Or what is it, BeatriX? | am weary Of
being left for the amusement Of-par.
don me, dear. since she is your cousin
/ but 1 know of what | speak-for the
amusement of a tlirt, evening after
/ evening
How strangely you talk for a low.
err" Beatrix exclaimed, trembling q
little, but trying TO be calm. Il am
going in. Why do YOU linger here
when lone is waiting for you?'
because and he took her hands
/ in clasp from which she could not
/ free them-"because / want to tell YOU
something to tell you how dear you
are 10 me; how it Is your brown eyes
that lure me here. not the blue ones
of your cousin; TO tell you that i want
such love from YOU as YOU can give, or
l come no more to the farm! Nay.
VOW never again to put faith in the
smile of woman! BeatriX, | am
waiting. Can you love me, dear, or
was / deceiving myself when | fancied
YOU cared for me? lhaye been mistak-
en-once. three years ago, when | laid
NV heart at a woman feet, and she
rejected it because | could give her
nothing more. Tell me l am not to
drain the same bitter cup tonight,
BeatriN. Oh, my love, say you do care
for me-
II do. came low. soft whisper,
and Beatrix found herself clasped in
stantly in the young mans arms and
held closely to his bosom. "My
darling he whispered softly; "my
brown-eyed, warm-hearted darling! 1
will make you very. very happy!'
Il have not been very happy Of
late, BeatriN said smiling up at him
in the moonlight. her brown head on
his breast. ''Why did YOU seem 10
care so much for my cousin? 1t was
cruel of you-to me, to her?'
ITO you, my sweet?" STOPPING to
kiss the ripe lips tenderly. Il watched
for single sign by which | could
know you cared. At the very first the
farce would have been over. But you
were careless aud smiling, seeming
very well content TO resign me to YOUR
cousin. There were times when
fancied you were rather glad to get
free of my society"
Il would not struggle for your love, p"
the girl said proudly; "but loved you
all the time. and very much against
nv wishes. wanted to be indifier-
emit
Thank you; am SO grateful 10 YOU
for such unwillingneSs to care for me.
But I'm glad YOU had to. whether You
would or not" with a low amused
laugh; 'for your cousin-she is veIy
fair To look upon. but there is more to
be desired than fair face, sweet
voice and a graceful form arrayed in
tasteful tinerv. My darling, your beau
tiful cousin has no more heart than a
hummingbird, and when love and gold
are in the balance with her love never
weighs more than feather. | fell in
love with her dainty face three years
ago. But you need never be jealous of
her on that account. my pet. To-day
| regard her as a beautiful picture-no
more-and a tress of your brown hair
is more to me than anything else on
earth. Now; kiss me. my darling"
As he lifted his head moment
later he half started. for a vision of
white-robed beauty stood before him,
fair and dainty enough for dream of
poet; a girl with waving, golden
hair, eyes like spring violets, and
dainty, crimson lips. arrayed in SHIN
mering, floating white, her cheek just
now as cOlorless.
.'Ah. Miss Lawson, he said quietly,
while Beatrix drew from his embrace
with start, YOU are in time to offer
me congratulations; | am to be your
cousin; hope the idea is pleasant
one to you?"
VERY plealant indeed, lone
managed To say. in calm. measured
tones, that had hint of wavering,
land | give you my very best wishes.
Then she turned and went slowly
along the bloom-lined walk, her white
draperies floating about her, her fair
beauty a dover many women had
envied her; and yet, on her life lay a
sense Of loss, of dreary desOlation, of
which she had not dreamed one month
before. when she so proudly claimed
the unchanging low" of Leon Vincent.