River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1886-04-15
DIED AT HIS POST.

cufeu IOF ulIhSeII 4 comfortable posi-
+ ton, however, when a light footstep
sounded on the porch, and a moment
later a graceful girl appeared.
Good evening. Katie. the young
man said, as he arose, slightly raising
his hat. and then turned to open the
gate for her.
Good evening, Bill, she Familiarity
replied. You don't often keep me
waiting. Katie. he said rs they sauLt-
cred down the road towards the river,
Il guess the fsult is more mine than
yours on that score.
Il know well enough it's not your
fault it you're little late some tiros;
and I'm sure. Bill | never blame YOU
for it, have ~" and she looked up
into his face with eyes beaming with
love and pride.
Ne. darling. don't think you ever
blamed me for anything; at least l
never knew of il if you did.
You never did anything | know of
that needed it.
Thank you Katie, that's worth a
kiss. But now think of it, do re-
member one night you censured me,
DO you mind it?''
Kate hung her head, and crimson
blush overspread her pretty face, re-
vealing an inward consciousness that
She had some faint recollection of such
a night. But she did not answer his
question.
surely you have some remembrance
of it, Katie, noticing the tell-tale blush
but accepting her silence As a meaning
forgetfulness. Il know | often think
of il and of every lItle incident con
nected with it. for it was memorable
night to me, and. would have fancied
o. Won, too.
But all his particularizing failed to
obtain the desired admission. shall
tell YOU what night it was, where we
We're, and why YOU child me?' he con-
tinued, dwelling on the subject as
though it were one he was lOath 10
leave.
They were now strolling leisurely,
arm-in-arm. along the banks of the
Susquehanna as it flowed through the
historical Valley of Wyoming. The
moon had risen. and her Silyerv beams
danced upon and were reflected by the
tiny ripples on the waters surface.
Here and there could be dimlv seen
small rowbOats. generally with only
two occupants, aud the gentle splash
of the lazy oar could be family heard
in the still. calm night. From far
away down the stream came the sound
Of voices in song borue to them on the
bosom of the water. For a moment
they stood silently listening, til the
last notes died away. Then he gently
led her to the foot Of large tree, where
they seated themselves upon a rustic
bench at its base.
Katie. isn't that a lovely song?
Though / cannot sing them am going
to sound Silver Bells of Memory to
you.
Il think | remember the night you
mean. she admitted, hanging her
head. But this did not deter him from
going more infinitely into the sub
I iect.
1T was on the night of the 9th of
I last October. be began.
II know all about it. Bill. she
\ laughingly broke in, fluttering her
I handkerchief i'm his face in her en-
deavors TO interrupt him. But he only
seemed the more determined to CON
tinue. and recOunted in brief how
he had shown her his certificate
as &c. F., Just obtained, and told of
( his appointment as Assistant Mine-In-
spector a. West PittsOn, and had that
night first openly declared his love for
/ her. and had been OverjOyed to receive
from her own lips the assurances Of its
requital. and how, when attempting to
steal kiss, she had upbraidcd him.
"And now. he continued, drawing
nearer, ''seyen months and more have
passed since then, and | am longing
/ for the time when YOU will be my own
darling little wife. :
/ She had listened calmly after the
! first attempted interruption. seemingly
Is pleased TO hear as he was to rel tie.
4 Although he called her little she
was not diminutive. being Just b. low
/ the medium height, of slim yet gr; ce-
full figure. with clear, sparkling
diamond-blue eyes, and long, wavy
golden hair. which hung in two large
plaits, their ends being allowed to
assume their natural tendency to curl.
I In MANY respects he widely differed
from her, but the gossips said they
made a well-matched pair. Though
young-not yet 23-hc was well-de-
veloped and looked older. He was
over six feet tall. but built so proper
tiOnately it required comparison to
make it manifest. He had taken her
hand in his and held it with warm,
r.. firm grasp awaiting her reply.
Mother thinks me too young 70
marry vet" she whispered, and then
after a short pause, turning to look
him straight in the face she added,
1--WE couldn't be any happier than we
are now. At least | cOuldn {: for o, Bill,
( m so happy with YOU such nights as
this. | cannot conceive anything bet
ter than this. and waiting for our meet
ings makes me ike them all the more.
She had allowed her head 20 fall
upon his broad breast. and the moon lii
mp her happy face with kindly light.
God bless you, darling. aud ever
make you feel 50" he tenderly said as
he bent his head and kissed her pas
siOnately.
When they parted that night at the
gate she had promised to ''name the
day. on her 18th birthday. which was
only two weeks distant.
Katie was dreSsmaker and millineJ
in Miss Middleton 5 establishment on
Main street. and a great favorite with
all the girls. The day following that
on which this story opens it was quite
apparent her mind was preoceupied-
at times to the exclusion of her work.
At Others she would hum away as
usual, and it was as equally obvious
her thoughts ran in happy vein. She
went home earlier than usual that even
ing. and her mother met her at the
door. inquiring aDxiously if anything
had happened.
mo. mother; we were not busy. and
as l have something of importance q
discuss with you, aud wished TO do 50
before father came home, asked Miss