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

D
which the sun and wind had left
healthy color, made a very pretty pic
ture, standing at the gate, her BROW
eyes sparkling with life. her red lips
smiling. her dimpled hands full o
,olden-headed daisies.
Her companion-the fair city cousii
who was spending the summer at thu
farn-was strikinglv unlike the coun
try-bred girl to whose eyes she locke,
so very fair.
From the crown of hei golden-crOwn
ed head to the toe of her dainty boot
lone Lawson was perfect in delicate
blond way. Her hair was the pures
gold, her eyes the most heavenly blu,
her cheeks the daintiest rOse-leaf tint
her lips the puTest crimson, her form
willowy rs a reed, her every move
ment gaace itself.
And vet there was a certain light ~
the dark ewes of BeatriX which the blue
eyes Of her cousin lacked. A certain
unconscious sweetness on her red lips,
for which one would look vainly on
those of the fair. composed ones OF
lone.
Different in garb, different in appear
ance. different in training. She stood
chatting at the gate as the last red
flashes of the setting sun fell tenderly
upon them.
You like your new neighbor. Beat.
r!X2' lone asked, without the slight
est ripple Of interest in her cultivated
tones. although her blue eyes turned,
for the briefest possible space, To the
face of the farmers daughter. over
5, Inch Z, faint flush fitted.
.He is so courteous, so kind and
friendly. BeatriN answered.; chow
could We do otherwise? And he 50
hsnd>ome. never saw so noble a
face. lone.
The far beauty smiled rs she pinned
"a WH.t,- rosebud in her golden hair;
ei.G the smile somehow made BeatriN
uncomfortable.
Handsome? Yes, in proud
naughty wayr' lone said. evenly; but
DO not lose YOUR heart there. my little
cousin. unless you would wear the
willow; that of Leon Vincent has not
been his own for nearly three years.
\ deep scarlet mounted To the brow
of Beatrix, but instantly receded,
while her brown eyes took an unusual
IN proud light as she lifted them to The
face of her cousin.
Thanks for the warning. however
unnecessary. she said; "but / did
not know when | introduced YOU to
him last night. that Leon Vincent was
not a stranger 10 YOU.
The city-bred girl gave a low, music
al laugh.
No. she said. quietly: YOU did not
know, did not dream that / rejected
him three wears ago.
Rejected hint in incredulous sur
prise but with a sudden pallor on the
pretty, girlish cheek.
Yes; YOU see he was only barriS-
Ter then, without any too many briefs
no money To speak of, and nobody
could foresse that his uncle and cousin
would both die within three years and
leave him master of so much; so, be-
cause was not willing 10 become the
wife of a poor man, | rejected him
nos things are very different.
How YOU must have loved hint
BeatriX exclaimed. with fine irony, "tC
give him up because he was poor
Was not the love of such a man as
Leon Vincent worth more TO YOU than
gold?
Again, the low. slow laugh, soft and
sweet aS a strain of music. Heated forth
on the evening air.
You foolishh little child lone
said lightly.
As if the love Of any man were OF
As much account a. the position he can
offer one. You will see these things
more clearly a. YOU grow older But
| warn YOU, let no hope OF yours fold
itself about your handsome neighbOr
he Is mine
'.'They may take mo havethe power
And they NAV keep who can
Beatrix laughed wickedly | don't
think I'll be found among Your rivals,
NV fair cousin Bnt | must 90 in
mamma viii want me TO help her.
And leaving the golden-haired city
beauty 20 wait for Leon Vincent at the
gate-he was approach :Hg along the
highway with careless swinging strides,
as she had o5seTved-she vert up the
path her heart throbb;ng, her cheeks
burning
He hal been amusing himself then.
in the sin months during which he had
been her ueighbor and 50 constant q
yitstsr at the farm And his low
wOr,is-zG tender and soft. that had
set her foolish heart beating
were lis way of passing. now and
then, an idle hour! And all the time
he was thinking Of the blue eyes and
gOlden hs.i- Of her cousin!
Il am glad she told me. she thought
apgrilv. Il have bEilt hopes thai
shame me now on his seeming regard
/ have amused him 10y my credulIty,
nv folly; Bnt Oh, | could have loved
him sol could have held his love rs
more than the crown Of king. All,
how foolish / am
Yet when Leon Vincent went up thC
pretty walk half an hour later, accom-
panied 10y the fair. dainty bloni, Bea,
iriN gree,ed him with a smile SO frankly
careless, % RECONSTRUCTED. that none
would ever dream that she held him
higher than 4 careless friend. But she
soon made an excuse to leave him with
her cousin. and did not appear again un'
III She met him in the hall as sue wa,
leaving: and lone was with him. heI
white hand ON his arm, her beautiful
Ff,s frli of smiles, rs she told heI
cousin she z.glI walk with Mr.. Vim
cent 10 the gate.
Aud 50 matters contlnue-. until al
length BsatriN made no excuse. but
keIa entirely aloOf when the young
man came l.. the farm. leaving hin
wholly 10 lone. Who seemed 10 claim
him aS her own. and es-ea spoke 81
him to her cousin. by his first name
i'm calm tone at pr0prictorship
Il was four weeks since that evening
when the two girls had stood 1T the
rate. watching the setting sun, and
taiS,E.s Of Leon Vincent; and lone was
in the houSe. irving piece of music
she had received from the city thai
morning. and which si.a intended "a
sing when he came; for II vac Az ac'
capted thing that he should come q
the farm every evening. and that she
should s1te--ain him.
The sweet N0iSe lifted IN SOrg
reached BeatriX - she stood among
her roses 81 the gates. and her youne
heart was very heavy with nusatiSneo
Yearning aud wounded love. Tor sht
had received her cousin warning toe
late-wi,a ,he whole fervOr OF hel
heart she had Earned To love Leon
Vincent.
4 quick step on the roadway, low,
merrs whistle. and the object OF hel
sbo.,trbfS ss.aosI before her looking,