River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1888-06-21

his OItcS anu AithiAhNA' 49,
ferent from those of the people was
accustomed to seeing. He sat OPP
posite me, and soon after the train |
started began staring at me in most y
annoying way"
THE impertinent rascal! How Il
wish / had been there to punch h
n, ,adr' exclaimed Owen. with warmt d.
He perhaps did nothin & to me rit
a nj te such severe punishment; bus- he
was certainly then, and ha been since.
jndil ectly, the cause of great deal of
mise, Y to me. He amuse d himself for
some time with casting what l sup
pose were admiring q ances at me.
pressh lg his hand TO lais heart and
signing profoundly. I hen suddenly.
TO NV utter amazement, he threw him.
self OH II is knees before me. declared.
in very d, I'd + nglish. tlaat he loved me
to disiraa ion, and. most startling of
all, tore ii his very h andsme watch
and chain and flung them into my
lap"
The man was mad. of CO urse."
Yes; we learned this for a fact aft
EDWARDS. / looked at our' travelling
eompanion-the middle-aget man al
ready mentioned-in helple SIS fright.
He started up, and, with VIII at l then
thought admirable presence of mind.
exclai med. angrily: How, dare you
insult my wife, snip
This strong language hal the de-
sired effe ct. and the man seemed to
shrink into. himself and become quiet
as lamb. suppose believing mo to
be the wife Of somebody else shattered
his hopes"
Here again the rare. sweet smile
lent a new charm TO Louise's face.
TRY rs l might. " she continued. Il
could rot prevail upon him to take
back his watch. and at the next STA
ton the gCnilemGn who called mo his
wife gave nv adm .irer, with his watch.
into the hands of a policeman, aSmad.
That is the List we ever saw ot him.
but we heard later that he was Pole.
and incurablv insa ne. The old lady in
the coupe with I1s looked inquiringiy
at my rescuer. who laughed and muir
INJURED something did not under
stand. / thanke, him as Ldcscended
at my destinatio q. never dreaming
that he was TO Gro IS my path again.
Here Louise brol Je OF. and the rest
of her narrative as told less glibly.
You perhaps kE VOW. Mr. Stanley.
that am an orpha .. dependant on
my uncle for every hirg and conse-
quently in his pow, III for good or
evil.
More evil than g,Nld, i fancy"
Owen wished to say. bur refraincd till
he should have heard the end of the
story. IL he could sit th us for ever on
the messy old log. listening to Louise's
sweet voice. and watchiI g her charm
ing play of expression, how happy he
believed he would be!
Some weeks ago. one afternoon.
my uncle called me from mending
Tommy's stockings, and told me a
friend wished to see me in the draw
ing-room. /, who had no friends. was
much Surprised; nor hid this surprise
| lessen when | was presented TO the
man who had silenced the crazy Pole
that day in the train. His name was
Mitchell, and he turned out 10 be an
old friend of my uncb's. Rich as
Cresus and n bachelor my uncle
said to me, with knowing wink,
when our visitor had departed
Il took a great dislike to Mr. Mich
ell; in manner and appearance he was
most repugnant TO me. But thought
very little about him one way OF an
othcr-why should l interest myself
| Il fafhar9
til, week later, Uncle Thomas in
formed me that Mr. Mitchell wished
to marry me. "
.Preposterousr' exclaimed Owen.
IL don't often laugh in the presence
of Uncle Thomas, but when he. told
me this, | laughed heartily. This
made my uncle very angry? Why
should | make game of the offer of a
man of whom l might be proud? ],
who would be in the work-house if it
were not for the charity of my rcla-
tions!'
THE brute"
If | was so silly as nothto know on
which side my bread was buttered-it
was often difficult 10 telL-he would
turn me out doors, and that would
perhaps bring me to my senses. But
why need tell you the particulars of
this and many another most painful
scene? | was silent and undecided
for awhile. and ut last found courage
TO tell MIR. Mitchell that | could not
marry him.
He listened with disagreeable
smile, and replied: My young lady
will not find refusal so easy as she
thinks.
Owing to rusty conduct on the
part of your amiable uncEe, inter-
polated Owen.
Il beloved this was his meaning,
until the next day. Then my aunt
informed me calmly that was already
married TO Nj. Mitchell"
lis that good lady subject TO such
! fits of mental aberration?"
Il stared at her in amazement, when
: she proceeded TO explain TO me that
, according TO Scotch law, if a man in
the presence of witness says a
, woman is his wife, and she does not
DENY it, it becomes a legal marriage
There was witness in the train that
, day-the old lady l mentioned-Mr.
: Mitchell is Scotch, and was determined
: to have his rights.
II could not believe aunt was in
earnest, but it seems she was, and
what is worse. they all hoset me every
hour of the day with speeches to the
r effect that il is of no use to try TO es-
cape my destiny-Mr. Mitchell has
the law on his side. and the sooner,
for appearance 5 sake. l consent to
another marriage ceremony in church.
the better.
'Ihave asked you to meet me here
this evening. Mr.. Stanley, to tell me
iruly if there is any ground for their
saying l am Mr. Mitchelrs wife. "
1T is tho most preposterous. cow
ardly lie ever heard of - exclaimed
Owen, quite boiling over with indig-
nation. 'In some parts of Scotland.
long ago. some such rubbish as they
tell YOU might be true; but we are not
in Scotland. To have this rich man ;
money in tho family. your reprobate
of an uncle is trying TO play upon
your innocent ignorance. knowing OF