River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1888-09-13

The next morning when DR.. Otis
Gordon reached home he found a note
in his Office from his wife. 1t ran
thus;
bEAR orIs:-My friend and lave taken the
nurses ana Babies down to the reach 20 spend
the rscrninS and take lunch. When you and
your friend get ready to go 10 the backgrounds
this afternoon. come this way FOR US We VIII
be on the lookout for YOU ch tae piazza OF the
B. House natsily, LAURA.
That's a cool piece OF business, /
must say" grumbled dear OTIS to
himself; leave fellow to receive his
company all alone I suppose she does
IL BECAUSE l was not here when her
company came; but there is some diff
ference between a simple school-marm
and Runyon Mckenzie. only sAe won't
see it. believe / viii go TO the livery
stable and order a Single carriage for
them. II will be great deal more APP
propriate for Runyon and me to have
the victoria and grays to ourselves"
DIR. Otis Gordon received his guest
with stately cordiality, and they sat
down to lunch alone, There was an dir
of Observation-Disclosures almost amount
ing 10 sadness about Ri. Mex enzie.
which the doctor INTERPRETED is disap-
pointment AT the absence of his wife.
"Y6u must pardon my wife," he be-
gan, for being absent just now, but
she has a friend to entertain and took
her to the beach. | should be better
satisfied il this friend of hers could
have postponed her visit till after you
had been here"
"Why, what evil have | done that I
should be denied the pleasure of meet
ing Your wife's friend?"
"That is a very kind, gallant way Of
putting it, but greatly fear you will
find her tiresome. As a rule | thinl;
school teachers are"
well. am sure | think they are
very excusable, for what could be
more tiresome than the life they lead?"
This was a new thought to DIR. Otis
Gordon, and his conscience began to ups
braid him for not ordering q brougham
and having the ladies accompany
them. While the doctors thoughts
were taking this channel, his guests
face resumed its former sad look. He
was mourning over the discovery ne
had made last evening after he left
the train, which was that the card he
valued so highly was gone, and gone.
too, before he had had a chance to
read the name or direction. His pref
erence would have been to spend the
afternoon wandering around alone,
looking. looking everywhere. For
who could tell the length of time the
giver OF that card was to be in New
porta The thought that she would be
looking for him this evening, and he
wholly unable to get to her, was bad
enOu gh; but it was positive torture to
reflect that she might leave the follow
ing day and be forever lost to him.
No wonder he was absent-minded and
| sadl
The doctors heart swelled with
pride, and his snobbish soul was en-
tirely satisfied when the victoria and
the grays appeared at the door. There
were the footman and coachman in
fresh liveries; the victoria polished up
to the highest degree of brightness;
and the grays with silver-mOunted
harnesses. He was glad he had ar
ranged matters as he had. His wife
and her friend could enjoy each others
society better in a single conveyance.
where there would be no necessity of
their feeling obliged to entertain
others. OF course they would have a
stylish turnout-he had sent word for
that,
The afternoon was perfect, not even
speck of cloud dotted the fair blue.
| The warmth was sufficient to have the
fresh sea-breeze seem delightful, and
altogether the doctor was in a
most enviable frame OF mind as they
bowled along the smooth roads that
led to the backgrounds. He raised
his hat in salutatiOn to one and another
of his friends as he passed them.
When the backgrounds were reached.
! the carriage was brought to a stand
still by the side of few OF his most
wealthy patients. while he introduced,
with an illdisguised feeling of pride,
his friend, Mr.. RunyOn Mex enzie.
They were stopping thus, at the side
of the very elaborate turnout of the
still more deliberately arrayed Huphy-
sons, whom the doctor. in his small,
snObbish mind, imagined would be just
the people to suit his friends taste,
when happening to look across at the
entrance of the grounds, sight greet
ed his vision that fairly made his hair
rise with horror! This was a high,
open, very narrow-seated buggy, only
large enough to hold one goOd-sized
person comfortably, but containing in
the present case, two ladies, one OF
whom the doctor recognized, only too
readily, as his wife,
Pleasure vanished from his horizon
in an instant. What if they should APP
proach while he was talking with these
elegant people! His Utmost soul would
be Inundated, even to the dust, to have
IL appear that he could roll around in
luxurious state while his wife rode in
such a conveyance.
There was no time to be lost, for they
were coming his way; so. leaning over,
he hastily commanded his driver to &C
| farther down the line OF carriages. The
Victoria had just left its position and
was slowly making its way onward,
when Mr.. Mckenzie also made dis
covery He caught a glimpse OF the
| face he was 90 longing to see.
IF your coachman would only drive
the other way we would have a much
better view" he said, excitedly.
Yes. presently" the doctor replied,
trying to appear as calm as possible,
but finding it hard work as he per-
ceived the lighter vehicle gaining on
| them.
Il believe I'll get out il you'll only
| stop moment returned Mckenzie,
growing desperate when he saw their
carriage going farther away all the
time. He sprang from the carriage,
but came so near being trampled to
death he was forced to get back 10 save
| himself.
He wants TO 60 back and see the
| Huphysons." tho doctor said to him
| self; then, aloud: ~ tell you what it is.
I'll take you around to see the Huphy-
Il ,>... .ts., .,,-,r,;nrr. bt,t NOW SrtnnnSa wa