River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1888-01-12
CHApTEp M.

Dick was not clever fellow, but he, GER
taiuly. was not "a fool. He cssayed 10 make
a mental estimate Of both girls, and sue
ceeded wonderfully well.
The Princess. he acknowledged. was a
woman Of singularly fine. pure and lovely
character. deep and strong in her affections,
simp.c-m.nded and guileless, yet not devoid
of what i commonly known as strong COM
mon sense
'-Deepa aud lovHlg where she loves; but that
she does not ltve, ] am positive. | could
swear 10 it.'
With all her s,,ft wOmanly traits. she was
too susceptible II the sin of pride. 1t had
unc0usciOusiy become q matter of pride with
her 10 show no interest in mankind. With
no other woman. except LYDIA would she
have spoken So freely; and, even with that
friend. she could scarcely depart from her
pretty proud. little reserve. without WISH
ole effort az unbendlug. Her bushes were
clearly not because OF her interest in the
man. bat proceeded from sort Of shame at
acknowledging. and even At entertaining,
that interest
But, = said Dick 10 himself. ma c4ay-
HIdllfs. your interest Is at present contem-
rlative. What that interest might develop
ntO.under the proper circumstances, ! can't
say. But d9 say that Mistress Lydia is
most decjdfd'y Interested in this young
man. and that il would require but slight
effort on his part 10 deepen that interest.
And. if she loves. she loves forever Her
natures strong. but Graves something upon
which 70 expeud that strength; can't exist
without il. Natalie lives in the realm Of her
Imagination and does not ask for sympathy,
deiighrug in her arts Lydia is strong, but
looks for sympathy and love. and something
upon which TO cEpend sympathy and love, IN
return. She couldn't find what she wanted
among those frivolous tops of society, and
now Fairfax has appeared and unconscious
IL touched the deep chord that never before
vibr.lted Well, they'd make a splendid
pair. and he'd be a fool NOT To try for her.
She's worth four Of the other in my opinion,
although acknowledge that ; saving great
deal"
With this SAGE and indisputable concIu-
sion Richard was about 10 retire. by push
ing himself backward, until lac deemed it
safe 10 stand upright, as he saw move
ment u the camp below that indicated prep
aration for flight. However, his attention
was arrested by "a sentence. half suggest
i've. haIftimid. and altogether remarkable,
veufured Tor LYDIA: - I had thought of ask
ing 1ir- Fairfax TO call with me at Chateau
Dor
Il came here with the intention of receiv-
ing no visits but those ofmy oldest friends"
said Natalie frigidly; "and / see no reason
why ! should alter my intention Besides,
my dear Lydia. / leave Chateau Dor in
few days.at the latest, for Lake Maggiore."
Lydia said no more. and the two girls.
evidently both feeling a little UncomfOrta-
bic. and yet both striving TO conceal their
emotion. prepared 10 depart.
Dick. now executing his retrograde move
mcnt. arose and found Fairfax-yyho by this
time had recovered his equanimity, and
shaken of the bliss aroused by the fair
Nataiie's words SIN the midst of some calcu-
lation or other. using his knee as a table
aud a leaf Of his diary as note-paper.
Have they started, Dick.' asked he, sud
denly.
NO, but they are on the point Of start
ing
Fairfax turned to the LETT in the main
road, ami whipped up his horse 10 greater
speed.
Are You not going back to the viIlage!7
qucried Richard.
''Wait, +" laconically answered the imper-
turbable Fairfax.
\ short distance from the brook he
refined up and drove the chaise aslong the
trees. He then led the way 10 the road
The noise OF Gathering boOfs coming nearer,
caused the pair TO retreat behind the bushes
that had sheltered Fairfax the afternoon
previously. The were euscOnccd none too
soon.
The two girls appeared directly. and rode
10 the pool, where they allowed their horses
10 drink. Natalie leaped to the ground and
stood by 8lcdiL holding the rcins in her
hands. FairafX took note Of this. and also
Of tho fact that the servants again delayed
their appearance.
III IS To be hoped sadly remarked Nat
allie, THAT those servants VIII not forget
any thing to-day. Cathariue has Just con-
fessei that Dimitri and she had already
passed The brook and gone into one Of the
wO0d-roads 10 gather some wild flowers,
when they suddenly missed my Camp-chair,
and, 20 save time, made a short cut through
the fosest. coming ont by the brook where
sou see the opening yOndcr." This made
clear 10 Fairfax the my stery of the sudden
disappearance OF the servants yesterday
Possibly they may have dropped my
knife. although | am s1re / put it in my
pocket. just before starting" aye, So you
had. FAIR mailCa, but even Processes have
holes in their pOckets)
With that she began. abseut-miudedy y, TO
hum But Lydia, interrupting her, gayly
trlIed;
'-'I know not what 20 meaneth.
That ann sad to-day.
But sOng of the times departed
VIII not from my brain away
.'You are constantly humming that AID
dia-' Do you know 1t. Natalie miner
Whereat. Natalie. infected by her Cow Of
spirits, laughed and said:
How absurd it all is. IS it not. And.
after all, what foolish creatures we are
lydia. rot couprehendiug this irrelevant
remark az first. stared then. remembering
the eceeutrIcities Of her friend. vCa,ured
the equally irrelevant and uon-comui ttal
statement that:
The whole sum and substance Of The
matter is. as solomon says. Fear tod and
-ahem u add. obey your husband. when