River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1889-10-17

verdict when twenty-four hours latet
Jerome Fleetwell babe his friends
adieu. and withdrew TO town on plea
of sudden business.
The news soon reached Dorothy,
ear. 81 have not refused him. she
| said aloud; mot oven that satisfac-
tion is mine." she said TO herself
'nor ever will bel 1t was only the
might have BEEN"
He was not a man. she knew full
well, to plunge desperately into firta.
ton. or associate his name at once
with another wOman's, or to retire
later or rise earlier or in any way dis.
| turb the even tenor OF his way. The
difference between them was only this
his heart was healing. perhaps al
ready healed, but he would bear its
scar to the grave; hers was a Tester
ing sore, which hurt the more that
she had let the physician who might
work its cure pass her by.
The summer wanes to a close. Au-
tumn had touched the mountain and
hillside into a glorious beauty of
brown and red. Then came winters
tagging footsteps, mercifully bearing
the exquisite white shroud of snow to
cover up all signs of devastation and
decay.
The season in the gay world was at
| its height. Occasionally murmurs
among the debutants for its honors
arose at the fact that, though Miss
Viner's fifth winter, her former sue
cess paled in its most effulgent light
She and Lieutenant Fleetwell constant
ly met. She almost wished he might
avoid her. but at their first chance en-
counter he had approached with out
stretched hand.
How charmingly you are looking,
Miss Viner.n he had said. And all in
vain she had watched for n tremor in
his tone, or a shadow of embarrass-
ment in his manner
only a week between him and
shipwreck. she thought, bitterly.
"Oh, he has sailed so far from the
fatal rock that doubtless he would now
laugh at its supposed danger-and l.
| was weak enough to think he stood
upon the precipice's brink.
The new year had come, and one
evening Dorothy stood alone in her
fathers drawing-room, looking out at
the last gathering darkness. when
through its somber shade she saw fig
ure pass and mount the steps. "A visit
or" she uttered. YEARLY; then waited
the inevitable announcement she knew
must follow. But spite of every effort
she started when the servant, throw
ing open the door, called out Lieu
tenant Fleetwell!' Oh, how glad she
was that the rooms were not yet
lighted as she went forward to receive
him.
MAY 1 welcome you in the dark
ness?" she questioned.
AS you will" he answered Il
have but few moments to stay. i
have come 10 bid you goodbye and to
ask you to wish me bon voyage"
bon voyage! You are going
abroad?"
Yes. sail on Thursday. | hesi-
tated about calling, but my desire to
see you led me to believe you would
pardon my audacity in supposing my
going a question of enough moment
to make it worthy of a special call"
My friends are always welcome. /
did not suppose it necessary you
should hear that repeated now"
Nor is it. 1t was only morbid
fancy on my part which induced me to
question it ! shall come back. /
trust, with my mind clearer. AT least
| shall be some years older. When l
return presume | shall look for Miss
Dorothy Viner in vain, until / shall
find her in some matron. equally
charming. | can not imagine her
quite staid and portly."
So he could speak thus lightly Of her
becoming the wife of another man?
And he was going away; she might
never again hear his voice nor see his
face. 1t was too cruel! He and fate
were too strong for her. The tears
gathered in the black eyes. but the
darkness hid them.
He ratified on-she had no need to
speak. Then he rose to GO
Goodbye, Miss Viner"-he took
her hands in both his ood-byei
God bless you,'
Was it her fancy that just at the last
his voice trembled?
He crossed the room; he had gained
the door. Another instant he would
be gone; another instant it might be
too late.
"Jeromew she said, softly.
Two strides, it seemed, brought him
back to her side.
You called me. for what? To make
my going harder?"
''Oh. is it hard? In mercy tell me,
for my own heart is breaking!''
Your heart is breaking! Dorothy,
Dorothy, what does this mean? But
the sound of her sobs was his only
answer
Dorothy" he continued. "can it be
that have judged you wrongly? Look
up, my darling! Is it your wish that
should stay?"
Then she found her voice Il
thought you did not love me enough,
she murmured. But stay, or if you
must go. take me with you"
Il will, he answered her, simply,
as he folded her in his arms.
A month later a great steamer
moved slowly out to sea. and as they
stood on the deck, hand claspcd in
hand, with the salt breeze blowing
keenly in their faces. it bore them
away into the placid beauty OF the
coming night. toward the Old World
and the new life.-Walter l. Blakely,
in New York Graphic.
Some Royal Musicians.
According to the Musical Review