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

her in soft folds. showed the beauty
of Ggure which was nothing less than
perfect
Lieutenant Fleetwell-Miss Viner, {"
said Mrs. Hurlton, quietly, and Miss
Yiner bowed slightly. while the faint
est tinge OF pink rose in her fair face
as she met Lieutenant Fleetwell's
eager. dark. admiring eyes.
HurltOn Top was one of the very
pieasantest ihouses in the county to
stay at, for the hostess exercised the
greatest discretion and judgment in
the choice of her guests. and spared
I no pains to make their visit an enjoy
able one. Mrs. Hurlton was, like
many another happy vile, a match
maker at heart.
1t very soon became apparent to
| some of her lady visitors that their
pretty hostess had designs against the
| peace OF mind of her husbands cousin
and Fred Edgerly smiled to himself
as he saw how hopelessly and ire
trieyably in love his friend had fallen
with Miss Viner before many days had
elapsed.
September drifted into October. On
a smooth lake some little distance
from the house. an idle boat with idle
oars was floating down with the cur
rent The moonlight played at will
on the placid breast of the lake.
Such The picture had one been a mere
/ spectator TO the mimic scene-but to
the two actors surroundings were lost
sight of-they thought only of them
| selves.
MOcking the silver moon, when they
glanced upward, they could see across
/ the lake and through the trees the
twinkling lights of Hurlton Top and
hear the merry voices and gay laugh
ter OF the group on the bank from
which they had just escaped. Arch
smiles had passed between its mem
bers as they had seen Dorothy Viner
and jerome Fleetwell stroll off arm in
arm to where the little boat was
mOOred.
The women had almost ceased to be
Jealous of Dorothy-or to ask where
lay her charm. When she exercised
her destinations men bowed before her
first from necessity. then from
choice.
But though her victims were count
less she was twenty-four and Dor
Othy Niner still. However, this
time she had encountered Cher little
sister said) fOeman worthy of her
steel. What she was among men,
Jerome Fleetwood was among women.
Therefore, seeing these two brought
beneath the same roof and thrown
into daily intercourse. rumor was rife
aud speculation awaited results with
bated breath. Meanwhile the little
boat floated calmly on the surface of
the lake.
'Aliss Vineri-Dorothyr
1t was the first word either had ut
tered in full ten minutes. She looked
quickly up at the speaker. The white
knit scarf thrown carelessly upon her
dark hair. out from which peered the
beautiful pale face, lent her some of
the moons mystic charm. but meet
ing the earnest gaze of the dark. mag
netic eyes bent upon her, hers fell for
an instant Then, as though ashamed
OF the mOmentary weakness, again
shot a questioning look into Lieuten-
ant Fleetwell's face.
Miss Niuer," he repeated, calmly,
did you know we were in danger?''
In danger?"
The dreamy look faded from her
face, the color deserted her cheeks,
and, shivering heavily, she glanced
up at the blue vault where sailed so
maiestically the goddess of night,
down into the dark depths of the
waters. only TO see the silvery moons
brilllancy reflected there, around
about her. All was peaceful.
No he said, in answer to her
look. mot from any of these The
moon. the wind, the waterfall are
our friends tonight. We are in dam
ger from each other"
Oh. how she prayed the moon might
fail 20 make apparent the instant
flushing Of blood TO her cheek. She
felt it glow like a warm crimson rose,
even while she raised her little head
almost detiantly. as though to hurl
challenge at his audacity. Men had
made love to her in many forms but
always as suppliants. This man dared
to suppose her in equal danger with
himself?
You deal in riddles. Lieutenant
Fleetwell,' she returned coldIy. Il
am accustomed to plain speech"
Rather say that plain speech is to
you an unknown tongue, and that /
am the first man who has dared to
speak frankly. Would you have me
speak palmer still? You shall have
your wish. A week longer under the
same roof with you, week more of
exposure to your destinations. and my
ship would 70 to wreck and ruin on
the bar; unless he leaned nearer,
his voice grew softer, more full of
tender feeling. and his hand fell on
hers very lightly. but with caressing
unless. Dorothy, you would
let it float your pennOn and guide il
into the safe harbor of your love"
She had been woOed many times, in
many climes. by man. men. bat moth
ing had ever moved her as this WOO
ing on this moonlight night in Octo-
Der. Yet this sOldier-this man
dared to tell her that in another week
this all might come TO pass.
Others had sworn TO 90 from her
presence TO put an end TO the ex-
istencc she had rendered miserable. or
had vowed that hencefortla woman's
smile would be gall and NORWOOD,
or pleaded that she had shorn their
manhood of its strength and rendered
their life burden.
This one did none of these things.
While his strength yet was his he saw
and met the danger.
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