River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1891-08-27

But when the work was hniShed ana
she had blushingly withdrawn, the
member OF congress looked laughingly
across the table at Gladys.
My daughter" said he. ''hore is the
key TO the riddle"
What key. papa?" said Gladys.
What riddle?r
Don't you remember" said he the
mysterious manuscript"
Fanny jumped up and clapped her
hands
What" cried she. 1.-The stray leaves
about Sir Alexis and the beautiful Ger
aldine Aubrey that we found scattered
about in the orchard that day after the
gale?"
Exactly" said the member of con-
gress. And this handwriting is erGctly
the same
''oh. papa cried Gladys, ''may
congratulate her on being able to
imagine so beautiful story-to turn it
into such exquisite language?"
No" said Col. Ayrault- Say moth
ing at all. Don't You see how 1t might
embarrass her2
t.But she really must be genius,
papa" was the opinion of Gladys, prone
to ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS worship.
"Aha,r laughed Fan. How about
NV rart arts now2 Isn't she really and
truly white swan? Whittier than any
lny?"
After this. Alice Saville was the
chosen companion and favorite OF the
member of cong -ess' two daughters
rather TO the surprise and critical re-
marks of the other b0arderS-
Il amt a bit surprised said Uncle
/ Brom. ''She was brune mp to be lady,
and lady she'll be to 'he end of the
/ chapter. no matter if she " IS scrubbin'
/ floors or scourin' tins.
But one day Gladys forgot her n
theirs words of caution and unguarded-
| liz revealed to Alice Saville how she
and Fan had found the missing pages
all blown about the orchard. To her
surprise Alice burst into tears, and
Gladys. in her panic and unco rtainty.
ran into the other room where Col.
! Ayrault was writing. as usual.
Papa" she cried, papa, 10 come IN
here and see if you can comfort Alice
The girls tears were dried in an in
slant But Col Ayrault rallied her a
little after a playful fashion and
showed her the very rain-stained sheets
/ that he had fonld
You have 10 cause to blush for
| them, Miss Saville." said he. The
/ fancies are exquisite and clothed in
most appropriate words. Had writ
ten this sketch should be proud of it."
And then, cheered by his words of
! encouragement, she told him all her
4 h. nd f.aTs-e !
tions and the blighting fultillment
A week afterwarl Gladys Ayrault
came 10 her father with flushed checks
and tear-sparkling eyes.
rs it true, papa" said she. Are we
/ to have a-step-mother?"
The member of congress looked calm
/ " up from the piles of manuals and
records.
"Ahr' said he. ''Who has been talk
ing to you on this subject?''
"Erag5o9g is talking" said Gladys
Even Alice Saville knows about it,
and she is sorry for me, know she is,
for she began To cry and hurried away
when / told her about my troubles.
On, papa, papa. Fan says, and think
so, too. if you wanted to marry any
body, why couldn't you have married
/ Alice?"
There was mischievous twinkle I'M
der the grave eyelashes of the member
of congress as he answered.:
Give me little more time, and III
see if can't oblige YOU
Papa, gasped Gladys lis it real
ly-"
lit is really Alice, said Col. Ayrault-
s'Where is the child? Go and capture
her and bring her here TO hear her
sentence of ste motherdom pro-
uounce,l"
Gladys clapped her hands. Fanny,
who was solemnly listening close by,
frightened into radiant happiness; and
in another moment Alice Saville was
brought into the presence of the ma
tional law-giver and forced 10 plead
guilty to the soft impeachment.
After that the secret was "A secret no
longer Every body in Jacksonville
knew that the wealthy widower, Col
| Ayrault. was about to contract q sec
ond marriage, and that his young
daughters were delighted at the idea
Alice was very, very happy. The MEM
Der of congress, in his grave, quiet way
was not l. SIS satisfied: and Mrs. SIville
said, contentedly:
Its Just as it orter be. I've always
brung my darter up to be lady, and
lady she's goin' to be."-Amy Ram
dolph, in \. Y Ledger.