River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1892-05-19
VERVAIN'S MISTAKE.
The Bitter Lesson Learned by a
Naughty Woman.

cts OF pines tossing their green crestS
to and fro in the rush of the tempestu-
Gus wind; snow shining off on the pla-
teaus, and pink clusters of trailing
arbutus breaking into bloom in south
ern hooks and sheltered places where
last winters dead leaves had not vet
drifted away. And Lucy Vervain,
standing in her russell walking dress on
the porch of the little mountain inn,
wondered if the famous Bernese Alps
were grander than these same Catslill
heights.
Lucy Vervain was small and slight
and brown skinned, but she had large,
wistful eyes of so dark a hazel that
they seemed to melt into black around
the iris, and there were quick roses
ready to deepen in her checks if any
one spoke to her. She was pretty. in
her way, like wild flower, or a little
brown-winged bird; and she looked
around with troubled air, as the
sound of an excited feminine voice
floated out from the one unpretentious
little ''best parlor" of the inn.
Its outrageous said Miss Clara
Vervain.
Mkt, who kept the house.
'Unendurable!' declared Miss Yer
vain.
ut does happen sometimes, ma'am,
when the streams is high at the spring
of the year" the landlord pleaded.
''You see there amt no bridge can
stand the rcshet, if"
And we have got 70 stay here in this
horrid hole of a place until. your tum-
ble-down bridge is mended?"
Il don't see any other way for you;
ma'am,' said Mr.. Mkt, meekly.
'It's the most provoking thing ever
knew in my life" said Miss Vervain.
She stallzed about the room like sec
ond Lady Macbeth as she spoke; for
Clara was as unlike her blushing,
shrinking little sister as the tall poppy
is to the humble corn-fower. She was
handsome and stately, and wore long
trains to her dresses and bangles on her
wrists, and used perfume on her hand
kerchiefs and did" her hair after the
latest fashion plates.
ut amt my fault, ma'am," said the
landlord. driven to the very confines of
despair. II can't stop the freshet, nor
yet can't build new bridge"
CLARA dear. don't allow yourself to
be so ANNOYED" soothed Lucy. coming
like noiseless little gray shadow into
the ROOM Eve shall only be detained
day after all. and I am sure it is very
pleasant here"
81 am not accustomed to delays" said
| Miss Vervain, lOftily.
81 know, dear, but"
"And if am compelled to remain in
such a place as this" added Clara,
glancing superciliously around her, 81
must really insist upon privacy
''Eh?" said Mr.. Mkt.
''That old person in the snuff-cOl6red
coat" said Miss Vervain, with a royal
motion of her head toward an old gen
| tleman in a wig and speetacles who
was reading the paper by distant
window. II dare say he will do very
well in your kitchen Or barroom, and /
prefer this apartment to myself
"Oh, Clara pleaded Lucy, crimson
\ ing to the very roots OF her hair.
The landlord looked puzzled, but the
old man himself folded his newspaper,
| returned his spectacles to their case
and rose slowly to his feet.
Certainly, miss said he; certain
/ ". If I'm intruding. I'll go to the
! kitchen. There's always room for me
there Eli, Mixit?"
And he trudged with alacrity out of
the room, followed by mine host.
I'm afraid you've hurt his feelings,
Clara, said Lucy, piteously.
"Who cares for his feelings?" said
Miss tersain, shifting at her scent bot
ties. mime are much more 10 the pur-
pose. And | don't choose TO associate
with every country farmer in the
Catslkills."
''Clara, dear!"
"Well?"
eve are only a bookkeeper's daugh-
tiers ourselves"
"As if that signifed,H said Miss
Vervain. scornfully. I'VE are going to
our aristocratic relations, aren't we?''
"But perhaps they won't care to
keep us"
''That is neither here nor there, said
Miss Vervain. But you never had any
proper pride, Lucy"
y
ing with puzzled brow over the dis
tinction between proper pride and pride
that was not proper when the landlord 5
wife, a buxom dame in madder-red cali
co and frilled white apron. came to
summon the guests to dinner
s'We've only roast fowl, with bread
sauce and little cranberry jelly" said
Mrs. Mkt: but it amt often as folks
stop here over a meal, and hope, la
dies, as you'll kindly pardon any short
comings."
But Miss Vervain stopped short on
the very threshold of the dining-room.
II should prefer table to myself,
said she. haughtily.
'Ma'am!' said Mrs. Mkt.
"Dear Clara pleaded Lucy. in ar
agony of distress, as she saw the rec
flush rise to the forehead of the old MAI
in snuff-colored suit who sat at tbs
head of the Widespread board.
~ prefer dining with my sister only.
insisted Miss Vervain, deha hted with an
opportunity of asserting her exclusive
ness. Really, / cannot imagine how
people cqn obtrude themselves in tins
sort of way
The old man rose quietly.
DO / understand, young woman,
said he, that you object to Daep''
Eyes, sir, do object to you-if you
compel me to put it in that way" said
Miss Vervain.
ssIndeedr' The old man lifted his
grizzled brows. Il may not be one Of
your fashionable tops"
THAT is easily TO be seen, contempt
uously interpolated the young lady.
But / am clean and decent" added
the stranger. However, ] dare say
Mrs Mkt can accommodate me with Z
plate and knife and fork in another
room, if my presence is really obnox
lous TO the young women"
young ladies. sir, if you please,
said Miss Vervain, with a toss of hei
head.
He smiled shrewd, sagacious smile
"As to that" said he, Opinions may
perhaps differ" And he followed Mrs
Mkt into the kitchen.
Clara Vervain took her seat com
placently at the table.
These people viii begin after awhile
to comprehend the difference between