River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1893-02-02

Tell ber." echoed Lucy FELTON,.
enough. She needn't have been such a
silly. anyhow
lit will kill herr" pleaded Isabel.
mo it won't. People don't die SO
easily" laughed Lucy.
Heard the news about Miss Genny
Seaman said Mrs. Webb at the
clearinghouse breakfast table the
next morning as she poured the coffee
and helped the eggs and bacon around.
Isabel looked gnIitilV up.
NO" said she. What is it?''
"FOuud dead in her cheer" said Mrs.
Webb. "A smilin' as happy as child
Some heart trouble, the doctor says.
Isabel drew a long breath. So she
had died and never knew how cruelty
she had been deceiv. d She drew
Mary Crane and Miss FELTON, aside.
Girls" said she, You must never
breathe a syllable of this To any body.
Let the secret die with this poor little
woman"
But she died happy at last" said
Mary, with the tears running down her
checks. believing that her old sweet
heart was coming back TO her"
Yes, but that doesn't Justify our
cruelty" whispered isabel. And then
and there the three girls entered into a
compact of secrecy.
Miss Genevieve was buried in shady
corner of the village cemetery, and on
the very day of the funeral Isabel Islay
met tall, bearded stranger walking
along the street. scanning the houses
with keen. troubled eyes.
Can you tell me-" said Re. where
Miss Seaman lives-Miss Genevieve
Seaman
Isabel started.
Miss Seaman was buried this MORN
ing" said she .-Oh, I'm so sorry, Was
she friend Of yours"
They had stopped opposite the little
gate where the wheel tracks of the
hearse were yet visible. The sign
''Milliner aud Dress ker" yet ereal1ed
in the wind. the red sun was sinking
behind the low caves. and Miss Genny's
cat rubbed itself against the door sill as
il begging to De let in
a friend" repeated the stranger. as
he drew an old-fashioned miniature
from his pocket. ''See, here is her
picture. I've waited all these years to
make a home for her and now-she is
dead,-'
Isabel looked at the picture. Good
heavens, had Genevieve Seaman looked
as fair and dimpled and smiling as that?
And the thought flashed across her
mind that it was well that Capt. Glea-
son had not been undeceived. "Yes,
she repeated softly, ''she is dead"
And were you her friend?''
Yes, l was ner friend-at least as
much as anyone here" falteringly
owned Isabel. feeling like an impostor.
Then perhaps you can tell me some
thing Of her. / wanted TO surprise her
and now"
face away.
Isabel told him. in low, sweet voice.
all that she could-an that was good
and cheering and hopeful-and Capt
Gleason went back to the village hotel,
walking with his hands behind his
back. and his head dropping on his
breast
For the time he truly mourned the
sweetheart of his youth, but no one
cau grieve forever. Moss grows over
the fallen tree; violets bloom over the
new made grave. Poor Miss Genevieve
was dead and buried, and when the
next summer blossomed over the land
Capt. Gleason was married to Isabel
Islay.
III death was really so near her. I'm
n
happy" thought Isabel ''And Edward
will always think of her as young and
beautiful. But never, never will play
another practical joke. Helen Hurst,
in Kansas City Times.