River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1893-03-30

girl to her new home, and Martha ard
! had full scope for our hospitable
plans. IL was not that ! had anything
TO do, for W it'll nlsr small family Martha
declared she had hard work u keep
TIE servants busy. in spite of the size
of the house, but I liked to fuss about
and select pretty ornaments and trim
mings for my cousins room
Perhaps I threw myself into these
preparations with more energy, be
cause ! had never quite recovered from
the heartache it gave me TO part with
Herbert Wilson. Two years before
papa had sent him of TO seek his for
tune. and lived meantime on the hope
of his finding l. Il was romantic
little love story. and, being 50 much
alone. / had suffered more than papa
knew. so I was glad 10 think Of having
q conn anton Of ms own age.
She came with papa. and rushed into
my arms. apparently as pleased rs
was. / had pulled down my face TO
express my sympathy with her recent
loss, but IL was wasted sentiment She
did not appear u have amy feeling about
it. and longer acquaintance convinced
me that she had no depth of feeling
about anything
But She was charming, little, fairy
like blonde, with fluffy yellow hair,
soft blue eyes and "A complexion like
straw berries and cream. | felt gigan-
tio when / "a - our reflections IN long
mirror, for 7 was tall. decidedly b-d-
nette and. " hiic was just six months
tie younger. looked five years older
than the child-lit1e little butterfly.
II was pretty 10 see how She enjoyed
the luxuries about her. tine dainty food,
the coy arm chairs and, above all. the
idicness- Poor little mite. She had
faced poverty ever nee she was born,
and she enjoyed comfort Is iuuch IS a
kitten
Il mean 10 marry uch man, she
told me, cor not marry at ala Lots and
lots Cf money, That * my idea of per
feet bliss. And. by the way, BeSS,
why don't you marry MIR. Gordon
laughed heartily. Ever since
could rcmcm ber had been asze why
I didn't marry Mr.. Gordon. IL had
wcoed me with dolls and sugar plums
WIFI; ! was mere baby, and his de
votiuas vcrc apparent 10 the most
careless Evcn Ecrt. nv own Eert. had
occasional spasms OF jealousy, and IN
our last conversation had said, implor-
Ilgly.
'.YOu'n give me fair chance, Bes-
siee VOC won't marry q 1rdone"
And ! ,plemuly promised never 10
marry Charles Gordon
stop laughing.~ Lizz-e said We
had found She had always been called
I.izzie. so there was no confusion from
our both having our grandmother ;
name ..Stop laughing. and tell me
wny you don't marry MIR. Gordon They
say he Is awfully rich
And they can say he * awfully silly
and aw fu'i y dreadful. cried He Is
half a fol, Lizzie. and lie Is old enough
TO be nv father MARRY Mr.. Gordon, in
decd
Tel me p She said. nesting down
in ms arms. rs There not what the
novels call another
Yes. my dear. there Is"
Where Is hc2'
II don't know. I said. rucfully; The
was sent away 10 seek his fortune. lie
Is a poor man. and father thought
was too young 10 know my own mind,
But he has seat me Christmas card
and an Easter egg every time the days
come round - that I know lie IS alive
and docs not forget me.
How jolly said Lizzie. "And Is
that kis ring
Yes: yc each had one mate 10 a.
der, Just alike-tyyo claspcd hands. and
on the reverse side our initials en-
twined
How romantic said Lizzie
II don't believe YOU have any heart
] cried. Indignantly.
Not the tiniest. tinicst bit" she
said. with perfect good humor; bat.
Bessie. il there IS another can't
have Mr. Gordon
You ridiculous baby, / said, Won
need not ask my permission. wouldn't
marry him if had never heard 81 an
other
But. after all. Il was rather morsify-
ing &c my vanity To see how readily she
could make my lifelong lover herslave.
She was 80 pretty. and her mourning
was the merest pretense-jus' enough
black to set of her dazzling complex
ion. and she knew we'll the power Of
beauty Then her childlilSe. innocent
ways were abrasive 10 the elderly