River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1893-02-09

more than mere shelter. In the open
crate the gas log burned with irritating
regularity and precision, Haunting its
beams IN the face of the useful but
InrOmantic steam-cOiL
BE hind n gay screen slightly ajar,
there was a tiny gas-stOve and sing
ne kettle; the haIf-open door of cabi-
act revealed odd pieces Of china and
shining silver.
This is what the sun shone upon
through the big east bay window on
his morning of which I write
This an Alice Kin gsley at her break
fast table. She makes pretty picture
as she sits thus The domestic signs
AMI symbols are becoming TO her. They
Eive her an air of homeiDess that
makes one wish for a cup Of the fra
grant coffee Just for the sake of see
ng her pour it out
She has a wealth of brown hair. sin
cere hazel eyes, and a most expressive
mouth. She is tall, slow Of motion and
of speech No one would speak of her
As pretty woman. but any observing
person would sec that she had not
stopped at prettiness but had passed
On to some thing better.
She turns away from the table and
burying her feet in the fur rug before
the CRATE reads her morning mail.
There are notes from two of her pupils
asking to be excused from lessons that
day. Also one from Sig. Nirauti who
informs her in his best dictionary Eng
lish that owing - the sudden illness of
certain prominent singers the concert
arranged for that evening will be post
pOued. and that, therefore. her services
as accompanies will not be required.
Then there Is another. and this she
-ead twice, YES. three times Then she
said-she had fashion OF talking aloud
when alone: There's no unailoyed
pleasure in this world, sure. Now.
owing to tine deferred lessons and con-
-ert. long day and evening stretched
out before me IN which To think my
own thoughts aud do such work a.
pleases me. Aud here Is this wretched
letter To worry and torment me. Why
should the writer fancy himself in love
with me? And why should he do such
an utterly absurd ami useless thing as
to ask me to marry him? For q
Is useless. OF course Still, perhap-
I might do worSe-pOsSibly-" Then
she rose ami walked to the MIR
ror. The reflection was not uupleas-
ant She smiled as she looked n
It. But she said: There's co use IN
being fattered. Alice; the fact re
mains that this i your birthday and
that YOU are thirty-ive years old to-
day Valentines day at that Here in
your hand Is an offer OF marriage from
an emineutly worthy aud respectable
man who i apparently willing and
anxious To take You away from cell
twenty-six aud lis kitcheny-parlor air.
and set Won in a handsome house where
YOU wouldn't have 10 hide your head in
a bureau drawer. bake and boil IN 2
single dish or eat bouCh'en pie; who
would make n lady of leisure of you
aud who. best Of all. or what ought 10
be hest of all would love you and be
good u you, aud vet" she continued.
Won hesitate. with the little lines com
Ing thicker aud faster around your eyes
and mouth; with work and worry and
WEAKNESS stretchsn ont indie fnitelv
before YOU You are tired OF teaching
music Your voice will fail Won ore
of these DAYS. and your position a first
soprano in 81 Marks viii be given 20
some one else. And you hesitate.
whereas YOU ought % fall on your
knees and thank the LOrs for such
piece OF good fortune. That Is. l sup
pose vcu ought according TO the worlds
wav Of looking at such things"
Then she sat down before the fire
and fell into silence. She was not in
sensible 70 the mateei advantages Of
fered 10 her in ttss letter from Mr.
Browne, wholesale dealer IN canned
goods and gro,,eries. she loved ease
aud beauty and luxury She could use
them to the adorniHg of any position |
that might be offered her She was I
tired of work and the continual strug- /
yle for breaG.
Fifteen years before she had 1
come 20 the city TO join The |
great eoEssnJ sf women who