River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1894-12-20

until now the wintry daylight was be-
ginning II grow dim
Mrs Gather wood shivcrel and
wrapped her furs more closely around
her, as she tn u -ht Of the warmth and
light she had left uehind her. with the
music of u ppy childish voices
Mrs. Cathcrwood was you1g AMI
beautiful and a widow. She had beea
an old mans darling. and in return for
her faithful affection and compan-
ionship. he dying husband had en-
riched her with all his wealth.
In the second year of her widow 'sood
she had been persuaded To reent r 50
ciety. AID now for two seasons shr had
reignel a queen. sac was considered
n woman II b. euvicl. ami yet to-
day the hollowness IF her life la
come home u her with overwhelming
force. and she felt herself more desc
late than even those a q @ waits whose
happiness in their Christmas festival
she hal just been witnessing.
There was n great void in her life.
and she felt the neel of some emo
bling purpose. alI Of n strong sus-
tanning arm 20 I,aI her OF to better
things than thc frivolities which
seemed - hem her IN on every side.
If anyone had been at hand 70 tell
her that her life was not at all friv-
olous. X her numerous charities could
testify. her perfect lips would have
curled in scorn and she would have
made the homes. answer. My chari-
ties are fashionable fads; perhaps they
may DC the means OF helping Others,
but they do got help me"
Mrs. Cathcrvool hal left the high
road now for the quiet footpath across
the level stretch OF open meadow
which lay between the orphanagc and
the town. II was a favorite walk of
hers, beautiful in spring or early au-
tumn, and a place where her heart
seemed 10 tIIrob in unison with ma
ture; but il was cold and dreary
enough to-day. The western sky
CLEANED coljly upon her. suj the
shadows hal already begun to gather
over the town The biting wind came
sweeping across che meadow in vio-
lent gusts, AMI now and a-ain she was
obliged TO stop and wait until its mo-
mentary fury had been spent.
But in spite of the cold and the
dreariness. Mrs. CatherwOod seemed
IN no hurry - reach her home. In
truth there was a question upo1 her
mind which she must decide clearly
for herself before she could give her
answer 70 another, aud for that rea-
son she had chosen to take this sOli-
tary walk
In all probability that other was
even now awaiting her in her own
drawing room with all lovers i'm
patience
Harold Whitney had been as Mrs.
CathcrwOoI's shadow for many
months. and his attention hal pleased
and battered her until she found that
she could no longer keep him At arms
length
The decisive question hal been upon
her lips the night before. whel the ea-
trance Of another visitor had given
her this short and welcome respite
But rs he tenjerly pressed her hand
at parting, he had uurmu-cd: To
morrow al dusk I viii come fcr my an
swer. for my priceless Christmas gilt "
But was lie the man To help her up-
ward to tie broader. nobicr life for
which she yelrncd. and which sEs
found Sc hard u reach? Alas, she
knew too well that al her higher as
pirations would soon wjther in his
keeping: and yeti was 50 sweet 10
be loved. and She was SO alone,
y wilder gust Of wind came rushing
down upon her, and almost took her