The River Falls times. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1894-1933, 1896-10-20
Bv BEATRICE WHITLEY.


half way home / nearly turned back
to try my luck again with you; but, re
Numbering your face as / had last
seen it, thought it wiser not to try"
''Had you come you would have been
too late to find me. for soon met with
aa-carriage in which l drove Lome."
mot really2 You don't mean it? 1
thought all the cabs and carts We're
we'll on their way back before you left
the station"
''You had forgotten the carriers
cart
He laughed; they were sailing I'M
pleasantly near the wind; he must
change the subject.
$50 you came in the guiSe of a par
eel? What fortunate carrier! | am
glad you were spared tie walk, though
l am inclined to think you deserved to
suffer for refusing my eScOrt!' then,
with a sudden happy thought: you
pass through pretty country on the
way here, don't your
Exceedingly" with a disappointing
lack of enthusiasm.
you do not know the Rivers Meet
Vale, near here?"
You must see it"
Eyes; I should like to go there
''It's perfect bit of scenery. 1T
beats anything [ ever saw in any
country, and l have done a tireSOme
bit Of knocking about i'll my life. The
rivers come in contact in a narrow val
ley between a brace of granite tors.
There is such tumult over the meet
ing of the waters that you can hear he
splashing and the roar half mile off.
Powders from the cliff have rolled
down into the bed of the river, and the
water lashes at them all day long aud
sends up clouds Of spray which keeps
the air cool, even in the hottest sum-
mer morning. The Osmunda RECALLS
grows eight feet on the banks. Inland
you get view over the moor, and sea-
ward you can see right away beyond
MOrte Point
'How beautiful
Indeed, it is beautiful"
Scenery was a stimulating and STIR
ring topic. Mr.. Jones felt that he had
not hitherto fully appreciated the beau
ties of North Devon.
'"The morning after the ball. we are
going to drive up there for a blow"
he continued. eve are all going, a
largish party. We shall take lunch
and make a day of it. It's rather a
difficult place to get at; the roads are
eXecrable. You will come with us,
won't you? You would love the Vale,
and my mother would be pleased to
have you"
Helen's eyes had sunk to the roses
on her knee; she hesitated and he
eagerly pressed his advantage.
Il will get the carriers cart, if that
is the only conveyance you fancy; and
if [ mayn't drive you, at least / may
walk by the horses head and crack the
whip occasionally?"
MAY leave it open?"
'No," he said, boldly; ''that is just
what you may not do. | hate uncer-
tainty worse than misfortune. If you
will come, it will be very kind Of you;
but l will make UP my mind to bear
the disappointment
ut must deperd upon my aunt y
with an accession of dignity that the
young man did not seem to remark.
II thought it depended on you," he
said frankly. IF it depends upon her,
it is easily arranged and forthwith
he arose from his chair, quilted his
nonplussed n:Ianion, and, turn
ing his shoulder upon her, address
ed Miss Elizabeth. He had hardly fin
ished his petition for permission for
Helen to join their Rivers Meet pic
mic before it was gratefully accorded.
Whose picnic is it, Albert?' asked
Lady Jones, rising as she spoke, pre-
paratory to taking leave. II hadn't
heard a word of it. Dear me! fancy
you must have made q mistake, for /
do not think we are invited"
Its all right, mother" he replied,
calmly. "The girls are going, and all
the people in the house. 1t is our own
picnic, but it's rather premature to
talk of it, for the weather's so uncom-
monty unsettled down here in the
vest
When the visitors had gone, the elder
Miss Milford waXed eloquent over their
charms and flooded her discourse with
their praises.
"Such genial and friendly people,
love; the young man SO handsome and
so easy! If poor Lady Jones is not
quite what we are accustomed to in
polish, yet her deficiencies are conceal
ed by good nature People are sadly
unlzind about them. Jealousy, love, is
at the root of all unkindness. Between
ourselves, Helen, I think that nice
Young man has taken a fancy to you.
You have no idea how he started when
you were bidding his mamma good
by-it was almost uncivil; but then he
has such handsome eyes!''
HE is very self-satisfied and con-
ceited.'' said the younger lady, with
cold elaboration.
Dear, dear, you astonish me, Helen!
From your manner and general air /
quite thought-well, well, really could
not tell you what did think; old maids
are fanciful"
''I wonder if they are as fanciful as
young ones,' thought the girl, dipping
her sweet face down in the basket