River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1897-06-10

natural longing for ease and bright
ness and giriish pleasures crush down
even love.
She fairly hated the costly old turns
ture, even while size watched carefully
ever its packing by the truckmeu, who
were inclined to be impertineut to her
about its weight and her care. Even
Il could help them 50 much, If only
they were allowed TO sell it.
She got a hasty dinner at noon for
the others. out was too heated and tired
TO eat herself. II was not till mid
afternoon that the last load started for
the new house.
The truckmen. no had evidently had
something stronger than coffee TO drink
after dinner, and we're in hurry to ue
through, being paid by The job and not
the load, pilec the things on recklessiy
high. When Frances ventured to re-
monstrate, they were insolent.
Jack. with the protection of lis in
cipient manhood. was at the other
house: she could only stand aside and
pretend not to notice the half-drunken
fellows muttered contempt for won
ems and poor folks bossing.
The load was packed at last. II
browning piece was the beautiful old
inlaid secretary that had been the pride
Of Miss Deborah's library. As the
horses moved under the whip and oath,
and the wagon started, making a too
sharp turn into the road from its
tacked-up position opposite the front
gate, tie secretary trembled on its un-
steady perch - tottered - fell and
crashed in pieces on the sidewalk.
The horses got another cut for their
awkwardness and without apology or
comment. the tTuckmen drove hastily
of. They were to be paid at the new
house. and they hoped To get their
money before news of their carelessneSs
reached there.
To Frances, overweight as she was
in mind and body. the accident seemed
the last stroke of fate. She sat down
among the ruins and cried, with her
apron to her eyes, careless who might
see her.
Dick Stedman saw her afar as he
came up the quiet, elm-shaded street,
and arm .ed on run in his anxiety.
My dearest girl. what are yea do
ing?" cried he. Are you hurt. or what
has happened?"
He was going on his knees beside her,
hut Frances stopped hith by rising with
tie dignity Of all the colonial Dan
fcrths, emnodi Il in a very small wom-
an wearing a faded calico dress and
large ginghanl apron.
Her pink cambrlc sweeping-cap was
wildly askew on her roughened dark
hair, ana her small. flushed face was
wet with tears and smeared with marks
from her dusty al ron; but she was alb
surdly pretty in spite of all. with her
great. dark eyes moist and shining,
end her soft childish mouth trying 20
keep from quivering.
Don't be alarmed, Dick" she said.
"aud don't DO the distracted Romeo out
here; for old Miss Wichitt has been
watching through her blinds all day
10 see our things as they go, and she's
probably looking at you now. I'm
not hurt in the least, but my Grand
aunt DebOrah's writing-desk has had an
accident, and is a noble wreck in ruin
Gus perfection. Behold it," with a
tragic gesture down at tae ruins. Who
could deny tear to such literally fallen
GRANDEUR"
Glue might do it more good than
tears" suggested Dick. critically eX-
aiming the wreck. We've been SO
ausy at the store that l couldn't
get of TO help you till now, but |
thought that even this late. you might
have something for me to do. III be-
gin by seeing what can be done for this
desk"
Very little could be done for it, evi-
IDENTIFY. The heavy fall on the stones
bad fairly split it in pieces. Its spindle
legs had sustained several compound
fractures: one side was in splinters,
the shattered drawers had fallen out.
and bits of delicate inlaying lay all
about the pavement.
Dick went on piling the pieces
methodically at one side; then moving
the main part, picked up some papers
and rose 70 give them TO Frances.
Your letters will be blowing all
about the street if you don't take care.
he said.
CnE dGeepleu AutAh rather tutAuuSAA
Letters There were none in the
desk. No one has used il since my
crand-auut did. These must be some
of hers, crowded out of a drawer and
in behind the frame somehow. II can't
he any harm To see What they are,
though. I suppose"
She uufolded them as she spoke.
There was an unimportant receipted
bill or two, a tax assessment of the year
Miss Deborah died. then a cracking.
legal looking sheet - pIrchr MT.
Il. Deborah Danfurth. do make and
publish this my last will and testa-
nsent," read Frances. Dick. il must be
it can't bet j. another will of hers,
and in my fathers favor, And ii is
dated after the one that disinherited
him"
The DanfOrths moved once more be-
fcre that spring had deepenetl into sum
Eier. Zcbedee Smith was an honest
man. il hard one. and the new-fouHd
will was uuimpeachable.
lie did not attempt to resist il, and
Mr.. DanfoFth was liberal to him in TAX
ing back his own. And the Danforths
moved into Miss Deborah's stately old
stone house in time to have Frances
r,urriad from there adj = World