River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1897-02-25

dear. don't suppose I'll ever travel
at all again. l have laughed at dear
mamma. and thought her fussy.
ought to have considered that she knew
the world better than L.
And then came long whistle. The
man in the corner rose. snatched up
his satchel. the guard unlocked the
door-.Newcast!,, ma'am; you're at
your journeys end" and he picked up
her valise.
Will IONA Sheldon ever again know
such a sense of relief. or will any other
face ever be so welcome 10 her as was
that of the burly guard, as he made
this announcement to her? She was
safely on the platform, ard coach
man narrowly watching the passengers.
stepped up 10 her, sayir mir. Now
bray's carriage for Miss Ieldon."
Il am She" she said, IN a voice which
her mother would not have recognized.
LET me have your valise. then" said
the coachman. extending his hand.
He opened the door. and iona. stepping
into the carriage, sank back on the
cushions and burst into hysterical
tears.
Tle man who had been in the corner.
standing with his satchcI in his hand,
gave a low " thistle as the light met his
gaze through the window. Walking
forward to the coachmap, he said:
Give me lift, Riley; guess I'll ride
with you"
"All right, Mr.. john" said the coach
indn, lifting up the satchel. Come
down from Edinbro. sire"
mot directly. Riley. Let me down
at the gate. and don't tell them I've
come. want to have a bit of joke with
them"
Hall right. sir"
$50 that is the travelling young lady
who is TO he bridemaid tomorrow. and
stand up with me. If I'm not much
sstaken. she will be in no condition to
stand up"
lie swung himself lightly down at the
gate. The carriage was driven up to
/ the hall. iona was helped out and
warmly greeted by her friend Louise.
while Riley, to avoid answering ques-
/ tiOns. drove away.
The first greeting over. Louise looked
about her.
where is Riley? Didn't cousin John
come? 1 thought may be he would
come with you; he went down to Lon
| don a few days ago"
mo, there was no one with me. only
i horrid''-and here Mysteries again
/ threatened her.
"My dear Zona," said Louise. noticing
her agitation. "let me take you in; you
are positively trembling with cold"
"Oh. yes; do let me get up upstairs
awhile! l had a dreadful time. I'll
/ tell you all about it,"
And in Louise's snug room the pros
pectiye bridemaid recounted her woes.
/ and was pitied and comforted, and as
/ sured that she should not be allowed
to go back alone.
| Cousin John Pierpont. who is going
to be best man. is going down and he
will see you safely back. You know he
/ is an American. a graduate in medicine
I and has been studying in Edinburgh.
lie is gOSg TO spend this winter in Lon
/ don hospitals, and know you will like
him. hear a hustle now. believe he
has come. VIII you excuse me till 60
down and see?"
OF course IONA would. and Louise
soon ran up again.
"Yes, il is he; and now, dear, dinner
is ready. Let me help you"
oh, Louise, dear. YOU must excuse
me from dinner. can't go down with
this horrible black eye"
Thus Louise went down alone TO din.
U l. T.. z -.
/ journey which her friend had.
Would she recognize the villain, do
you suPpose?" asked DIR. Pierpout. who
had listened with much interest to
LOuise's recital.
IL don't know. indeed" said Louise
she says he was a tall. powerful fell
lOw-yery sinister looking
you had better let me see her eye
at all vents" said her cousin. 'lf you
don't she will not he tit for duty To NOR
row"
"ZOna." said Louise. as she came in
after dinner, Cousin John thinks you
had better let him examirr Jour eve
Tie says il is dangerous 70 let the in
tiammation run on. and he thinks il
will be quite we'll tomorrow if you get
good nights rest"
well. IL you wish it, don't want 10
spoil your wedding, after all"
Miss Sheldon. my cousin. Dr. Pier
punt," said Louise. as she ushered in the
doctor. iona. whose vision was much
impaired by the sore eve. did not rec
oguize him as the man in the corner.
He merely bowed.
~ clean pocket handkerchief.
Louise" he said. cheerily.
At the sound of his voice iona looked
up quickly. A twinkle shOne in John
/ PieIpOnt's blue eyes.
"Now. Miss Sheldon. one moment and
+ il Is out" he said.
What instant relief" exclaimed
I IONA. Thank you. doctor"
You are quite welcome" he replied
''By tomorrow I hope you will have
quite forgotten IT,"
There was little sleep that night for
Zcna Sheldon.
what little idiot have been, How
could | have imagined such things If
him2 lie is tail and pow erful-that was
right. Iiut dark and murderous lool,-
ing. Why. he is fairer than l. What
blue eyes. and what pleasant smile.
1 Oh. how can I meet him i'm the morn
( ing2 ! wish Louise had not told him.
But sleep came at last, and iona woke
radiant as ever. She dressed and went
out into the park TO settle how she
should meet DIR. PierPont. But il was
settled for her: a sudden turn in the
path brought her face TO face with him.
! 4 moments coufusion-a flush that
Il ed her whole face. and then the smile
on his became contagious. and she
burst into a peal - merry laughter.
Z which he echoed.
DIR. PieIpont." she said. Il hope you
viii be merciful and keep my secret.
II am not likely to tell 4 secret so
much to my disadvantage. What wds
IL? Nillainous-"
please, doctor" she iInplored. =
did not notice your looks al all. | had
parted with my senses"
Very well, then" he said. 1T is a
compact. Let US go back to the house
for breakfast and say no more about i. +"
Had not the whole household been
absorbed in the wedding. they must
have seen that there was a secret under
standing between the comrairiots
which quickly ripened into intimacy.
| And ZOna Is 10 go hack 10 london