The River Falls times. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1894-1933, 1897-12-07

Where is Carmen? she artlculated
as we'll as she was able
Carmen has been called indoors
and came here in search of you. Why
have you deserted US, Margaret? what
is the matter?"
Nothing"
'"That's not true Something must
have been the cause OF these tears.
Are you unhappy, Pearl?"
Eyes; l am unhappy" burst forth the
girl, passionateIy; because = because
you like Carmen better than you do
me-
s.Who told you 500"
Il can see it. / have been watching
you just now under the mulberry-trea
and-and- you took her hand and held
it,
Ruthven did not reply, except bv
taking Pearls hand and pressing it.
She snatched it away.
Don't do that! You only do II to
please me, and it's no good.
ooh. Margaret, if you only knew"
II do know. I have guessed it, Don't
tell me any more. | have always felt |
was not worthy to be your FRIEND,
whom you picked up from the gutter;
but I wish you had never talked to me,
nor had taught me anything, because
it is so much harder to bear now than
it would have been.
Ruthven was trembling with delight.
Every word the child in her innocence
uttered brought him nearer and nearer
to the blessed truth, that she loved him
and was jealous of his affection, and
that if ne offered, she would accept it
from his hands. But, like an angler
who has secured his fish, he began to
play with it.
''What is harder to bear, my dear?"
teYour caring for Carmen. Of course,
she's filter for you to care for than l
am-and if it hadn't been her it would
have been somebody else, and then |
must have gone away; only it is so
soon, and you spoke SO GROSSLY to me
at dinner, though | didn't mean to say
anything wrong and-and | am so
miserable, said Margaret, incoherent-
ly, as she burst into another flood of
tears.
Ruthven let her cry herself out be-
fore he spoke again. Then he said:
Pearl, have you ever thought that
may marry some day?'
ooh! don't"
"What! don't marry Well, it all
depends upon you whether do or not"
upon me? How can that be-"
Because there is only one girl in
all the world that l would make my
wife, and | am not sure if she will have
me-"
'sCan l make her do sou
II think you can. | am afraid she
will think I am too old and gray to be
her husband perhaps she will say
am too stout
ooh, Mr.. Ruthven, don't laugh about
it.
"Or she may not like my double eye
glasses, or my gray hair, or dozen
other things; but if tell you her name,
will you promise to try and pursuade
her to marry me, Margaret?'
IF can, replied Margaret, in sti-
fled voice
cob, am sure you can, if you
choose, because you know her so we'll,
and all her likes and dislikes. But
don't let her answer in hurry. Tell
her to take time to consider, and not
say No all at once"
what is her name?"
Come nearer, and | will whisper it
to you
The girl obeyed him, and Ruthven
put his arm round her waist and drew
the small, wet face against his own.
oh, Mr. Ruthven, you mustn't! She
wouldn't like it,
go and ask her, then; but you don't
yet know who she is. Well, then, lis
ten. The girl whom | love best in all
the world, and want to have for my
very own is called put your face closer
or somebody may overhear us-she is
called Margaret O'Reilly.'
Mr.. Ruthven, you are laughing at
me-
Laughing at you, my sweetest. mo-
It is / who fear you may laugh at me
Pearl, tell me it is not all the insaneSt
folly on my part. Say you will try &c
consider whether it is not possible you
may be my wife,
But the girl could not speak. she
was dumb with surprise, excitement
and pleasure. She could only lay pas
siye in Ruthven's arms while he COW
cred her face and hands with kisses
He was thus occupied when an ap-
preaching step made him suddenly re-
Ii1,n11i hnld Of ko1. and sat M