River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1897-12-02

tsrrassed. The stranger was the first
70 put US al our ease.
- was scarcely surprised 10 hear Of
YOUR wedding, Mrs. Brayton,T he said.
= trus; il Is not too late 10 offer my con
crafulations.'
The evening passed pleasantly and
quir kly. aud | could see that WEI was
sorry when our guest rose 10 leave.
From HAT day Mayue Perrin was our
constant visitor Once when We we're
alone he even touched lightly on the
past, with 2 .augh ~ bis own hurt. Il
would have seemed bitter mo-ktry 10
tell hi.n Of that after reL Of mine, so
7 said nothing; bu; sp' Of all. could
not feel nj my ease Perhaps il WAS that
once or twice caught his glance fixed
on me. when he did not mean ] should
detect il. With light Of mocking mall
re ia his eve. bat was not well this
SUMMER, aEi was apt TO have foolish
fame es Iuea. too. Will had grown so
Toni Of him that he would only have
laughed or repToved me for indulging
: such folly.
So the summer W re away the harvest
was gathered. and The leaves she'd Their
res, uium OF color over the land, but iu
ly heart IL was springtime, new with
hope and promise. for in my mother
arms 10y the little helpless messenger
Of Gods goodness and love. al my
pride. all nay happiness, VIII shared.
and II seemed as though this wee
daughter Of ours bat seemed to closer
knit the bond between MS. Still t5y time
now, Ga course. was babV's. and when
several times through the winter VIII
did not come home until baby and had
been long asleep. tried 10 stan the anN-
ious feeling al my heart by remember
ing thar this was 50. aud that be. a man,
needed change But after I had un-
dressed baby and laid her away in her
little crib. the hours would pass slowly
and YEARLY until Z could not sleep If
:r;ed. aud the first harsh words ! had
heard from VIII W re uttered IS hen be
found me. wide-el ed and pale. waiting
ard watching for the sound Of his
horses hoofs or his welcome step in the
hall
SAW less Of Mayue Perrin in these
times, but. though Viii never said so.
knew these evenings were spent with
him. When the first suspicion of how
they were spent came 10 me knew not;
but II grew and grew until certainty
took Us place. VIII had grown silent.
anxious. distracted. ftful and moody.
Even baby failed TO rouse Ljm. and
watched him with a sinking heart, long
ing o speak. yet hardly daring. Mas,
it was for him to break the silence.
ore day put int his hands $1,000.
uy li'ilc all. asking him 10 deposit IT
fIr me. D. had been sent me the day
before on the selling of some bonds from
which he had determined to Withdraw
IT,
1t Is baby's nest egg I said. with a
smile. IF her father prospers 7 hope it
may be her dover. If not. we have il
for rainy day"
All right. little wife" he answered
Il will be back early tonight Don't
put baby 10 sleep until come"
How bright and CHEEKY looked the
little parlor rs the hour drew near " hen
[ expected him. Even baby seemed to
know her blue ribbons had been put on
for an especial purpose. Bot blhy's
IIime had long passed, am baby's
cyelidS were fast closing. spite of her
anxious endcavors 10 keep the sand
man" away. and still ne came not. At
last I knew the latter endeavor fruit
less. aud 50 sadly united the blue rio
bous and laid away the little one
in her crib. Ny supper was uutasted;
I could not eat. \ strange. terrible op-
preston was creeping over me. Mid
u. ght had long struck. and stiI | was
alone. Baby had awakened and been
bushed 70 Sleep again. could not read.
I could not work ] could only pace