The River Falls times. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1894-1933, 1898-12-27

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l mentally determined to do likewise
After that I was fairly hauntad ~,
| duplicates Of my cloak made after srosl
an exclusive model. The church wbioI
I attended had free seats and narsou1
were at liberty to sit wherever 49,
chose. l generally took the same ono
every Sunday as was the custom ~
other regular attendants. One dav ~
| entered the pew and knelt for silont
prayer l noticed a stranger in If os
rather, saw garment like mina.
thought at first that it was Nan Shaw
but soon discerned that it was
stranger. "The lady from Denver +bir
time surely" I thought, but did MT
address her. The story of the c,oak
| fear intruded itself into my PRAYERS
far more than it should have done
| l was quite pleased with Miss Shaw
and as she had so kindly invited ma
returned her call. l told her of tba
lady at church and we laughingly dis.
cussed the question of forming cIub
of those who wore cloaks of our "ey.
elusive" pattern, l enjoyed nv visit
greatly and remained later than
thought SO had to hasten my stems
homeward. I was rushing along tba
street toward the car station when.
Pardon me, are you from Denyer?"
greeted my ear, and I turned to sea
the smiling face of Mr.. Jackson.
With laughing negative ] was
about to pass on when he looked at
his watch and declared that l had lost
my car, and as l had a full hour IN
wait invited me to take supper with
him at popular restaurant not far
off. We had lively chat over a dainty
repast and time passed unnoted until
Mr.. Jackson remarked that as it was
so late if it was agreeable to me he
would be happy to escort me to see
Booth and Barrett who were starring
together at that time. Such a treat
was not to be lightly passed by and
stif1ed my feeling that possibly Dear
Nam might object, Chine forever
Fred" taking another girl to an en-.
tertainment.
This was but the beginning of de-
lightful acquaintance. At first I would
make some passing remark about Miss
Shaw and she occasionally made one
of the party when we passed an even
ing together, but gradually We ceased
to miss her. Once I taxed him with
neglecting her, when he calmly re-
piled that she had Tilted him, saying
that she was like most girls who did
not care for attentions from their own
brothers when some other girls
brother was around. Quite to my sur
prise I learned that Mr.. Jackson was
Armies half brother, both having had
the same mother. Fred was ten years
older than his sister and as they were
orphans, had been made her guardian
An intense affection for his mother
led him to be very tender of her
youngest child.
1t was somewhat strange to me to
note the intense relief that this eX-
PLANTATION gave me. It was New Years
eve and we were going to the service
the next day. He had been passing
the evening with me. We were to
meet Annie and a friend at the church
and l was to go home with her and
spend the holiday.
What Fred thought of the expression
on my face as I realized that my absurd
jealousy of Annie was without founda-
ton, l was soon to learn. AS l glanced
at him 1 caught a look of puzzled sur
prise and then he seized both my
hands in his as he drew me to him.
"And so you were Jealous OF my
little sister, he said, "Ah, Nellie, my
darling, the question that [ dared not
ask is answered. I love you dearly anu
have been getting up my courage u
ask for that greatest New Years gllt
that you can give, your own sweet Sell
to be my bride. May [ claim it, Tor
know now that you love me?"
Fred blesses that cloak which frSI
made US acquainted and although -!
have a handsome sealskin now, VIII
not consent to parting with it. no
looks over my shoulder as I write anu
saws that l should have called tn!9
story 'My Fortunate Cloak" since :.
brought me a husband. Men are ~
conceited.