River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1901-04-25

All IlSHl- nut INV ~ WIS tOp ldLt
and he had broken with her irreyoca-
bly,.
It was two years later. Lady Mar
shall was sitting in her drawing-room
in Mayfair, talking seriously to her
niece.
"Sir Neil Chester would be an ex.
cellent match, Maud. I am delighted
he is coming to stay for a few days"
she said, Il do hope you win make
the best of your opportunities"
Maud smiled rather too confidently.
From my previous experiences /
don't think my task will be very diff
ficult," she answered taking a fur
tive look at her fair face in the glass.
Perhaps not, if prettiness were the
only matter in question. But your
admirers have been only boys so far.
Sir Neil is quite 30 years, and has trav-
eled great deal; indeed, it is only
few months since he came home from
Africa. And a man does not only re-
quire his wife to be pretty--it is much
more important to him if she is
smart and charming; and you know"
looking anXiously at her neice, you
do require n good deal of dressing.
You look twice as well when your
hair is properly done, and Elsie does
not understand the shape of your
head. You never look so nice as when
that girl from Lascelle's in Bond
street has dressed your hair. I really
think that I shall have her round here
every morning during Sir Neil's visit"
And as Maud was delighted with
this idea she wrote off at once.
Sir Neil arrived about tea time, and
Maud carried out her purpose and
made the most of her opportunities.
Chester had altered great deal dur
ing these two years, for he was very
bronzed and his hair was growing
gray. There was also a stern express
sion on his face when in repose, and
his features rarely relapsed into
smile. He wondered vaguely what had
become of Alyne. OF course, she was
married-had probably married that
brute, Osbert Bowden. And his face
would darken at the thought.
He mounted the stairs in Lady Mar
shalps house a little YEARLY on his
way up to dress for dinner-he was
not looking forward to his few days
visit
His thoughts were so far away that
he did not notice a girlish figure COM
ing down until she was quite close
to him.
He stood aside at once to let her
pass, and a cursory glance assuring
him that she was pretty, he looked
again, and his breath came quickly.
"Alyne!" he cried in hoarse voice.
"Alync!"
The girl shivered little, and for a
moment her large violet eyes met his
full.
81 did not think you would recog-
nize me-" she said. half nervously.
Not recognize you?" he repeated
while his eyes devoured her face-that
same face that had haunted him so
long-paler, indeed, and thinner, but
still, thank God, the same.
Are you staying here?" he cried,
eagerly
A faint smile curved her lips.
mo! Oh, MOI" she answered. 'I
have only come to dress Miss Mar
shall's hair. / am hairdresser now,
you know, with Lascelle's in Bond
street"
You" he cried "You a hairdress-
err. You-the daughter of the squire
of landlord? You are joking
Her face was grave enough now.
1T is no joking matter to me-" she
said sadly. "My father has been dead
more than year" and she turned
away to hide the tears that would
come to her eyes.
"But-but-" he cried-"he was
rich"
Alyne interrupted him by putting
up warning hand, for the sound of
an opening door upstairs fell on her
ears.
II must CO." she said, hurriedly:
and please please do not say that
= ~ ~ nave AAiGb llAG htlOiGs L HtY
know nothing about me, and perhaps
it would prevent my coming here
again." and without a word of fare
well. She hurried down the stairs.
"Alyne!" he cried, "Alynel"
But she had disappeared. and with
groan of disappointment he assembled
the staircase.
He was late for dinner that night
He was longing to ask about Alyre,
but his tongue was tied He could
only glance at Maud's head and notice
how much better looking she APP
peared with her hair artistically ar
ranged.
Hoping for some allusion to Alyne,
he admired it to Maud later in the
evening, but she only blushed and
bridled, and took all the credit to her
self
lie thought at first that he would
go TO Laseclle's in Bond street. and
then he felt that 1t would be futile.
and that he would never see Alvne,
SO he decided to wait until the even
ing, and if She did not come again he
would write The desire to see her
and % talk to her grew stronger with
I