River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1902-06-26

Hardwick, he had hired a horse and
carriage and driven over to call upon
his friends.
They were delighted to see him, and
Hospitality urged him to spend the
| night. He declined the invitation, how
ever, as he wished to take the first
train in the morning from the june
ton, and SO must drive back that even
ing.
They assured him that he could not
escape dining with them, as they had
postponed their dinner until eight
o'clock on account of the children's
party. He expressed his pleasure at
being able to do so, and they were in
full tide of earnest conversation when
Mile came into the room.
He was in the midst of a sentence
when his eye fell upon her, and he sud
denly stopped, evidently much i'm
pressed in some way by her appear
ance. He watched her intently while
she played, and at the close, when
others were applauding her for hav-
ing done so remarkably well, he went
over to the piano and began to talk to
| her.
Mrs. Hancock, seeing his interest in
the child, proposed to Mile that she
| should take him to the refreshments
tent for an ice. The arrangement was
most agreeable to both of her guests,
who were soon on such friendly terms
| that the gentleman went so far as TO
| admire his companion S dress.
eff you can buy such pretty things IN
Hardwick," said he, Il shall advise my
lady friends to come here to do their
spring shopping"
81 guess you were never in our Hard
wick stores" answered Mile, laugh
ing merrily at the idea. ''NO, indeed,
| this dress came from Parisi" and not
without pride, she glanced at her com
panion to observe the effect she was
producing by her surprising state
ment.
He looked as startled as she could
have wished.
'Is that where you do your shop
ping?" he inquired, smiling, though his
voice had curious sharp ring.
ooh, no, of course not, never was
there. My music teacher gave me this
"And. her name?'' he asked, breath
lessly.
"Miss Lester" said Mile.
He drew sharp breath. "Miss Mar
garet Lester?" he demanded.
Eyes, that is her name replied Mil
lie surprised in her turn at his excite
ment.
"And she is not married." continued
Mr.. Darrah.
,''No, indeed. She is all alone. Her
mother died last year, and she is very
sad and lonely"
Both father and mother dead! Poor
grill" he said, softly, and seemed lost
sumed his catechism.
"Where does she live?" he asked, alb
ruptly. "Not in this town."
Eyes, just below here" Mile replied,
"you can see the house from here; that
yellow one with the cupola," pointing
it out.
"Thank you very much,' said her
strange companion, and in moment
he was outside the grounds, hurrying
down the street.
Mile looked about her for minute
blanl1ly enough, but soon made her way
to the refreshment tent and RECALLED
herself on her own account.
At eight o'clock, the barges which
Judge Hancock had provided were
driven to the door to take the little
guests to their respective homes. AS
Mile made her adieus, Mrs. Hancock
asked her what she had done with Mr..
Darrah, and Mile told the story of his
sudden disappearance.
Mrs. Hancock and her husband
looked at each other in surprise, which
increased as their guest failed to APP
pear. They were not aware that he
was a friend of Miss Lester, whom they
knew but slightly.
Dinner was over, and the evening
passed, and still nothing was seen of
Mr.. Darrah. The clock had struck II;
the coachman had come in to inquire
if he should put the gentIeman's horse
up for the night, and the family were
debating as to the advisability of re-
firing, when the culprit appeared,
breathless and heated as though from
hurrying.
When he could speak he began his
apologies. He was assured that he
could be pardoned on only one condi-
ton: that he make a full and free ex-
PLANTATION of his erratic behavior.
He agreed that his rudeness demand
ed it, and, not without confusion, re-
lated his story.
Three years before, while living in
Paris, where his business interests de-
manded his presence, he had met Miss
Lester and become engaged to her.
Then a wretched misunderstanding
arose, and they quarreled and parted.
To change the proverb slightly, "They
quarreled in haste, to repent at leis-
ure." Soon after the Testers left
Paris and returned to America. He
heard accidently of Mr.. Testers death,
aes:l then rumor reached him of the
yeEng lady's approaching marriage,
but he soon lost all trace of her On his
return to America the previous winter,
he tried in vain for news of her. They
had no mutual friends of whom he
could inquire, and he could learn abso-
lutely nothing of her.
The dress which Mile wore was one
he well remembered, and aroused his
interest and curiosity at once. The
rest they knew.
Here peals of laughter met him, and
the judge said, gravely: "You have re-
lated events up to seven o'clock this
SC 41,oI IL, z