River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1903-12-24
he? How funny! But to return TO our
serious conversation let us state first

looks; you see that | am modest; I have
certain amount of money, a fair intel
ligcnce and heart that is absgiutely
free. You are bachelor, you belong
to the same circle in society th2t dc,
your fortune is equal to if not greater
than my own, and you are good looking
enough to win the heart of any woman.
"You have pretty wit and ire
pxoachabIe manners. In a word, there
would seem to be great deal of pro-
priety in a marriage which you appear
to wish so eagerly. But there remains
the question of the heart.
"I can fairly hear him say:
"'My heart, madame, the heart that
have humbly laid at your feet, is as
pure as that of child"
She stops suddenly and runs to the
door at the back.
"Ahl MercifuI goodness! thought
/ heard some one moving in the next
room. Some one-it is NJ. de Ludre-I
am sure it is He has bribed Jean to
go away so that he may be alone with
me. Ali if he were gentleman he
would never do that. CLOSING the door
she locks it rapidly)
There, that is an insult that you
brought upon yourself, sir! He signs;
he bewails his sad fate If only would
be kind. Well, my friend, | will read
your letter: | will read it Immediately.
Only, in your turn be prudent, be pa
tent Go away, beseech you. l will
talk with you later, this evening.
will, promise you.
81 don't hear anything more. (She
opens the door and looks through NO
one there-no one-he has gone. Did
he come at ALL wonder, or was it mere
ly the autumn wind blowing through
the hall?
what an afternoon! My nerves are
all gone to pieces. If M. de Ludre wasn't
there, if he really didn't come at all,
have suspected him WRONGLY have
slandered him. In reparation, ought
to read his letter; besides, he will not
have written anything that he has not
already told me. (She picks up letter
from the table and starts to open it, then
catches sight of the other lying beside
IT'D
81 mustn't make mistake and take
the one that isn't meant for me. But
how can | tell which is which? They
are both the same shape, the same size
and both are without an address. One
of them belongs to me, and | have every
right to read it; but which is it?
81 can't make out any writing
through the envelopes. What shall
do? Truly my sense of honor is likely
to have a terrible trial. The letter that
l didn't care a straw about reading two
minutes ago, am now all on fire to see.
"Ah! / have an idea; will put both
letters back and draw but one. The first
l touch will be mine, if there is prov
idence in chances
She drops both letters into the hat,
takes out one, and after moments
pause tears open the envelope and de-
cides to read it.
TT is centuries since l have written
you
"Ah! that is not meant for me, l am
sure. However, l am not sorry for my
mistake. Let us see my letter, now.
(She opens the second letter. Nine.
la Baronne, permit me to ask the help
of your ever ready charity and to solicit
your Kindness Why, what is this:
1t is letter from Jean, my farmer; his
wife is lick, the medicines are very ex-
pensive, etc., and there is nothing else
in the envelope.
cit was true, then; it really was a let
ter from miserable looking fellow. All!
/ thought hoped. Come, | will not
think of it. Who knows, though, but
what l have thrown away my happi-
ness?"
She picks up the other letter, mechan-
icaly, and reads, beginning:
cit is centuries since | have written
you, dear lady
Dear lady! l did we'll to read it!
had no right to do such thing. But has
he any right to console himself sorquicl1-
ly for losing me. Him! He is an odious
brute. and it was an inspiration from
Heaven that led me to refuse his hand.
LET us see in what style he writes to
another the same things that he said to
me only yesterday: 1T is centuries
since / wrote to you, dear friend, and
hasten to ask your forgiveness. To-mor-
row l leave for Paris, where l shall see
you in the evening"
cat any rate, he doesn't waste any
time beating about the bush.
"T am very unhappy and need your
consolation
"Listen to that will you!
"'You know the great love 1 feel for
Nine de Varjolis. You know, also
that it has been my greatest hope for a
year to unite my life TO that Of this
beautiful, good woman, so worthy to be
the happiness and delight of an hon.
orable man. Alas! yesterday she re-
fused me in terms that could not mis-
take, and l shall leave immediately
(Touched.) But don't want him to go!
eff my beloved mother were still
alive, l should go to her. This is why
am coming to you, dear madame, who
are her oldest and dearest friend. To
you alone can l tell of my unhappiness.
Your devoted and afflicted
- - Rene de Ludre.'
deeply touched) But he needn't go
so far to tell his unhappiness. Why
doesn't he come to me, and we will make
up Poor boy, my willfulness has made
him suffer- How many wrongs I have
to repair! But l will make them up-I
WILL indeed, with all my heart Here is
a postscript:
"I cannot send such a sad letter
without a redeeming touch of bright
pocS Hcrn &c thc funny side Of NV yicif