River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1903-02-26


the man in the story. We'd never set
eyes on each other, but we both want
ed the money, so we complied with the
proviso."
"You-married (her?" asked the girl,
paling a little.
six months ago, in New York. Il
must have looked queer affair to out
siders. One doleful morning my law
yer anG ] drove to the magistrates Of
flee, and as we came in one door, an
other lawyer, with an old gentleman
and lady and three girls, all in short
| skirts and shirt waists and brown
wells, entered by another. We all
| bowed, and then the magistrate called
| our names, and / and one of the girls
| 1t might have been any of them, for
| all knew-went\up to desk, and an
swered a few questions, and wrote our
names. The lawyers gave us each
deed Of separation to go in force at the
door. Then we all bowed again, and
the family party got into carriage
| and drove off, and II had two
months furlough, you know-fQr the
| honeymoon-came abroad to get out
Of the talk
His listeners color had faded en-
! tirely.
Her name was Margaret Kennedy,
wasn't it ?" she asked, slowly. Il went
to school with her. She"
; "Oh, you needn't hesitate" said
Powell, with a short laugh. eve had
several fetching descriptions Of her.
! She's a Jew at bargain, | know by
experience. And her voice, and-er
looks, impressed me even through
the veiI.'
she wasn't pretty, certainly, or
very popular; but she was well born,
or course, and thoroughly well bred"
she was speaking with an evident ef-
| fort now.
ooh, there is the steward" she said,
rising. III must see if he hasn't
something | can coax auntie to eat"
Powell gazed after her, his face rath
err colorless, too.
| cit can't be that she-Bah, haven't
/ the right to even think of such thing
She'd resent it desperately" he said
under his breath, turning again to the
sea. ''Wonder if ] can get through the
next two days without behaving like
a cad?'
But in the morning Miss Emily
! emerged from her seclusion, probably
| against her will, and the day passed
! quite unconstrainedIy. When the last
morning came Powell was silent and
stern, and Madge was absOrbedly So
lcitous of her aunt's comfort; but the
final parting was conventional enough.
As their cab bore the aunt and niece
away from the docks, the girl drew a
quick sigh.
"a soldier and a gentleman" she
murmured, with a little laugh; but
there was a glow in her face, neverthe-
less.
The city awoke under the weeping
skies. Powell, in his club window,
gazed gloomily down on the dripping
streets. The disgust that his whole APP
pearance bespoke, however, was not
Sor the dismal prospect, but for the
years that were stretching, in his mag
inats>u, interestless and wearisome
ahead 4ef him. He was sick of the
army, he told himself, and, worse, sick
of civilization. AS for that pile of
money in the bank-he loathed the
| thought of it.
One Of the club servants brought
| him a letter, and he tore it open indif-
| ferently; but his face changed as he
| drew it out.
Il would not write this he read,
except that you would learn it from
some one else. 1t was your own mis-
take in the beginning, you will re-
member, in taking for granted that my
name was the same as that of my
mothers sister. And, in self-defense
Icould notdo less than leave you under
the delusion, though my aunt strong
ly disapproved. l am sorry that the
only time we are likely to meet,
der false colors. But for the future,
| beg you will believe, L shall take as
good care of your name as you shall
yourself. Margaret Kennedy Powell"
! Without a change in his attitude,
! Powell stood staring down at the pa
per in his hand. Then he WINGED
sharply.
What fool | must have looked!'
he muttered, the dark color rising in
| his face.
! Miss Lockhart was deep in the APP
prehensive delights of unpacl1ing her
! bric-a-brac, when a maid, entering, an
nounced:
"A gentleman for Mrs. Powell"
It's the landlord said Miss Lock
hart. sharply. Il expected him. Mind,
Madge, if he asks for another cent, you
go!"
Her niece had risen from beside
trunk, with changing color, and put
her hand nervously to her hair
Very well, auntie,'' she murmured
vaguely. from the door.
In the hall below she paused before
the drawing-room pOrtieres; then, part
ing them, stopped short on the thresh-
old.
Capt. POWELL" she exclaimed. in a
low voice.
He came quickly forward.
"Oh. you knew l would come" he
said, unsmilingly, taking her hands.
She laughed.
you've made a complete fool of
me, know" he said, flushing. 1T must
have been tremendously amusing.
! Heaven only knows what I said: but
! you've paid me out for it in the last