River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1903-11-26
Five Lost Years
Of Happiness ~


MFR DUDLEY KEITH left his
wi brougham on returning from a
professional call, and stepped into his
club.
Two men whom he knew leaned
against the writing table, by which he
hurriedly sat down. The younger-an
embryo M. D.-owing much of what sue
cess he had attained to DR.. Keith and
standing consequently not little in
awe of him, was laughing with his com
panion, who just then exclaimed:
you're an awful scouDdrel, Joyce!
20, come, Mountfort! That's a big
word: it's only a joke, you know. /
haven't the least idea who she may be-"
Show it to Keith" and before Joyce
could demonstrate Mountfort, handing
a photograph across the table, said:
Look at that, Keith; perhaps you
know the original? Joyce got it to-day
IN answer to a matrimonial humbug.
tell him he is an awful cad"
In silence, with heart like stone IN
his breast, Dudley Keith devoured every
lineament of the grave, sweet face of the
girl he had met and loved two months
ago-he, the guest of Col. Norton, and
she the orphan companion of the
colonel's nearest neighbor, Mrs. Annes-
ley The girl from whom he had parted
one month since under the mutual I'M
derstanding that he would claim ar! an
swer 10 that, as yet informally spoken
question, when he returned, as he meant
to do noy. II few days time.
Risinug to his feet be confronted the
two wondering men.
"You are right" he said, between his
teeth. None but cad would play
such low, dishonorable game! Sit
down." he continued to young Joyce,
pointing TO the writing materials; Fin
close and return that at once!"
And, awed'by that tone of authority,
the shame-stricken Joyce did his bid
ding, and then, still under that stern
eye, dropped the letter into the club let
ter box and went on his way anathema-
thing his weakness in letting that dom
ineering fellow dictate to him.
And Dudley Keith drove home to his
handsome house, within the shadow of
the gray pile of the solemn abbey, in a
whirl of anger, scorn, and wounded love.
But she was like the rest, ready to sell
Observation-Disclosures in joke or in earnest
Il mattered nothing.
Half an hour later, with fiercely pas
sionate gesture, he flung open his desk,
and rapidly wrote a letter to Col. Nor
ton, excusing himself from accepting his
proffered hospitality for the next week,
blind to the fact that the substance of
that curt note was weighted with cruel
force to crush the sensitive pride and
to destroy the sweet dreams of gen
tie heart waiting, in trustful security, a
Ionged-for tomorrow.
1t is Mrs. Arnold's ''at home" five
years later. Her gardens are gay with
the brilliant colors of nature and of
fashion She herself-the gayest of all
rests moment from her duties as
hostess, with her intimate friend, Harry
Joyce, now a qualified NJ. D.
ST am surprised to see Keith here" he
was saying. "He is such a recluse, and
veritable misogynist as we'll"
Really! Nevertheless, 1 once knew
him to pay marked attentions to the
companion Oh an aunt Ol milne, DuI he
failed, nnaccounatbly, to putin an APP
pearanGe when expected. My aunt told
me the story She was quite disappoint-
ed in him, he had gone so far. The girl
never married, though, to my l1nowl-
edge. shs had two good offers"
"'You don't say so! l should never
have suspected Keith guilty of a fir
tation / recollect, some years ago, he
gave me the greatest taking down
ever had in my life in connection with
an unknown lady"
And Harry Joyce related the episode
of the photograph.
What was it like?" Mrs Arnold
gasped. as she paled with fear before
a sudden thought.
80, an awfully nice looking girl in
white, holding a violin. Why, what's
the matter?"
30, what shall I do?" family artieu-
lated Mrs. Arnold. ct was l sent it.
l never thought of harm!"
And hastily she told how, to enliven