River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1904-06-09


where in the south. nobody knew ex-
actly where.
Marian returned to the lodging house
in despair. She was baked and all be-
cause that horrid ogre of lawyer re-
fused to help her Her soul rose in re-
volt against him. Then she thought OF
the future A great terror seized her
as she thought of returning to the con-
vent. She knew she was disgraced for
ever in the eyes of the sisters and she
knew the many ways she would be
made to feel their displeasure. So she
drifted along for a few days, not know
ing what to do. Then she realized with
a shock that her money was almost ex-
hausted. She thought of going to Sta
pleton and throwing herself upon his
mercy. But her pride and hatred dis
missed the idea at once. No, she would
work and earn her own living first.
She started out to seek work, in the
stores where she saw many girls en-
ployed, in offices, in binderies and fac
tories-but she had no skilled labor to
offer and was turned away until her
heart was as sore as her feet. The days
passed and the bottom of her purse was
reached. Then came an icy atmOs-
phere at her boarding house and she
realized the bitter fact that the world
has no use for the person without
money. Frightened, desolate and des-
perate, she staggered out for a final
trial If she failed-why there was the
river as last resort.
But it is always darkest just before
dawn and the tide turned on this dark
est day of her life. She happened into
big insurance Office, where extra help
was needed to address circulars, and
she was engaged temporarily.
The manager noticed her and was
impressed by her refined face and man
ners and after the extra work was out
of the way she was transferred to a
regular department and put on the pay
roll.
These we're the happiest days she
had ever known. Small as her wages
were they sufficed for her needs and
she was absolutely Independent and
mistress of herself. But there is no
rose without thorn and soon Marian
found herself the object of most en-
barrassing attentions from the mana
ger of the department. AS they grew
to be intolerable she found rescue from
an unexpected quarter. Tom Wilson,
a sub bookkeeper, observed the mana
gers attentions one afternoon and fol-
lowed Marian out into the hall, where
he hailed her
Il beg your pardon" said he, "but
can see that you are country girl and
not used to city ways; therefore take
the liberty to say to you that the less
you have to do with Hyde the better
it will be for you. l say this because
l have a sister myself and l would
deem it particularly friendly act if
some fellow would give her a tip in a
case like this
Marian flushed scarlet. Thank you,
sir" she said. 81 have tried every way
to avoid him, but I cannot" Her eyes
filled with tears and Tom noticed then
that they were uncommon fine eyes.
'I'll see that he does not annoy you
further" he said.
interview with Hyde sufficed and Ma
rian was left in peace. In this way a
friendship began between Wilson and
Marian, which resulted in something
warmer, and in the springtime, when
Tom told her the old, old story, she
was glad to lay her tired head on his
broad shoulder and let him assume all
the responsibility and care.
And a new nest was built in a quiet
little fiat and Marian sang all the day
long.
In the meantime, Hiram Stapleton
had narrowly escaped apoplexy. After
exhausting all the machinery of the
modern detective agency he was finally
forced to admit his defeat and reported
to his joint clients that their daughter
had escaped from the convent and was
lost in the great city. Post haste came
Gilbert Lansing from abroad and his
wife from the south. Forgetting their
differences, they, Joined hands to find
the missing girl.
One evening Tom Wilson burst into
his modest fiat, blazing with excite
ment.
Look at this he exclaimed. point
ing to his newspaper. What does 1t
mean?"
Sure enough there was an advertise
ment for Marian Lansing signed by her
fathers name. Then for the first time
she told Tom the story of her life, and
together they went to the great hotel
mentioned in the advertisement.
There they found Gilbert Lansing.
Marian refused TO speak until her
mother was also present whereupop
the mother was sent for. Then she told
the story of the letter and her quest.
ending with tear-emphasized appeal
for her parents to forget and forgive
an appeal so eloquent that before it
was fairly ended Mrs Lansing was in
her husbands arms.
"And who is this young MANI" asked
the latter.
THAT! Oh, that is Tom" replied
Marian
"Tom?'' repeated Mr. Lansing, knit
ting his brows, tom who?"
tom Wilson, my husband, of
course replied Marian, flushing.
There isn't any other Tom, you
geese
Some months later Tom Wilson
gazed ref1ectively out of the window of