River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1904-04-07
WISDOM OF
THE WISE
By STELLA BEEDING
Icopyrlght. 1900, By DAILY story Pub. Coz


worn hands fitted ghostlike above
kickshaw he was fashioning for little
Enrol. Steve was also in his corner, an
open book across his knees, but he did
not read; instead he looked into the fire
and then across at Marianina.
''And this is to be the last night" said
Steve
you will let me know where you are
sometimes?" Marianina asked, leaning
forward eagerly.
Their dark, handsome heads were close
together He was the first to draw back
The room suddenly became sitting.
Enrol ran up to the old man and COW
cred his face with soft. moist little
kisses. The toy was finished.
Dear Uncle Lucien,' she cried in her
impert1us way, Gift up my hair and
out the beads around my neck"
Marlanina's face was bowed in her
hands. Steve thought she was crying,
but It was not so. 1t came upon him
with a rush what beautiful woman she
would be- He was only IS and Marianina
was younger; he had not thought much
of feminine beauty before. He saw Tor
the first time that her wrists were small
and well turned; that the rich red OF her
check and the dusky brown of her curl
ing lashes made delicious combination.
Marianina rose and flung back her
hair from her face The room had be-
come close for her, too. She was 1.-the
with the fugitive grace of closing child
hood as she stood there in the fitful fire.
light.
Steve can't we take little walk? 1t
seems to me | choke in here"
He marked the place in his book where
he had left off, and followed her out into
the feathery night. They began to walk
up and down the graveled path. She
turned upon him wildly.
Just think, Steve, what the place will
be to me without you! You seem part
Of 1t; cannot think Of it without you.
| was a mere baby, you know, when
Uncle Lucien found you and brought
you here How shall miss youi Think
Of the books we have read together, the
thoughts we have exchanged! Steve, do
not the books say that the world is cold
and cruel?"
She clasped her little hands together,
and her breath caught painfully.
yes" he answered 'but l will fight
the world. | am not afraid"
Steve, but you do not know; you will
be alone, it will be hard. they will crush
you down"
He smiled. He was strong and straight
as a young Hermes.
81 am not afraid" he repeated. 81
will work, work, work, and in a few
years / will come back and take you to
the places we have dreamed about, and
give you laces and jewels and furs, and
you will be little princess. The old
home seems very dear tonight, but
am sure there are fairer places than this,
Marianina."
Il am not so sure of that, Steve. Every
corner here is crying memory, every
bush a thought. But remember. Steve,
though l will not know where you are
many times, will always be with you
in thought, always touch you in thought.
But am afraid-afraid-"
She buried her face in her hands, cry
ing bitterly, and sank down to the gravel
upon her knees.
Observation-Disclosures don't!" he
pleaded softly. as one reasons with a
naughty child.
He tried to raise her, his soft, black
curls brushing her wet cheek. She tore
herself away, still weeping. He knelt
down beside her stroking her hair silent
ly letting his big, strong hand tell by
its gentleness what his mouth could not
utter in words. Presently she rose and
dried her eyes on her handkerchief.
"Oh, forgive me, forgive me, and this
the last night, too she said.
They turned and walked back. The
little home lay low and dark in it's nest
of vines and flowers. A slender cowl of
smoke curled from the chimney. A
myriad of little stars fiickered coldly
overhead, and some birds in the distant
trees sang an archaic duo.
The last night" whispered Steve.
squeezing her fingers.
THE last night" she echoed. with a
firm, energetic answering pressure.
The door flung open and Enrol, with
her cloud of fair hair, stood in the door
way.
But he did not tell me that he loved
me and wished TO marry me, Marianina
told herself in the middle of the night,
as she turned over her pillow YEARLY.
But there is no need for words when
two beings are as perfectly in sympathy
as we, and he understood" she thought.
Letters came at long intervals from
Steve, and were not of prominently
encouraging nature. One morning to-
ward the end of the sixth year, Mar
ianina received the following:
''Marianina:-I am coming back to the
old home. l have failed In all these six
years l have not even gained foothold.
The whir of the urgent city presses upon
me and brushes me down. Life is too
tumultuous here; cannot think, Even
now am on my way to you, Marianina.
Oh! have thought of you many, many
times. How long to hear your voice!
| see other women about me, but to me
they are as if they were not. They are
strange; not one of them is like you,
They chatter like magpies; they are
tawdry; and neither do they like me-
for when they see me they stick their
tongues in their cheeks and laugh.
$50 before many days 1 shall see you
and Enrol and the good old man. Dc
you remember, Marianina, said would
figIt the world? l did, but I could not
conquer it; instead, it conquered me.
81 enclose in this letter little pair OF
white silk stockings for Enrol to wear on