River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1905-01-26

fore l could get 1t away from I'M, he
eaten one cf the pink roses and cou-
pie of the forget-me-nots'
Mrs. Meadows was surprised into a
ridiculous guffaw. Then, conscious APP
parently of the improperly of her con-
duct, she evaded her daughters eye and
became absorbed in contemplation of the
ceiling. David could hardly help echo
ing this little outburst of encourage
ment with grin of his own; and Sophie
set her teeth together and felt that was
fighting the whole world single-handed
and alone.
Then" continued David, there's
these ere braces"
Sophie turned her head away sharply.
1t was doubtful whether, in her altered
relationship with Mr.. Trotter, braces
were things that could be discussed with
propriety. The articles in question were
luridly embroidered in red and blue
upon a green background, and in any,
thing like sustained silence they might
have been relied upon to speak for them
selves. It was evident, however, from
their present condition that they had
been more decorative than useful; and
David's attempt to strengthen the weak
er parts by the addition of piece Of
stout string had done nothing to en-
nance their artistic beauties.
David, remarking Sophie's attitude
out of the corner of his eye, placed the
poor mangled remains of the braces
reverently on the table, and gaZed at
them with sigh, as if he regarded
them as still beautiful, even in death.
Then he produced a pair of wooden
socks from his parcel.
"These 'ere," he said, 60 course
they've bin in wear good deal and"
81 didn't give 'em to you for to keep
under a glass case" protested Sophie,
her bitter feelings softened little by
the fact that he had been glad to make
use of her present.
"No; quite So" said David, turning
and addressing her for the first time.
"Only, you see, when you've got to give
things back again"
81 don't want them back" said Sophie.
"Well, there don't seem to be no choice
about it, as far as / can see," replied
David. "And as couldn't give 'em back
with oles in 'em, and l didn't like to let
no one else touch 'em now, | tried to
mend 'em up bit myself. You'll see
Mrs. Meadows guffawed again. And
| finding her mirth not so easy to check
on this occasion, she fed precipitately
into the shop, and left the young people
alone Sophie frOwned at the Interrupt
| ton, but the next moment she found
| herself half smiling at David's dilem.
ma This big, rough fellows confess
sion of his helplessness was not dis
pleasing to her. It showed her at least
that there were times when she would
! be missed and the reflection softened
her little.
David passed the socks along, and in
Dictated with his finger the spot where
his handiwork was to be seen. A huge,
| Iumpy blotch of red wool that had been
| Iaboriously grated on to gray back
| ground, it did not need to be pointed out.
1t caught the eye at once, and absolute
ly riveted the attention. Sophie felt
the corners of her mouth breaking down,
and, finally, unable to resist the ludi-
crousness of the absurd incongruity, she
burst into peal of derisive laughter.
81 never was much of a and with a
needle" David explained, smilingly.
Then, as if realizing that Sophie's mfrth
was a distinct sign of encouragement,
he leaned across the Table and said,
| in tone of gentle protest: See what
mess l should make o. things if you
give me up"
| Sophie stopped laughing and looked at
him sternly.
"There is-Faith Duker," she said
mot for me, there amt" he said,
scornfully. "An' I can't make out what
you keep on about the gal for. don't
suppose I've spoke a dozen words to-
er. Father give 'er people job mend
in the sacks at the mill, but the works
| done now. and"
But Mrs. Green said that Bobby
| Harper told 'er-"
Eyes, I know. An you give my COM
pliments to Bobby 'Arper, an ask i'm
what 'e's got is left eye shut up for. AS
! for old mother Green, scandalmonger-
| in is 'er business when she's got no
drinkin' to do. You don't want to go
listenin' to a parcel of old gossips like
that. S'pose you let me keep the things
YOU gave me. Come, now, that's bar
gain. And the things gave you"
CT returned them faltered So
lphie, as her right hand mechanically
sought the finger of her left hand that
only yesterday had been decorated with
a gold ring set with two pearls and a
garnet.
David turned to the second parcel on
the table.
"I brought 'em back on the off,
chance" he said. Shall l undo the
string?"
BY way of reply, Sophie took her scis-
sors from the mantelpiece behind her,
and reaching across the table, cut the
string in several places, Then she
looked up at David's face and laughed.
! And Mrs. Meadows, coming into the
parlor abruptly to see if David was still
there, remarked that she was very sorry
| to have interrupted, but hadn't, Of
| course, had the least idea that every
thing was going so well.-London Black
and White.
BEST BIRD OF ALL.
Let the others raise their ditties to the