River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1908-01-09


perious little woman with the dear
est, brightest smile and the warmest,
kindest heart as it's motive power.
Or. this particular morning she was
eating her breakfast-a hearty, COM
Portable one, with the various courses
within easy reach of her ten active
maids, the fingers.
PA sent up the letter, seems you
don't come to the office very often,
said small voice, following timid
knock, which Miss Almeda had not
heard in her absorbed attention to her
breakfast, and little Tommy Tinker
laid an official looking letter, ad-
dressed in typewriting, beside Miss
Almedas plate.
well, WELL" she exclaimed, taking
II by the corners and peering at it
suspiciously, as if sGspecting dyna-
mite. who can have written to me
in machine writing?"
Miss Almeda read the letter, her
brcws knitting and her lips pickering
with the surprise of the most remark
able communication she had ever re-
ceiyed
Well, do declared" she said at
length in bewildered tone. Who'd
ever although it,"
The letter told Of the death Of an
eccentric old relative, who had not
only cied, but had left her sole heiress
Of a large property.
There it was in plain language, the
copy OF the will Il will and bequeath
to my 0tep-niece, Almeda Brown" but
the interesting clause followed later,
convinced that she will make of it a
good and humane use, instead of
throwing it away on fripperies and
nonsense"
She went about in a dazed sort Of
way all day, and not until evening did
a definite plan Of action suggest itself
to her bewildered mind
"'Tll go down to New York on a
visit to Cousin Arson. I've always
wanted to see the city, and Jane and
used to be real chmnmy together when
we were girls Arson is my cousin
on pas side, and there can't be any
feeling about the will, because Uncle
Jeffries was connected by marriage on
mas side Of the house. Arson is a
/ need his advice"
A week later and Miss Almeda was
taking her breakfast in New York, at
a most unearthly hour, according to
her country notion, and with unaccus-
toned spIendor though when the ele-
gance was sifted it consisted mainly of
silver and cut glass, with several very
prim servants, who eyed the visitors
Cup country" ways and dress with
curious interest.
"Of course you will come to town
now and enjoy life" said Cousin An
son, after the last course was served
and the three were alone. you have
been mewed up in that little country
town altogether too long"
when we have urged you so, again
and again, to visit us" added Jane re-
proachfully. Cousin Almeda with
fortune was a very si&erent person
from plain, penniless Almeda, although
Jane herself did not realize the dis
tinction which had so suddenly arisen,
and believed herself really sincere.
Miss Almeda smiled, after knitting
of the brows for an instant in an eff
fort to remember; after all it was
pleasant to be so warmly welcomed,
and she would not harbor a cynical
thought Il haven't quite decided yet"
she said, slipping her coffee and won
dering if she could ever become recon
ciled to city cream. 1T is what l have
come to consult you about, Arson. l
want to look around and make up my
mind leisurely as to my future
course"
Cousin Jane was skilled in the art
of polite entertaining, and she gave
a tea and a musicale, q correct and
stately dinner party in honor of the
guest, at all of which affairs Miss AL
media was introduced to so many peo-
pie that she felt as if there was a
wheel in her head, buzzing out names
interminably.
She was beginning to weary of city
life. and to long for her little brown
cottage. With its newly -shingled roof,
and the simple companionship OF her
cat and deg.
In the succeeding days Miss AL
media saw more of the city's poverty
and suffering than she had dreamed
of as a possibility, but somehow the
wretchedness of the poor, touching as
ii was, did not appeal to her as did
the dumb, animal life of the great city.
The CALLED and goaded horses strug-
Cling along under loads far too heavy
for them, which everywhere met her
view. touched very tender chord in
her heart.
She could have wept for very pity
as she saw them hauling great vans,
heavily loaded street cars, hucksters'
wagons, with patient, gentle eyes too
often turned toward brutal drivers in
mute appeal, and she thought of them
in the bitter treadmill of this rushing
city life, with never a taste of the
green pastures their natures were
made for, never a roll on the COOL
green earth, spread abroad so literally
outside this wilderness of brick and
mortar
What becomes of the horses when
they are worn out, Anson?" she asked
as they passed one poor creature,
struggling with all it's strength to move
an almost impossible load under the
lash of an unfeeling taskmaster.