River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1908-01-23


Mr.. Mellin, an involuntary caves.
dropper in the perfect quiet of the
night, clinched his hands and gritted
hard his teeth, while beads of mois-
ture not directly traceable to the
heat stood upon his brow.
Could it be that she-they-were
going to leave their home? Could it
be that next summer there would be
no neighboring with Mouser's sweet
mistresses? Impossible! Insuffer-
able. But what was he to them?
And which was she, the siren, who
had SO strongly drawn his heart?
Miserable Mr.. Mellini Never had
distracted lover a harder problem to
solve. The only thing was to go over
at once, acknowledge his eayesdrop-
ping, and offer help But with what
right? His dilemma might still exist!
And what was he to them-her? Yet
might he not serve as friend? But,
no, he would not go now.
And then Mr.. Mellin, mortal like,
contradicted his own decision by act
ing quite the contrary. His face grew
pale even in the sight Of Miss Hope
Cummings who admitted him. Man
like, he did not know what explana-
tion TO offer and his heart beat like a
trip-hammer
1t was she who had to smooth the
awkward meeting
BE seated" she said, land let me
thank you for coming. Tonight /
feel l need a friend
And then Mr. Mellin blundered into
his confession.
Il heard" he said. "And indeed
| want to be friend. Nothing will
make me happier than to be of serv-
ice to you, and / trust you will feel
that you can open your heart to me-"
Il am in difficulties" explained
Miss Cummings, gently, Gin which /
have no one to advise me-" and then,
impulsively as it seemed, she entered
almost eagerly into full details.
Mr. Mellin listened, dazed and di
vided in mind. At last he asked,
hesitatingly: "But your sister, Miss
Desire? Surely this affects herr"
The light from the candelabrum plain
ly showed a change in Miss Hopes
face. There was a thrill, too, in her
voice, almost of supplication, as she
said:
Il still have an explanation to offer,
a confession which l owe to you be-
fore | can accept the least of your
good offices, Mr.. Mellin. l have no
sister l live alone and have done so
ever since my brother Duncan died,
II years ago. Desire is but creature
of my own imagining, into whom |
would gladly have breathed the breath
of life. My brother and l were left
alone, and he, poor soul, was very
deaf. There had never been much ir
common between us, and with lis az
fliction-you understand. Then came
his decline in health, and my heart
smote me. He would have no help
for his ears, so I knew | must have
it for my overweak voice. | tried
every known system for strengthening
the vocal organs. Constantly, by my
self talked to keep in practice. 1t
was a help, and | know the reading
and my music helped poor Duncan
through those last three years" Miss
Hope paused a moment as though to
control a reminiscent agitation, then
continued:
Il think l hardly could have en-
dured my solitude afterwards but for
that other self to whom | had talked
so long. / have kept up the habit, and
Desire has been the greatest comfort
to me-sister, friend, and almost
mother.
"And now you have my story, Mr..
Mellin," she concluded. Forgive me
if l have seemed to play double part.
7 feel that l have no right to your
friendship, you who are so good and
noble. when l have deceived you as l
have, but really 1 had no such inten-
tion in the beginning; it was merely
the carrying out of the happy delusion
with which l had consoled myself for
so long"
But Mr.. Mellen's usually ruddy face
had paled with something that was
not anger. Had he not been admitted
into the penetralia of most sacred as
sociations while listening to the I'm.
folding of the simple domestic mys-
terry? Now he trembled almost Wis
IDLY as he leaned forward to take the
white hand held out.
q thank you, 1 thank you" he said,
'for the confidence you have given
me. Let me be your friend until"
and then he stopped.
But it was not long before John
Mellin was able to finish that SEN
tence, saying, proudly: Until now
that l have this assurance that my
Hope and my Desire are one
For Miss Cummings, too, had found
an answer to a quite undreamed de-
sire.
Doc Commits Suicide