River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1908-03-05

/ Jean was becoming NaTQo0CQ 10
misery, and this story did not cause
an attack of faintness as Gertrude's
had done. But must tell him." said
Jean to herself, despairingly. Il can't
! let him go on losing everything. There
| isn't much left but life. He's lost love
and happiness and fortune and
career"
When Mr.. Innes asked her to walk
along the shore in the moonlight she
assented, and started out with the
cheerful feelings of one marching to
execution.
Miss JEAN" said the man at length
1--WE been wanting to speak to you
for week, but you have persistently
avoided me-"
He's going to speak of it himself,
thought Jean in an agony Of shame.
He walked on for moment in
silence. No doubt it was hard to be.
gin. At length, he said abruptly, Il
wanted to ask you to marry me-"
ooh! how dare you! How dare
you!" cried Jean furiously. "How
! dare you ask me after what has hap.
pened"
ooh! you mean those stories aboat
my engagement. That needn't trouble
you, it isn't true"
Don't you think I know it isn't
true when it is you and l that they
spoke Of"
i hoped that you hadn't heard the
name of my supposed fiancee. Not
many people seemed to know, though
had not heard it myself can't
imagine how the story started. !
think it must have been case Of
thought transferance. You see, I'd
| been thinking of that particular thing
great deal and some of those ami.
able old ladies who sit on the hotel
veranda have no thoughts of their
own, SO they gathered up mine which
were floating about loose"
1T was l that started the story"
said Jean in hollow voice mo, don't
| speak. Let me tell you about it, A
man asked me to marry him, and he
/ said such persuasive things, end
wouldn't go away, and I was afraid I'd
! say yes though | didn't want to. So
told him there was some one else. and
he thought | meant you, and let him
go away without telling him the truth
Oh! it was a disgraceful lie. l don't
expect you to forgive me ever.
ought to have told you at once, but
couldn't. l was going to tell you to-
night, though, and that's why came,
I'm SO sorry. l only hope mother will
take me home tomorrow, and you
never need hear of me again
Il don't see anything in all this that
should distress YOU" he said. He was
smiling a tender amused smile at the
childish confession, though she did
, not look up to see it, Il wish | dared
hope that your suggestion to Ted
mean to the man you spoke of-had
willing spirit behind it. Since we've
both thought of it can't you make it
true, dear Jean?"
Don't speak of it again she said
in her coolest manner. It's just your
exaggerated idea Of honor that makes
you think you ought to protect me.
Don't deny it. You can't possibly care
for me when I've ruined your life.
Yes, it is ruined You've lost the girl
you love, and your fortune and your
career just because Of me-"
/ hope I'm not going to lose the girl
l love- he said gravely.
1T mean the one your aunt was
angry about" she said falteringly.
OH" he said, my aunt and | never
agreed about that. You see | met you
the first day we came here. And il
you're troubled about Aunt Caroline's
disinheriting me, pray do not give it
another thought She does that every
three months. When l introduce you
as that mysterious girl | shall be re-
stored to favor It's the truth because
she has already expressed her admir-.
alton of you. But of course, couldn't
seize that golden moment to tell her
that you were the girl, for | wasn't
sure Of it, And that fussy old Ames
did say he didn't want me, but | was
| rather fishing for dismissal there. |
had had a much better offer a few
| days before. I threw the news of the
engagement credited to me in his way.
/ Now is there anything else. Jean?
! Don't you think you have been over
conscientious? A man wouldn't spend
| a moment considering those things
when it was a question Of winning
you
OH" breathed Jean, afraid to ac-
cept such unlocked for bliss as solu.
ton from her haunting horror of the
/ past week, ARE you quite sure that
you really cared for me all the time?"
Cared for you" he said in scorn
| for such an inadequate expression.
And then he proceeded to explain how
much he cared.
Well" said Jean after a while, and
she dimpled charmingly, Il believe I
| will be engaged again
Large Area for Olympic Games.
The stadium in which the Olympic