River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1913-01-30


lighted parlor.
Miss Nan is at home, BertaY' be
asked eagerly.
The little Danish maid smiled know
ingly:
INA, but Meesis Primrose
With groan Stuart sank to chair
The entire house had been redecorat-
ed An oriental rug of dazzling me-
dallion pattern was on the newly pol
ished floor Instead Of the set of Chip
pendale mahogany the Primroses had
brought from the south a complete
outfit Of stately gilded stuff filed the
room, and heavy draperies to match
hung from the tall windows and fold
ing doors. The mothers velvet hand
he saw at once. OF course she had not
borrowed the money from Bivens. She
was too shrewd for that. But she had
borrowed IL beyond doubt, and she
had evidently gone the limit Of her
credit without moments hesitation.
He wondered how far she had got with
Bivens. Could it be possible that Nan
was with him tonight? No-preposter
GUS.
Mrs. Primrose greeted him with un.
usual effusion:
''Oh, Jim. this is such a glorious sur
prise Nan didn't expect you till morn
Ing, and she will be heartbroken to
have missed you even for a half hour
My dear. dear boy, you have no idea
how lonely both of us have been with
out you the past two weeks"
You missed me. too, Mrs. Prim-
roseg
"Of course | missed you, Jim! You've
come to be like one of us. You know
I've always loved you next to Nam
She spoke with such fervor that Stu
art shivered 1t was sinister. She evi-
IDENTIFY felt sure of his ruin.
1--WE needed you here so much to
help us fix up We've had the good
luck to rent our second floor to young
millionaire
"Mr BivepE. yes
'Why, how did you known she ask
ed with start.
"Dr. Woodman has just received an
important letter from him, dated here,
and he asked my advice about it."
oh
"Where's NanY' Stuart asked. with
sudden anger in spite of his effort to
keep cool.
''Why, she's giving a little box party
at the theater tonight
'And our mutual friend. John @.
Calhoun Bivens, is presidingY
why, Jim, how could you be so
absurd?" she protested Indignantly.
i've been saving money for a month
to give Nan this chance to return
some courtesies she has received from
rich friends. | need Mr. Bivens' mon
ey to pay the rent of this big house.
But any attention on his part to Nan
would be disgusting to me beyond
measure"
"Yet he's the sensation in high
finance just now Stuart said. with
an unconscious sneer. They say he's
destined to become a multi-million-
aire"
Come, come, jim, it's not like you
to be nasty to me- You know as well
as l do his origin in North Carolina.
His people are the veriest trash. He
was at college with you
"And how did you know that?'
mot from you. of course. You've
never mentioned his name in your life.
He told me. He thinks you are going
to be the greatest lawyer in New
York And l told him we'd known
that for a long time"
Stuart turned his head to hide a
smile.
But OF course he's not in Mans so
cial set. l told her the day he came
that we would treat him politely, but
draw the line strictly on any efforts
he may make to pass the limits of ac-
Quaintance."
A carriage stopped at the door.
There's Nan nowr' the mother ex-
claimed, rising to go. III leave you
to surprise her. jim"
Stuart heard the carriage door slam.
and in a moment the girl he loved
stood in the hall, the joy of an even
ing's perfect happiness shining in her
great dark eyes. He watched her
moment unobserved as she laid aside
her opera cloak and stood before the
big mirror proudly and calmly survey
ing her figure. Never had her beauty
seemed to him so dazzling. The smile
was one of conscious power. The cor
ners of the full sensuous lips curved
the slightest bit as the smile faded and
a CLEAN of something like cruelty fash
ed from the depths of her eyes as her
head lifted
Stuart, unable to wait longer, was
about to spring to her side when she
caught the fash of his laughing face in
the mirror and turned.
''Oh, you rascal! To surprise me like
this"' she cried, with joyous laughter.
I'm all your pride and vanityp'
You can't help being a little vain
yourself. Jim. any more than l can.
You know you're a stunning looking
fellow These Yankee girls all love
you at first sight-the tall, straight,
sinewy figure, strong and swift in eV-
cry movement. the finely chiselled
face. the deep set, dark brown eyes
under their heavy brows. that big
masterful jaw and firm mouth
Stuart suddenly took her in his arms