Lincoln County advocate. (Canton, Dakota Territory, [S.D.]) 1876-1877, 1876-12-20

Grey, the rascal, had secured these
two rooms because they had a door
communicating between them, and Jes-
sic could be seen going into and coming
out of mine, often enough to convey
the natural impression that we occu.
pied the two in common.
That evening, as I was meditating
what steps to take to disabuse the
charming Idelia's mind, I saw Endicott
pass by with her on his arm, going out
to take stroll on the beach.
Jessie had already gone out with the
other couple, and I was left alone in
my glory, while the conspirators could
plot, and Grey could strengthen Idelia's
already strong conviction that had
either been on the eve of com hitting
bigamy, or had tempered outrageously
with her budding affections.
Thoroughly disguised, and quite mis-
anthropical in spirit, set out for lone.
ly walk, snd soon found myself wan
dering distractedly along the shore. AS
I passed a sharp promontory of rock, l
saw in a little recess near the top, Grey
and Jessie sitting in earnest converse
ton. They had met on the top Of the
cliff, and Grey separating from Idelia,
had used his persuasive powers again
with such effect that Jessie had accom-
panied him to his romantic seat, and
Idelia Vaughn had gone down to the
beach below with Endicott's friend.
A few rods further off I found these
last, sitting on the sand. As came up
I heard the gentleman say:
"Poor fellow. he is much to be pitied
if he is to blame. It is clear that his
wife thinks much more of Grey than
of him, and I suppose he thinks to win
her back by making her jealous of 9TH
'er ladies'"
"He is base deceiver." said Miss
Vaughn, in a shrill tone. "He made
me the deepest protestations of love. I
firted with him little, for I never
cared anything for only one man, and
alas, the sod has waved green over his
sepulchre for many year !"
This was said in tone which /
should, ten hours before, have consid-
cred sweet and sympathetic. Now,
however, began to feel little piqued
at her ready belief of the deception,
and her easy denial of me. Therefore,
I found her voice affected, and was dis.
posed to take serious exceptions to the
idea of sod waving over a sepulchre
or indeed, waving at all
Still. I was in hope that Idelia would
leave the party and stroll of alone,
thus giving me an opportunity to talk
to her. Accordingly, waited at short
distance, without revealing my prox-
unity, and heard the conversation con-
tinued still at my expense.
noticed that the wife of Endicott's
friend seemed much affected by Idelia' s
remarks, and had frequent recourse to
her pocket-handkerchief, in which she
hid her face, but whether to conceal
tears or SMILES I cannot judge, until I
saw her turn her face away from Idelia
toward me, and the clear moonlight
revealed Enthusiastically mjrthful ex-
preston, convincing me that Jessie and
Grey had contrived to make her and
her husband also accessory to the plot.
Directly, Miss Vaughn exhibited a
ring to the others-a handsome dia-
mond, with rubies, which is an heir
loom in my family, and was given me
by my father. This jewel I had per
mitted Idelia to wear, as she admire d
it, but I would as soon thought of selling
my birthright as of giving it away
permanently to any man, woman, or
child, except my eldest son-when ]
have our.
Judge, therefore, of my sentiments;
when saw Miss Idelia hold up her
finger, and heard her say:
"He gave me this ring as pledge
of his love, and babe me wear it for
his sake. 1t will be a just punishment
for him if keep it. I certainly shall. It
shall never leave my finger again !"
1.-THE ID it won't /" thought I, and
as perceived the smile Of satisfaction
with which she regarded the glitter of the
diamond, in the moonshine, I felt MY
love for her oozing out, like Bob Across
courage, at a fearfully rapid rate.
The opportunity did not come for
me to explain matters to her, and, in
truth, I began to be rather glad it
didn't. I retired that light without
having spoken to her, and she did not
haunt my visions.
The next day the plot thickened.
Jessie received several letters from
Milestone Centre. directed to her as my
wife, and to my care. Endicott and his
friends scrupulously called her by Ely
name, and, worse than all, Idelia began
to take a romantic fancy to her. she
condoled with her on having such a
faithless husband, and poured all her
own poetic grlefs into the little hum.
bugs bosom-a food of secondhand
Werterian sorrows, which moved Jessie
to tears-of laughter.
Thus matters stood until the fourth
day, when we were to return. In the
morning l got an opportunity to speak
to Idelia about it, and we had jolly
time of it. '-''.-
She would not listen to any explana-
ton whatever, but abused me like a
pickpocket. / have been scolded by a
number of young ladies. In fact,
rather like it, generally, and as for my
cousin Jessie, it was as good as q sup
per to hear her vituperations. But
Miss Vaughn was one to many for me.
She whined and growled alternately.
She called me high-falutin names. She
turned blue, and yellow, other unpleas.
ant colors. She squealed, and Missed,
and made herself an object of wonder
ment, out hardly Of admiration, to
quite crowd, that collected about us
for twas in an empty parlor that she
first pitched into me. "Virago" was
written in every line Of her counten-
ance, and rang in every meditation of
her voice.