Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1883-03-31
our mind to me, who. CAM See, [

have brought you these white lilacs,
Octavia. Baron Won Stock gave me
such a large bunch of them yesterday,
and at once 1 thought of you and the
dear, dusty studio. You know / always
used to keep the old place frightened
up a Bit"
Then, as she separated the fragrant
white flowers and arranged them in my
two majolica vases, she asked in a shy
voice: :.
"Have you seen Denis, Octavia?"
"No, my little Jean; but l sent him
your note"
"Did you read it, Octaviap"
"My dear, no. L noticed it was I'M
sealed, but fancied that an oversight,
so 1 fastened it up tight and sent it on
its way. You did not tell me to readit,
jean"
SIT does not NATTER" she answered.
Then after a little pause: cit was only
to tell him, Octavia, that Baron Won
Stock and Mr.. Haviland have decided
1t shall be on the 18th of June" l made
no reply, though l knew it was her
wedding-day she strove to speak of so
calmly.
She came and rested her hands upon
my shoulders.
"You do not answer me, Octavia. Are
you then 80 Indifferent"
"My child," 1 said, ssinco you have
decided in your own heart what is best,
why should l reply?"
eyes, that is true" Then, kissing
me: 81 have tried, Octavia, indeed I
have, to do all for the best. 1 love
Denis-ah, how truly I do love him
but my word is Pied ed. What can 1
do?"
"Nothing." I 4 answered dryly, "since
you feel as you do"
And now it seemed to me the days
fairly raced by in their eagerness to
reach the 18th of June. saw Denis
frequently, Jean less often. The boy
was overwhelmed with his first great
sorrow. He would come and talk to
me by the hour, tramping up and down
the studio, rumpling up his fair hair,
and repeating over and over how much
he loved her-how cruel it all was.
"Why doesn't she tell Baron Won
Stock?" he said. "You don't suppose
the man would force her to marry him
against her will?"
"Why you tell him?' answered.
elbow cal 1 do that? Can l go and
tell the Baron that l feel sure Jean does
not love him, and is only marrying him
because of her fathers stupid promise,
and some absurd nonsense about the
family honorP Don't her very actions
give my words the lie directP Didn't l
tell it all to old Haviland, and much
good did it do! He smiled at me as
blandly as possible, and asked me if l
came at Miss D'Orsay's request. OF
course, l was obliged to say No. Then
he smiled more blandly than before,
and said: when Miss D'Orsay comes
to me with the same petition, l will con-
slider it, Was there anything left for me
to do, but take myself off, after that?"
No, I had to agree with him; there
was nothing else left to do.
CHOW %listen," continued Denis. ''You
are fond of me, you know, and it will
consequently give you pleasure to do me
a good turn. Jean will not see me, and
I must see her before the 18th. Won't
you get her here next Sunday afternoon,
and then let me come in quite by acct
dent? You will, won't you?"
"Denis Durant," 1 said, solemnly,
t'since you were a curly-headed boy, I
have never refused you anything it was
in my power to grant. Am [ likely to
do so now? Yes, you shall have one
more chance. 1 will ask Jean to come.
And now be off; my six young ladies
will be here in less than ten minutes,
and 1 shall lose my reputation a. a stern
instructor, if they catch sight of your
"Pass me off as your model" said he,
impudently; then, coming back and
putting his yellow head down caress-
ingly: "You will make her come,
Octavia?"
"Yes, yes" l answered, touching his
bright locks, lido not fear; you shall
see her one more"
This was Wednesday, the 9Th of June;
in ten days Jean was to be married. 1
wrote her a note asking her to come TO
me on Sunday. She sent me word she
would be with me at five O'Clock in the
afternoon; at six, Baron o Stock
would call to take her to dine at his
sisters, where his relations were to meet
her for the first time collectively.
Sunday came, one of those sudden in
tensely warm days, a foretaste of what
July and August would prove. After
my rather tardy luncheon, I drew the
old chintz couch across the broad win
dow, placed my low chair near, closed
the Venetian blinds, and waited for my
lovers.
Denis came first, putting in his head
cautiously, and then advancing eagerly
when he saw I was alone.
evil she come, Octaviap' Am I too
lateP"
"She will come" 1 answered, and
even as l made reply, 1 heard her step
upon the stairs. Denis drew back into
the window, a moment, and then the
door vas slowly opened and Jean came
in. She walked down the long room,
and we two watched her as she came.
She was already dressed for dinner, in
a long, soft, white silk, made very SIM
ply, with some rich, old lace at the
throat, and short, hanging sleeves. Her
breast-knot was of her favorite dark
Russian v%iolets; her wavy, brown hair
knotted in some old-fashioned style upon
the top of her proud little head, and
held there by a quaint silver comb; in
her hands she carried her white fan and
her long. white silk mittens. Save for