Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1883-09-01

his father and mother and only sister.
David had cxiled himself from his pleas
ant Stattordshire home by the profess
sion he had chosen. Old MI. Conway,
whose one belief was in his own hard
w~orked-for wealth, would have nothing
to say to the son who was fool enough
to throw himself away on London pick
pockets. If he must Join the ranks of
clerical humbugs, why not try for a fat
country living, especially as there was
at hand?
All David's young enthusiasm rose
up i arms against the bare idea of set
Ting down among phlegmatic farmers
and wealthy squires. After many argu-
ments, fettered by the old mans dog
matte assertions and the young mans
impatient zeal, a clear understanding
was at last reached. David must not
expect a welcome home till he should
come to reason, and abandon his sense
less, highfalutin' ideas.
David suffered; his was Just the ma
ture to feel such wounds. But he did
not falter in the path he believed to be
right, even though it involved separa-
ton from one who was dearer than sis
ter or mother. What was the use of
suggesting marriage, with his small in
come, and when the only home he
could offer would be Mrs. Britton's
apartments, for he wa too proud to &C.
cept any addition from his fathers
hands after all that had passed.
1t was strange what deep root this
wish of his had taken in Polly's heart
yet not strange when we recall the
power OF kindness, and the strength of
gratitude's golden chain.
One evening late in the wear, David
found a mysterious little packet laid
beside his bread and cheese. Inside
the paper wrappings, suggestive of
brown sugar, were two half-crowns.
Polly had vanished, and when she re-
appeared to remove the supper-tray, it
was with such a heightened color and
guilty air that David was afraid some
thing had gone wrong.
"What is the meaning of this?" he
asked, touching the money beside him.
The girl started as if she had been &C.
cused Of dishonesty.
"Please, sir, don't be angry"
81 assure you I am not in the least
inclined to be so," David answered,
soothingly, trying to get at the truth.
"But you must tell me why this money
is here. 1t does not belong to me-"
eyes, sir. it does. Imean-oh, please
don't make me take it back-I brought
it for the new church-it's from nv
wages missus paid me to-day" Polly
struck one of her b~eseeching attitudes
and nearly dropped the tray.
"But, my child you can not afford to
give away so much a this" the curate
replied, thoughtfully.
sir. Missus will make me buy a warm
dress, now winters setting in. But 1
thought this would be something to be-
gin with"
She backed awkwardly out of the
room, and a few moments after David
heard Mrs. Britton scolding her in high
pitched tones for some misdemeanor.
He sat for some time looking at the two
pieces of silver, and then laying them
back in their coarse wrappings, dated
the little packet, and locked it carefully
away in his desk.
The year was fast drawing to a close.
Christmas came and found David still
working faithfully in Fenn's Court.
No olive branch had been sent from
home, and he made up his mind to
spend Christmas Day in trying to
brighten some of the wretched homes
near him.
It had been a mild winter, bringing
with it many weakening disorders
into Fenn's Court. Such an ocean of
misery! Such a tiny ray to throw
across the darkness! What wonder if
at times David's heart sank very low
within him? Polly's sympathy was
like a cup of cold water held to the
curate's lips in these feverish moments.
She had frightened so wonderfully,
and he often found ner quaint, half
formed sayings suggestive and refresh
ing. But he could not help wishing
when he came home on Christmas eve
after a long days visitation, that she
had omitted decorating his tea pot
with a spray Of twisted holly. 1t had
been raining heavily since noon, and
when he had swallowed some tea he
threw himself just as he was on the
hard little sofa, and dropped into a
heavy sleep.
There Polly found him when she
came in an hour or so later, wondering
why his bell had not rung. He looked
very worn and tired, she thought, and
loath to wake him, the girl crept softly
from the room.
The next morning a report rang
through one end of Fenn's Court to the
other that the minister was ill, and too
bad to recognize OF speak to any one.
No. 8 Poplar Lane was besieged with
anxious inquirers, till Mrs. Britton in
self-defense tied a bulletin to the green
painted knocker. Nurses offered them
selves without number; coarse-faced,
red-handed women, and not a few men,
begged with tears to be allowed the
privilege of sharing the watch. But
the landlady irately refused all these
services of love. She wasn't going to
have no ''day-light robbers about her
house, which was always kept respecta-
BILE. At the same time she did not
accept the suggestions of worldly
wisdom when on the third day after
David's reckless sleep the doctor pro-
nounced his illness to be diphtheria.
No, MI. Conway should stay where he
was; she wouldn't have him sent to be