Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1883-03-31
JEAN.

lLlUUlO oSeA ~ oiooJ I'LL HUI GllC
studio one fine May evening, bringing
with her a CLEAN of outside light, and
the scent of violets.
81 have come for a long talk, Oc-
tavia," she said. 81 have much to say,
and you have much to listen to-. Where
is my old friend, our homemade couchp
Oh, there it is, pushed away back in
that dark corner. O~ctavia, how could
you treat my handiwork with so little
dignity" Then she pulled away with
ner pretty hands until the couch with
its worn chintz covering and cushions
was placed to her liking in the broad
window, and she comfortably established
thereon. The warm, golden beams of
the setting sun rested lovingly on her
sweet face.
"And so, my DEAR" 1 said, with a
sigh of content, for I was very glad to
have my Jean home once more, after an
absence of many weeks, .you are really
engaged to be marriedP l only heard
the rumor, as true, the other day, and
have waited for your own lips to tell me
all about it. and as many of the secrets
Of love.making as you will confde to an
old maids keeping"
"Oh, yes, l am engaged" she an
swered, carelessly; "but, Octavia, if
you are pining for love secrets, 1 have
none to tell. Surely you know as we'll
as | do that it was all arrangedlong ago.,
before papa died. 1t was his dearest
wish that l should marry the Baron Won
Stock, and abroad we are taught to obey
our fathers, even though they die and
leave us; and even without that we
D'Orsays never break our word"
She said this simply and as a matter
Of course, taking off her rings one by
one and making a little row Of them on
the top of the couch. She was very
young, only just seventeen, but there
was a ring of proud truth in her voice
that showed that she had learned her
lesson we'll.
eyes, l know, child" 1 answered,
with another sigh, not so tranquil as my
former one; "only, you see, 1 can
neither understand nor believe in such
q keeping of ones word. Here, in
America, generally, a girl marries for
one OF two reasons; either because she
loves, or because she is poor and needs
q home. The latter can never be your
case then, Jean, do you love the Baron
Won Stock?"
Jean shrugged her shoulders. SHE
is fifty" she said, sand has gray hairs,
and am just seventeen, and, you
Know, summer and winter can never
agree. But l am a D'Orsay."
"D'Orsay or not D'Orsay," l replied,
shortly, 81 do not believe in any such
nonsense. Jean, do you realize what
you are giving up in marrying a man
you do not love?"
81 think l do, Octavia."
Jeanen
\ long pause followed my question,
during which Jean put on slowly the
shining little c~irclets that belonged to
her slim fingers. Then she said, in a
troubled voice: "Octavia, that is just
what have come to tell you"
A peremptory knock at the door, fol-
lowed by the Immediate entrance and
familiar voice of my favorlte, Denis
Durant, Interrupted jeans little confess
sion.
"Are you here, Madam Octavia, all
alone in the cleaning? And may l
come imp
Come in and welcome, Denis, but
"nen did.you arrive? Your last letter
SAID nothing of your intention to return
So soon. You were on your way to
Florida, then. Did you weary of the
sunny South? or were the Florida girls
less winning and beautiful than you ex-
pected?,
"No and yes, Madam Octavia. As
20 the Florida girls, fortunately for me
lney did not mak nm NV entire COM
munlty, for l had other things to think
Denis crossed the long studio, and
STOOD beside us where we sat in the
questioning shadows. I turned to
Jean to make them known to one an
other.
"Jean," I said, ''this is your one rival
Al my affections; Denis, this is your
onIy compeer in my heart"
mad proceeded thus far, when I was
shaken out of my usual calm by a little
fasping noise from among the cushions.
lens started forward, and to my utter
ulsmay and astonishment, I saw him
selze Jeans hands and cover them with
voice:
You here, my darling! why, 1
01nuugnt-l never knew you and Madam
oc1aVla were friends"