Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1883-11-10
ON THE RIVER,

$50 Vane IS at his old tricks again?
If | were that girls father, or brother,
! should be inclined to express my opin-
ion of his tactics pretty strongly!h
els that Miss Elliott? I have noticed
him by her side more than half the
evening-but, if l may Judge from the
lady's expression, his attentions are not
otherwise than acceptable"
"splendidly handsome girl, isn't
she?. Alice Hargreaves, the new beauty,
is not a patch upon her, in my opin-
ion."
Handsome enough for those who
admire that style-gr great Eastern eyes
and Juno-like figure. For my own
part l prefer something softer and more
feminine"
M"So apparently did Vanc yesterday
morning. He was sitting in the park,
under Mrs. Fairfax's parasol, for over
an hour and a half. How a proud girl
like Blanche Elliot can stand such open
rivalry passes my comprehension"
"Mrs. Fairfaxp The widow of Jack
Fairfax, Of the Artillery?"
Given so-Nina Forester, that was.
You must remember her, Grahame-a
pretty little fair-haired thing, who looks
as if a puff of wind would blow her
away. She is awfully we'll of-Jack
took care of that, poor old chap! And
really she looks hardly more than a
child still, though she has a little girl,
as pretty as herself, over five wears
"And she is flirting with young Vane,
you say?"
"Flirting! She's the veriest little firt
~ Er~1orl How -;11o IT. rCur;1rooLo~
is q paradise for hat kind of amuse-
ment. Sloping lawn down to the river
boat always ready-strawberries and
cream-and a pretty little hostess so
charmed to see you if you run down for
a breath of fresh air on a hot afternoon.
She has been up in town this week, stay
ing with her brother, but was to go home
yesterday"
During this last speech Colonel Ora
hame's attention has been chiefly be-
slowed upon Miss Elliot and the coun-
tenance of the man who is so assiduously
bending over her.
1t is a very good-looking face-a face
which one of Sir Reginald Vane's dog
loving friends has sometimes likened to
a Gordon setter, with dark, lustrous
eyes and delicate profile-and if there
are weak lines marring the mouth and
chin they are concealed by the black
silky mustache which cover both. He
is a popular man, especially with the
women, who easily learn to call him
Reggie and smile over the rather
free-and-easy compliments, which have
a charm Of their own when uttered in
that low, musical murmur. In fact, a
drawing-room pet of the nineteenth cen
tury, such as n meets with here and
there in the course Of every season.
OF a very different. type is Leslie
Grahame, the man who, standing in the
doorway, has been listening to the care
less remarks of a gossiping acquaint-
ance. OF Scottish descent and with the
rugged cast OF features common to that
nation, he might, except for his com
manding height, pass %unnoticed in the
crowd assembled at Lady Hethering-
toms At Home. But probably, on an
Aldershot tield-day, a spectator would
pick out the cavalry officer who sits his
horse so CALAMITY Though three fingers
OF his bridle-hand are gone, and he is
fam to wind the chargers reins round
his wrist) as an object OF curiosity.
For do not other medals, besides
ClOsc SO laJely Won III ESyP', uoooh"
his breast, and is there not some tale o.
heroism and danger, almost %unparallei'
ed in modern annals, connected witt
the cross earned at Ulundi?"
Blanche Elliot, keen-witted in read
ing c~ountenances, has singled him out
this evening, and appeals to Vane with 6
half-conscious laugh.
''Pray who is that stern looking mar
leaning against the door? He appears
to take an interest in me-this is the
second time have caught him gazing
this way" =.
SIS that SO remarkable? l shoule
have thought the occurrence too ire
quent and natural to attract your atten.
tion-although it is rather wonderful u
for Colonel Grahame to condescend t
notice any one. His head is usually II
the Clouds"
ale looks out of place here, n feels
it. See, he is 'sloping off, as you say
Grahame-I remember the name-a v
c., is he not?".
"Just so. A great hero in his way
but not a very amusing companion II
ordinary life. I only know HIM y