Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1883-06-23

IS Az AOe coVoCIAelr happiness aS
ne had often done; hswas too happy
himself. A turn Of Nc louad showed
him the house where Euice He'll lived; a
large old-fashioned houe, dgnified but
homelike. From the Lawn ISse a state
~ cedar. Beside the dirk cedar was
a great tulip-tree covered viii pale bios
SONS. The voices of chidrn at play
reached him from behinC he old red
wall Of the garden. With him came
All! what was that2 Her ote. James
Grafton felt his pulse qunien as he
hastened his steps toward th,house. In
fancy he saw her out ther,hnder the
tree the guardian of the littldgroup of
children. Propitious moment Now if
ne could but seize it! And ekerly, as
II for the first time in his life, khurried
on to meet his fate-his fate tia at that
very moment was rushing hov\surely,
how swiftly, to meet himI
While James Grafton had bseAcom-
ing through the lane the object II his
thoughts and affections, Eunice Belhad
been sitting, just as he had imaghed,
and as he had often seen her, withAthe
shadow of the great trees. She Vas
dressed for dinner, in a half-toile\ of
some soft ~dove-colored, summer-ke
fabric. She was ten years younAr
than James Grafton, although for tie
last two years she had considered hey
self distinctly an old maid. Her haA'
was soft and fair. Her figure tall and
slight-a little too slight perhaps. Her
face was very placid. At the moment
James Grafton had turned into the lane
it wa grave as we'll as placid. Pres
emily (t was because she knew by the
striking Of the church clock that he
must be coming nearer?) a Thought
made her smile. She was thinking of
James Grafton then; telling herself she
liked him, feeling that somehow or an
other the idea Of being always an old
maid was ~imperceptibly melting. els
it only friendship just touched with SEN
timent, or does he really care for mep''
The question pleased her but she knew
the answer perfectly we'll; she knew he
cared for her. Then she sighed; her
lips half curled with scorn, but not
scorn for him. No n Except his SIS
ter-in-law) could regard James Grafton
with anything but profound respect.
Crest, %trustfulness and love! All! !
have sometimes thought them idle
words; but to see the smile of this good
man is to know"-
She never finished the sentence.
"Auntie! auntie! see, there's Mr..
Grafton" a little voice cried gleefully;
and Eunice Bell, raising her eyes, which
had been fixed on the grass at her feet,
saw James Grafton crossing the lawn,
and the children all scampering toward
him as fast as their chubby legs could
carry them. Eunice rose and followed
them, laughing gently at the earnest
ness with which the little things riled
his pockets of those sweets which 8
Observation-Disclosures man is
never without, if he knows his duty and
does it.
So they, Eunice and James CATER all,
forty is not SO very great an age)-they
were both laughing when they met. II
was pleasant, very pleasant-in fact,
quite delightful; but, somehow before
that gentle domestic laughter, senti.
ment fled abashed. They were out in
the garden one quarter of an hour
one bright, delicious. happy quarter Of
an hour. They sat side by side under
tbs trees, while the evening sunbeams
played upon the softly futtering leaves.
The children prattled about their knees.
Their glances met with kind, familiar
smiles. Eunice felt a contented rest
fulness in his presence, and he was cont
scious that it was so. 1t was to him !
most golden, blissful quarter of an hour
But Of course he could not say what hi
wished before the children, and therS
was all the beautiful long evening bd
fore them, and no need to hurry
Presently, after sunset, he and sB
would stroll out there, and then-b
felt certain now, absolutely sure, thlt
she would answer Yes. AS absolutely
sure as / am at this minute that had lie
asked her to be his wife during thAt
happy quarter of an hour she would
have accepted him with the frankdt
smile of perfecttrust. The gong sounded
for dinner. They sauntered up to tie
house side by side, the children still
playing about their path.
81 always feel whenever 1 come here
that you have all attained to the ideal
state of domestic peace and happiness,''
said James Grafton, thoughtfully.
"After the stormy scenes one is some
times called upon to witness" Gle
thought of yesterday and the sisters-in-
law, ''the sweet, calm atmosphere per-
vading the entire home-life here is most
soothing"
..We get on very we'll together" said
Eunice, in her soft, placid voice.
"Your sister and her husband are, /
think, the most admirable young couple
1 ever met. They never wrangle. BY
the way, I haven't asked how they
were. How are they?"
"Oh,as fourishing as usual" returned
Eunice, II wonder they haven't been
in the garden. They generally like to
be out here during the children's half
hour, as we call the half-hour before
dinner"
So saying they entered the house to.
gether-that house the bachelor had
now for some time held SO sa.
cred. They entered by the draw
ing-room window, which opened
on to the lawn. They rather
surprised Mrs. Cathcart, the young and
lovely wife, diligently reading a novel
on the sofa, and her gallant husband
apparently absorbed in the evening pa.