Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1883-09-08

esy 10 AlklSu vu0 SUOTY HOW
yoI have gone sc far,' said the invalid,
Laliilng back in his chair. what was her
fathers nameY' -"
CHARLES Fletcher.D
my song'
YES, your son.0
linen Amy is my grandchildfD
Maitland assented. -
She does not know it?'
no she is not ware of the existence of
any relative. Your son made me promise
s.o should be kept in ignorance of her rela.
eioM S s to you. Isha1l never tell her."
mat will do for tonight. l am tired
viii viii e OK ~ a. my head aches abominably. I
= Maitland came down stairs so soon az
ne nad seen his patient attended to. He,
700, relt excited and feverish. He deter.
m 1e1 10 cake a stroll in the cool veni air.
his OBJECT had beensaccomplished; he had
maze known to his patient the existence
OF ms granddaughter. Would the result
would it be his duty to do?
ne was still revolving the matter in his
mind, trying to look at it dispassionately
as an outsider and failing miserably, when
ne heard himself accosted.
Hello, Maitland, I thought I recognized
you. Gorgeous night, isn't it? Are you in
~ must get back soon," was the reply.
M, - WAVA yOu IL you OO0sG ml0d.
The truth is I've something very Important
ery;n N-''
aWell?" queried Maitland.
you know that Miss Fletcher who is
companion or something at the Kestertons?
! gog talking to her tonight pretty conf
centrally, and somehow happened to ask
her the name of her father. You might
nave knocked me down with a feather, as
gney say, when she told me it was Charles
Fletcher. You know who he was, I SUP.
pose?"
N Fletcher's son."
Just so. Sweet news for me, isn't it?
lion the old boy has, n he has told me
times enough chat Pm his heir. Now, if he
hasn't made his will I shall be in a hole.
Tor everything will go to this girl"
"She does not know about it, does she?'
mo, thank goodness! No one knows it
"Why have you confided in me?n asked
Maitland. INV
There you are, you see" exclaimed Dex-
ter. ~ hadn't decided whether to tell you
or not, when suddenly you appeared before
dential." paws
your action, Pm afraid"
mo, by Jove! you're right. To tell the
truth for once, l wanted to find out if the
old boy had made a will, and 1 thought you
were the one most likely to know. Then it
struck me 1t was quite possible you might
discover the secret without my help, as I
know you are a friend of the Kestertons
and acquainted with this girl.0
"I've known it a long time"
"Have you, though? My instinct was
left a child?'
mo; he wished it to be kept secret"
"Wel." said Dexter, after a few mo-
ments' elaboration, "I'm not as safe as 1
should like to be. 1t seems to me I've only
one course open to me, which will insure
everything turning out right.
"What is that?"
II must marry Amy"
Maitland gave a start. "Marry Amy, -
he repeated.
eyes. Why not? I must get engaged
il he has left me his property, I can break
of the engagement if 1 want to without
much difficulty; and if she gets it all for
want OF a will I must press forward our
marriage. You see Pm showing nv con.
fdence in you in telling you my plans be-
forehand, as I take it for granted you mean
to me by will"
"You are quite right" replied Maitland,
stifay. He had recovered his calmness
now, and had need of it all to restrain him
self. ut certainly was my intention to let
her know. I do not promise you I shall not
tell her at once, in order that she may have
an opportunity Of urging her claim"
"Oh, confound it all, Maitland, what
good will that do? Let it stand as it is for
q time at any rate. Give a fellow a chance.
You see, as it is, I can make love to her as
a man with good expectations, and she's
only a poor governess; but reverse our po-
cStSonu or1 sr,haro2o ~nrr olo-1o0 NJ -.
must let matters stand for a week or two.0
81 won't promise anything" replied
Maitland. 81 shall see YOU tomorrow and
will tell you my decision them"
He turned away without saying good
night. Dexter was such q mixture of APP
parent good-nature and selishness; he had
such a way of taking him into his conf
dence and making him e sort Of partner in
his disgraceful plans that Maitland was
disguised beyond measure. And this was
the man who was his rival for AMY! And
his own hands were tied!
He rose early, after an almost sleepless
night. He found that his patient was out
of sorts, evidently the result of want
of rest. He made no allusion to the events
unwilling to start the subject. However,
in the afternoon, Fletcher abruptly said:
"Maitland, [ wish you would send to nv
nephew's hotel. You know it, I supposed"
Yes. Are you going to the terrace this
afternoon"
eyes; the same time as yesterday. I
want to see Amy"
Half an hour afterward Dexter made his
appearance. Mr.. Fletcher asked Maitland
to leave them and rejoin them on the ter
race in an hour. As he went out Dexter
managed to whisper
"You won't tell herW
"No," replied Maitland, firmly.
Tho intorviou hotvoon ,po1o onJ ro1hor,
was rather long. Mr.. Fletcher told Dexter
that he was not so ignorant of his doings
as he supposed, and that he had for some
time doubted whether he ought to let such
a scapegrace be his heir.
II was once harsh to my son." said the
old man, 'and 1 lost him. I determined to
make every allowance for you. I don't ask
you if you deserve it, but I should like to
know what your plans are. Do you intend
to marry?"
This sudden question took Dexter off his
guard. Making up his mind OF the spur of
the moment, he answered:
eyes, Sir"
"Whom"
"Well, it isn't quite settled yet between
us. Ihave not declared myself yet, but, ii
Iobtain your consent, I will do so at the
earliest opportunity"
"Who is she?"
"She is the governess at the Kestertons', -
replied his nephew, boldly. "You've never
seen her l suppose, but she isa very charm
ing girl"
"No fortune I presume~
ST believe not.I