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

low voice. with now and then a sob.
ssOh, Denis, you should not! Octayja.
why did you let him Gomez Oh. nv
dear, dear Denis!"
1t was all very, very sad. Jean stood
there i'll her white cleaning dress. sob
bling, with Denis holding her hands in
his, entreating her in passionate tones to
llsten to the love in both their hearts.
=! a not" she said, family. "Oh,
] euis, l car not"
'fEhen you do not love me- cried he.
hotly.
Glove you," she answered. "Ah.
you DO not know how I love you. [
love you more earnestly, more deeply,
than it is possible for you to understand.
But, Oh! can't you seeP it is not ma
promise must keep, it is my fathers.
1t will not greatly matter if my heart is
broken," she added, a little wildly, $50
our honor is kept clean"
o q few moments there was silence.
then from out the gloom, far down the
long studio came a voice:
"Jean, mein liebling, are thou ready
for me? Pardon, madame, that ] intrude
myself upon you"
Baron Won Stock walked into our
midst, and there vas Jean, crying, and
Denis holding both her hands.
SHUT what is this" continued the
Baron, turning his kind face from one
to another. "Jean in tears! And Won.
SIR to Denis, .'for what reason do Won
so hold Miss D'Orsay's handsP"
"For what r%eason?" cried Denis, glad
t0.speak to some one in his excitement;
.sfor the best OF all reasons, Baron Won
Stock: because l love Jean, and she
loves ME. Don't you, my darlingp Yes,
l love her, and you will take her from
me, because of some stupid promise
long ago, made by a man dead these
two years. You want her to marry YOU
and she is not n to break her word.
But, look you, l tell you she loves me,
and it will only be her hand she gives
you, not her heart: that is msue!w
The boy finished almost triumphant
ly, though he dropped Jeans hands and
stood away from her. She said nothing.
"Is this true, Jean?" asked the Baron.
slowly, with a look of pain on his face.
Thus questioned, Jean looked up and
answered:
"True that I love Denis? Yes, It is
quite true. l should have told you,
Hermann, the day before our marriage,
and l should also have told you, that as
took your name, so I should wear it
blamelessly. You have never asked me,
Baron Won Stock, whether or no 1 zoued
you. You accepted my fathers prom
Use as l have done, as I am willing to
do"
AS 1 watched the Baron, I saw a sud-
den look of happiness come over his
face while Jean was speaking. My
heart sank. Was he then willing to
take her not only without love, but
knowing her heart belonged to another?
1t seemed so, for as she finished he went
close to her, and. taking her hand,
raised it c%ourteously to his lips, bowling
MS gray head over it with infinite grace.
"That is quite as it should be, mein
liebling; l am only too happy to possess
your amiable respect. And now shall
we goP 1t is already Late"
So, with a general bow, and leading
my poor little Jean by the hand, he left
us. AS the door closed, Denis gave one
low cry and flung himself face down
upon the couch. Nothing 1 could say
would comfort him; he lay all the even
ing in dumb, wretched misery, while the
dusk grew into night, and one bv one
out came the little stars, and last of all
the full, round moon.
The 18th of June dawned fair and
doubtless. l was up early, too full of
my child's new life that was to begin
to-day, to rest. She was to be married
at Mr.. Haviland:s, quietly, at six o'clock
in the afternoon. l had a little note
from her at midday begging me not to
fail to come, and saying at the end
TDear Octavia, I know [ am doing
right, although my heart seems dead.
Baron Won Stock is very kind, and says
l shall soon be all bright and happy
again. And, indeed, l shall try and
make his words seem true"
BY four o'clock I was dressed in my
best gray silk, with a bunch of white
lilac, that Jean had sent me. l was
carefully drawing on my gloves and be-
ginning to fdget mentally lest Denis
should fail me at the last; for he, with
a youthful desire to luxuriate in his
grief, had declared it only manly and
right to be at jeans marriage, besides
being his duty to look after me. At
half past five he made his appearance.
ooh, Denis," l cried, show glad l
am to see you. l feared, after all, you
might not come"
He laughed a sad, bitter laugh, not
good to hear from so young a heart.
"You should not fear, Madam Octavia.
If she can endure it, surely l can"
Then we betook ourselves to the car
riage, and very soon were entering Mr..
HaViland's drawing rooms; these were
gay with flowers and sweet June sun
shine, and bright with happy faces.
Were ours the only heavy hearts in that
small gathering?
We took our places, Denis and l, not
far from the white satin mat richly en-
broidered in roses, which, as Madame
de Vaux informed me, chad been
brought especially from Germany for
the bride and groom to stand upon. An
old, old family custom, you know" she
whispered, theoretically, ''and SO inter-
esting."
We had not long to wait; there was a
hush in the flow of many voices as Baron
Won Stock entered and took his place,
followed Immediately by Jean on Mr..
Haviland's arm. l held my breath;
non;e vuho stood hoc;do mn eb;vorod