Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1883-11-24

Harvey, but some n coming in inst
.neh diverted attention from the subject.
an u, the hostess did not reply.
Inc new picture was the center Of At.
sractlon in the hall next morning. and
Mrs; Harvey had plenty to saw. NV
Know, of course, he is an in
o "nate 1rlend of Mrs. Wells" she u
Oh. He sent his picture not long
No. * put she can't find it anywhere.
me last she remembers of it was of
agnes Fisher looking at it as it sat on
easel on the center table in her
orawlngg-room. Agnes was greatly taken
up with it. just like her. YOU know.
anu She was determined to carry 4
away with her. 1t is too bad. so MANY
OF his old friends would like to see Il
now that this painting is calling atten-
ton to him as an artist.n
From lip to lip went the story all tho
way around the tastefully decorated
nall, and when, early in the afternoon
MIS-. Wells came in, a beyv of ladies'
surrounded her at once with words of
coincidence.
That dreadful Agnes Fisher! A
church member, too! The idea of her
stealing an oil painting, framed on an
easel, and all from your drawing-room.
What a treasure it would be for us here!
"A gilt to you! Painted on purpose for
you, his childhood friend! How YOU
must feel! Why don't you send an Off
GER to search her room? Have YOU sent
word to the preceptress? There she
comes now with a party from the semi
nary. Her head is as high as ever. 7
shant speak to her, for one. (.Nor T.
MOI - [ hope some one will be de-
tailed to watch her. There is no telling
what She may carry away" 9
"What are you talking aboutp I am
altogether bewildered." exclaimed Mrs.
Wells, sinking into a chair and nuttinc
up her hands as if to defend herself. I
can't get at your meaning at all. have
never seen any of Paul Jenkins work,
and am anxious to look at the handsome
he has so kindly SENT" and the old lady
adjusted her glasses. "Oh!" she said.
as she returned the spectacle case to her
shopplng-bag, ''here is his photograph,
l was sure you would all like to see it.
How 90 you do, Mrs. Harvey" as that
lady drew near. II found my young
friends likeness after you left last might,
and here it is. 1t had Slipped out of
sight in a basket of e%ngravings where it
had fallen"
Mrs. Harvey looked sheepish. The
other ladies dispersed, saying one to an
other:
"How a story will grow if once it gets
a good start"
A few conscientious souls took pains
to go around the hall telling the truth
OF the matter, and it was hoped no harm
had been done blythe exaggeration.
Five years later, far out on q Western
prairie, Mrs. Harvey was asked by a
relatives.
"What became of that dreadful Agnes
Fisher, a seminary girl, you know, who
stole an oil painting from that loan x
hibition you were all so interested in the
last time I vas East. There is quite a
little Vermont colony about us here, YOU
know, and she had acquaintance among
them who tried to get her in as teacher
OF u high school, but 1 got hold of it
and put a stop to it right. away, 1 assure
you. They could hardly believe the
story, but when l told them l was there
in the hall when the loss was made
known, they had to give in"
"When the thistle seed is scattered to
the four winds, it is hard to get it to-
gether again to destroy it," sighed Mrs.
Harvey. eff one little seed, even with
its feathery sail, eludes pursuit, you may
run across it any time, far away, the
center of a thicket that it has propa-
gated. Be truthful, check theidle word.
and be wary of a breath that can soil q.
good name as you would be of wound
ing a soul that shall live throughal eter-
nifty. "-Christi0n at Work.