Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1884-04-25

ny rI hA came in just then, and shak-
ing hands with Edith, went over to his
esravonce. stsse 1
Tome, my bird! You had better let
my sisters show you to your room so ms
you can trim your feathers a little" he
4ela. Smoking back the soft,
huny dark hair gently from her fore
mead. My sister carried her off at once
n OF course Gerald followed. He did
not seem. able to take his eyes oF her
for a moment.
What q queer little fright she is
she looks like an elf! He must only
nave married herfrom pity, Isuppose!"
L could not help saying.
I "Not a fright, surely!" Edith
answered quickly. 1--WE see her in an
unfavorable moment. Her grief has
! told on her face, but she has glorious
eyes. and l can see what took Gerald.
1t is her winning manner-iust like a
petted ch.kl,s'
l glanced at Edith admiringly, think
ing what an angel of forgiveness she
was, and when the bride came down
again +! took a malicious pleasure in
comparing her with Edith.
Edith, SO fair and SO lovely, with hair
like spun gold ana a wild rose bloom
on her cheeks, and a graceful, wiIlowy
inquire. And Ste. to call her by the
curious Authorization she wished-so
small and dusky, with q colorless skin
and nothing to recommend her but two
immense black eyes, which certainly
were as lustrous as twin stars and as
soft as velvet. &
Later in the evening when dinner was
over and Edith had drawn her away to,
look at Gerald's drawings, he came up
and Shutdown by me.
"Elen, you must not form an opinion
of ste's attractions now," he whispered.
earnestly; ''she is not herself; naturally
she is as bright and happy as a bird,
and altogether charming. You must
help me chase away her trouble and
bring back her smiles. And then, you
don't know how pretty my little one is
when she smilcs,n he went on enthsi-
astically.
And wondering how she could ever
be pretty, l forgot to answer. So, after
Il momentarv pause, he said:
edith is more beautiful than ever, I
see!"
"Ah!" thought. the could not help
comparing these two-the girl he had
needlessly thrown aside and the girl he
had linked himself to for life."
1t was not long before Ste sswas more
like herself" as Gerald said. Her sor-
row had been so wild and so passionate
that naturally it soon Wore itself out. The
color came back to her dark cheeks, adj
ditional lustre to her eyes, and I could
often hear her carolling snatches of
songs.
They were mostly French ones-some
with a wonderful pathos ringing
through them; and the pronunciation
OF her maternal tongue was the pretti-
est thing imaginable. Yes she was
growing merry enough.
Gerald's love was so perfect, and he
filled the place Of father, brother and
husband so entirely, as he had said,
that he LETT her nothing to wish for.
My sister was growing very fond of
her, and declared her to be remarkably
pretty, but l could see no beauty in her,
neither could I love her-my devotion
to Edith utterly precluded it.
Ste grew to be popular with Gerald's
men friends, too. They thought her
charming, and his special friend, q
young fellow who was rapidly rising in
his profession, and who had been an
admirer of Edith's, came more frequent
ly than the rest.
Before Gerald's marriage DR.. Perci-
val had made small progress in his
wooing, but since, Edith seemed more
favorably inclined towards him.
He was %passionately fond of singing
and had a superb voice. Edith could
not sing a note, but Ste's and Mark
Percival's voices blended splendidly to-
gether. Thus hours were spent, every
hour, l thought, that he could spare
from his practice, in these duets.
And Gerald, who was also ,tanaGco
per la nausic0, never seemed to tire Of
listening to the two.
was very wicked l know. Ireally
believed Ste to be artful and Designing;
her childlike, blithe name 1 fancied
was assumed. I saw how happy she
was in the hours spent in Mark Perci-
walls society, and it made me dislike
her ten times more for finding pleasure
anywhere but with her husband.
[ consoled myself with believing that
she was trying to bewitch poor Edith's
lover as she had bewitched my brother,
and listened Indignantly when she said
in her pretty, childish fashion.
81 wish Edith and DR.. Pcrcival would
come; it's getting quite late and they
are aot here yet, and 1 miss them so!
Isn't DIR. Percival handsome and &C
complished. Ger?"
don't think a doubt of her ever en-
tered his mind until l put 1t there. I
began with a look or a little word OPP
portunely dropped.
Then l rushed into it suddenly, and
shall never forget the expression Of pain
on his face, when l said:
''Mark Percival admires Ste very
much, Gerald. How well their voices
suit. l think if he had CHANGED to meet
her before her marriage you would
have had a very formidable rival"
He did not answer; he grew dreadful
ly white and, biting his lips, turned
away.
But [ had not done.
There was an excuse for me, for I
loved my brother with all my heart,
and 1 was Jealous for him.
.Hasn,t Ste q wonderfully powerful