Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1884-02-15

. agreeable companion for the
braln-starved and weary old parson.
Mother learns to watch for his footstep
on the walk, and her eyes brighten. at
his thoughtful care for her. A softly
cushioned phaeton which he decides he
must have for his own use, since long
days in tropic India have made him in.
aolent, is always at her disposal; the
latest books and papers, rare treats to
her, are laid by her well-fillea mend'np
basket, and bring that breath from the
outer world which freshens and clarifies
the hazy atmosphere that surrounds her
in the sleepy old village. Vic and Bob
pett desert me utterly, and, allured by
long rambles, by drives behind that
wonderful horse, the possession of which
makes him q monarch in their eyes, and
by huge boxes of bonbons, worship the
newcomer with a blind alteration that
makes me feel more forlorn than ever.
All at once l begin to find myself lone
some in my small minority of one.
lifelong, bright summer days glide by
one after another, and still Mi. Ashbur-
ton stays on at the parsonage. Some
times he talks of buyingthe great house.
upon the hill overlooking the village.
M takes lonely walks there in the twi-
hight, or begs me to help him watch the
sunset from its broad western porch
that faces the rounded peaks of the
berkshire hills. This is on days when
l forget Mrs. Barton's gossip and my
state Of advanced spinsterhood; forget
to put on my armor of indifference
toward all mankind in general, and this
one specimen in particular, and yield to
the charm which his presence exerts on
us all; days when | recognize, without
naming it, a delicious sense of being
watched over and cared for; of a tender
interest that sympathizes equally with
my noblest thought, Or my simplest
home duty; that even descends to a
knowledge of my pretty summer dresses
and their degrees of becomingness; DAYS
that are pleasant, but dangerously 50,
for they are invariably followed by
darker ones Then Mr.. Ashburton
speaks of another journey to India, of
his sorrowful determination to leave
Clifton and his new-found friends
glancing meanwhile comprehensively at
the whole family, and fixing his eyes on
a point just over my head, while the
children give forth doleful walls at the
bare prospect.
These are days when I suddenly de-
velop traits OF character hitherto unsus-
pected. l am petulant, saucy and de-
iiant; then, without a reason, chang
ing" become devout and serious, and
talk of fitting myself for missionary
work. THIS emboldens Mr.. Ashburton
to remark that there is a fine field for
such LABOR in India; %whereupon l am
frozen into silence. Father looks at me
in wondering sorrow; mother shakes
her head reprovingly, and Bobbett kind
ly makes the statement:
Il never knew Bar5ie to act so like a
mutf before; she's always been a first
rate kind OF a sister until this sum-
mer."
L feel equal to any amount of sisterly
correction after this remark, for we'll 1
know it is owing to his matchmaking
proclivities, first melted by old Mrs.
Barton, that l have been so i'll at ease
and out of tunc this sweetest summerof
my life.
1t is a wondert to me how women, who
have once appeared sensitive-natured,
p~ure-hearted girls themselves, can SO
far forget their girlhood lives as to drag
into the merciless glare of daylight, for
everyday comment and criticism, those
unconfessed and half-formed plans for
future love, home and happiness, that
are the sacred property of young girls
hearts. Many a sweet love tune has
gone unsung and unheard because rude
hands have swept the young heart
strings that would otherwise have vi
brated in happy accord; smooth currents
of life that were meant to mingle. have
been turned storm-lashed and tempest
tossed into separate channels by the
incautious meddling of an interested
friend. Many a girl like myself is hum
cry for the love and joy that await her
taking, while her sensitive pride, easily
reused by a rough touch, or word, from
an outsider, will surround her with an
atmosphere through which love must be
strong indeed to send it's rays of light,
There comes a day, however, in my own
golden-hearted September, when learn
to forgive Vic and Bobbett for all their
twisting and tangling of my destiny
threads; a day when I have humbly to
acknowledge that 1 owe all my future
happiness in life to them and their
matchmaking maneuvers.
/ am sitting in the meal-room of the
old deserted mill that stands guard over
a ripping stream in Il PARKWAY corner
of the parsonage farm. The afternoon
sun streams in at the window, and a
long golden path stretches across the
floor to my feet. I have pillowed my
head on my arms. as | kneel by the low
window overlooking the brook, and am
so55ing, bitterly, uncontrolahly. All
the sunshine has gone out of my life and
Isorrow mono the less that l know my
own foolish pride has shut tie doors be-
tween me and all happiness.
The brook sings or under my win
dow, but its only refrain to my ears is
one OF loss and sorrow. Early that
morning l had shattered the hopes of a
whole family, and broken my own
heart, all for the remembrance OF those
silly words of Vic and Bobbett on the
day when Nh. Ashburton first came to
us. l had not meant to do it, but az
extra, bit Of vil]ora Uoscin rnOaatnd bv