Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1884-06-13
face lay still among the rushes in the
silent moonlight.

It was dark and warm and deliciously
restful when she knew anything again.
She heard Harry's low voice before ever
she opened her eyes; and felt his clasp
of her hand-Harry's hand-clasp, there
was no other like it anywhere-and
thought it must be Heaven, and was
glad She had done with earth, since this
was so much better. And so she slept
again.
And when next she awoke, she knew
that the clouds she seemed to lie on,
clouds soft and billowy, were her own
bed. nothing more ETHEREAL; and she was
aware that it must be earth still, but felt
it did not matter since it could be so
like Heaven, for Harry's voice and
Harry's hand were there still; and she
slept again, smiling gently.
But the next time she woke the hand
and voice were missing, and only Harry's
back was visible in the room beyond, as
she raised herself on her pillows. And
as she rose she caught sight of herself
in the long Psyche glass opposite. and
started at the reflection. For all her
tangle Of brown hair was cut short, and
there was no pink and white pretfiness
now, only great dark eyes,, and a small
white face And as she fell back on her
pillows, half from surprise and half from
weakness, for she was very feeble, the
bells burst out clear and sweet and
mystical, in a perfect carol of exultanr
Joy.
"Christmas bells! Is it Christmas?"
she said. ''Why, it was November when
I died.
And as Harry turned and hurried to
her side, she smiled up at him, and
asked again:
christmas? Is # really Christmas,
Harry" but he only bent to catch her
in his arms.
She yielded to his kisses; then sud-
denly she tried to push him from her.
Harry, you must not-you must not!!'
she said.
He saw the troubled look in her eyes,
and knew that memory was coming
back.
Eyes, I must" he said, "my little
darling, my blessing, my life! The doc
tor says may tell tell you all about it,
for the worry will hurt you more than
the talking; and, oh! how I have waited
for this moment to come! 1t has been
one long nightmare since the minute l
heard your scream, and ran up just in
time to see you sink"
''Then it was you who found me? Oh,
Harry"
Eyes, you must hear it all. 1 came
to your room five minutes after you
must have left it. and there was the
timetable open, and your little note,
bless it," (that tear-spotted bit of paper
will never leave Harry Fielding's heart
while he lives), "and 80 I just set off
for the station as hard as I could 90. I
had almost reached the park gate when
that cry came-of to the right-and I
turned just in time"
His voice broke, and he bent his head
down to hers.
'Nesta, it was all a lie, a vile, in
famous lie, whoever told it. Gladys
Traford and I were always dear old
boy and girl friends, nothing more. I
knew my cousin Wilfred loved her, and
| always thought she had something to
do with his going to Australia, years
ago. 1t was only that night she con-
fessed to me that they had been en-
gagged all these years, and Wilfred was
trying to make a fortune for her sake.
1 told her 1 would soon put all that
right; and then l scolded her for never
having told me before, when I could
have saved them both all these weary
years Of waiting. NestaH'-for her
face was hidden, and she was sobbing
softly-''you will not doubt me again?''
"Never, never, never! not if you told
me so yourself! But, Harry" in a
whisper which scarcely reached his ear,
"did you really marry me out of pity?"
Yes, my sweetheart-the very ~sincerest
pity for myself"
And Nesta never asked any more
questions.-Cassezps Magazine.