Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1884-02-29
DAMS VALENTINE.
P I.

CHAPTER L.
It was St. Valentines Dav. Dan
Eoodford sat by the one small window
i his log cabin, modify gazing out on
he eaunt. lentless trees, and on the dis.
ant CLEAN of the stormy water of Lake
superior. His thoughts were as dreary
!, the landscape before him; and his
tate of mind was hard and bitter, for
(c remembered another Valetine's Day,
|nly u year ago. The one great and
blessed day Of his life it had seemed
aen-because he had exchanged valen-
lines with lovely Evelyn Crave, and she
al promised to be his wife and his val
ntinc forever.
But one short year ago!' murmured
Dan, thinking aloud, a habit gained in
oIitude, land now she is Mrs. Norton,
be old m~illionaire's wife, and l am a
ermit, ~self-exiled to this bleak and
oncly place.
He glanced round on the bare walls,
built by his OWE hands, in the fall OF
be year just past. They were rudely
b%lastered and white-washed, but so
old that the widest storm might rage
Ind howl without, might beat its angry
F%iolcnce against them, while the occu-
PANT, provided well with food and fuel,
ould afford to smile in serene comfort
within.
And Dan smiled now-but it was q
pd smile-as he looked around and
hid: Better, ten times letter, drear
md lonely as it is, than the insecure
ONE OF 4 faithless Woman'S shallow.
banging heart"
Then with a long-drawn sigh that
uch be.ied his brave words, the
beaher went in quest of his pipe and
bbacco, the solace of his lonely exist
Pnre. Having found them, he sat down
4 rude pine desk, manufactured in
pare evening hours after his days
FORK was over. He pulled out the
E;~wer and took from it the few treas
res it containcd-half a dozen letters
rom the girl who had Tilted him; q long
reSs OF her wavy, yellow hair, and a
not OF witlered flowers that had once
doomed and blushed upon her breast.
"Eaded and dead!!" sighed Dan, in
Paling the faint fragrance that yet chung
. them, ''as the love she vowed should
lie only with her life."
Gently, tenderly he replaced them in
lie silver paper that had held them;
Rnd then he twined the silken hair
Rhout his finger, where it chung like
F,ome living thing, and it's touch thrilled
lke an electric Shock along his nerves,
Fetting his heart wildly throbbing till
le was half mad with love and longing.
lie shook the yellow curl from his hand
'nl lung 1t away as though it had
burned him. Lastly, he took up the
eetters, and with a hooking smile read
mem, one by one. Having finished, he
foIied all together-the letters. the tress
halr and the crumbling tlowers-and
stretched out his hand toward the glow
NJ fire OF logs that blazed upon the
pearth. But he didn't cast the little
Jacket into the flames, as he had meant
o do; instead, he raised it to his lips,
Kissed it p~assionately and reverently re-
urned it to the place from whence he
lad taken it. With angry contempt for
himself he then exclaimed:
"Oh, what a fool l amp shut the
Irawer sharply, took up his pipe and
eturned to his place by the window.
lhe CLEAN Of the stormy water was
(llnost lost now in the gathering dusk
md the snow that still fell heavily.
Now and then, as the darkness in
reased, came the long, loud, hungry
owl OF distant wolves. Dan heard it
nmoved, enjoying it rather than 9TH
fw!se, While he listened, noting the
ong intervals between the sounds. Sud
FenlV, during one Of these intervals, a
cw, wailing cry sounded close beside
I'M; and he bounded from his chair
pore startled than if a whole pack OF
wolves had appeared before the Win
low.
What was that?" he exclaimed,
gazing all round the wide apartment
ma peering into every corner brightly
Illuminated by the flames that blazed
way on the wide, deep hearth.
The only living thing in the room
ave himself was a beautiful Maltese
at that lay fast asleep in the chimney
eorner.
1T must have been the cat" And
FNhlle he stood regarding the comforta
Die creature, the same wailing cry,
oIder and more pitiful. sounded close
behind him.
Great heaven! Can it be? It ism
Possible"' exclaimed Dan, and, reach
ahg the door at II stride, he tore i
open.
The wind and snow rushed in, AM
Nl,h them q louder wall from the bun
lie that lay on the threshold. With ex
laOrQlnary care. Dan raised the bundI,