Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1884-05-23
MISS yANsToNE,s VENGEANCE.

Miss Ethel Vanstone could not make
up her mind for a long time whether
she preferred Jack Benson OF Lord
barley. Jack was certainly the better
looking, and he possessed the romantic
attraction of being a briefess barrister,
without means o expectations. Miss
Vanstone affected to despise wealth and
position, which she could afford to do,
being an heiress in her own right, with
no other relative than a rich, weak
minded uncle, who doated upon her.
But, though Lord barley was the son of
apeer, and would one day succeed to
the family honors and estates, he was
meanwhile. delightfully."- i%mpecunious
and, if he was not handsome, he was ex-
ceedingly quaint and amusing. Miss
Vanstone found it impossible to decide
which she liked the better, and, to COM
plicate matters, her admirers were old
friends, and each seemed to hang back
out of Difference to the other.
However, the young lady's uncer-
tainty probably arose from doubts Is to
which would eventually propose, for
when Jack Benson at length avowed his
affection he was accepted without hest
tation. The engagement appeared
likely to secure the permanent happi-
ness of both the young people, but be-
fore long there arose the proverbial
little cloud which threatened to wreck
their happiness. It came in the shape
of vague whisperings and headshakings,
the meaning Of which Miss Vanstone
was at a loss to imagine. Her friends
smiled rather maliciously whenever she
referred to Jack, until she could not
help perceiving that some unpleasant
secret was being transparency con-
cealed from her. Her pride prevented
her from demanding explanations, the
more especially as Jack vowed and de-
.clared that his conscience was as clear
:as the MONDAY sun. But though she
implicitly believed in him, she felt
troubled and uneasy in spite of herself,
and dreaded that some d~isagreeable
revelation was in store for her. This
foreboding, not u~nnaturally, proved
correct, for one day she received an
anonymous letter, informing her that
Jack and Lord barley had tossed up a
penny piece in a public room at the
Blenheim Club to decide which should
propose to her, and that her engage
ment was generally regarded as an
excellent joke.
Now Miss Vanstone was a very way
ward young lady, and she had almost
resolved to forgive Jack any delin-
quency he might have been guilty of
rather than break off the engagement
out of Difference to public opinion. But
the startling and unlocked for nature OF
the accusation which had been brought
against her lover completely upset all
her preconceived intentions. The dis
covery that she had been made to
appear ridiculous rendered her abso-
lutely furious. Independently of the I'M
pleasant suspicion which naturally pre-
scented itself regarding jacks sincerity.
She considered that she had been in
suited in a manner which admitted OF
no excuse or p%alliation, and un-
fortunately for himself Jack Benson
came to call when her indignation was
at its height.
"What is the meaning of this, Jack?"
she inquired, sharply, as he entered the
room.
''What's up?" demanded Jack appre-
hensively.
Read and tell me if what this note
says is true" said Miss Vanstone, with
the air of a tragedy queen.
Jack took the note humbly, looking
very much %perturbed. He seemed less
surprised than confused as he glanced
over the document. and Miss Vanstone's
hope that he would meet the accusa-
ton with an indignant denial vanished
on the spot.
'.You are not going to take any
notice of this Ethel?" he said, with a
ludicious attempt at scornful indifer-
ance.
.'Not if you will tell me that what it
says is false. In that case I win throw
it behind the fire and think no more
about it."
'.It's a cowardly stab in the dark
exclaimed Jack, crushing the note in
his hand.
"No doubt. but you haven't answered
my question" said Miss Vanstone,
COMPRISING her lips.
swell, l can't deny it akogsthee"
eaid Jack in desperation. "BAt you