Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1884-08-01
Mr.. Beach turned and lifted his hat

Mr.. Beach turned and lifted his hat
to her.
In a week mother and daughter were
among the Berk~ hire HI Is
"Io think we have earned it our
selves" was the continued graduation
OF the girs.
"Ihat adds q twang to the air and .
glory to every view.' said Alice.
On their way home they we edeiayed
at q railroad Junction. Alice CHANGED
to be on the platform when a New
York train made a short stop.
A young man at one of the windows
looked out nditferently upon the on
ventional ia lway surround .ngs, until
his eyes fell upon her.
He sta ed violently, and to the evil
dent CONSUMPTION of his lady compan-
ion. plunged headlong out of the car.
Even then the bell was sounding for
departure.
".Aiss Alice! What good luck 10 see
you!" MIR. Kings manner was
strangely eager. She noticei his Worn
look.
"You won't forget me, will you?"
he pleaded hurr;edly; then, seeing her
blank look, exclaimed: "Don't you
understand? HASN'T Joe-?"
"Uh. the train is going-somebody
calls you" CRED Alice, in mingled en-
barrassment and alarm.
"But you won't forget me,' he
pleaded, and was gone.
His imp,oring look haunted her.
What could it all mean?
Within twenty-four hours Joe Beach
l o.,oooro1 ~, S4sr1;,~. r. /. ~ lo-l o-l
contrite.
II was sent over on a whirlwind,"
he explained. "My little fmesse is not
approved, and 1 begin to fear that
diplomacy is not my }orte-but I hoped,
Miss Alice, tina. ii he puzzled you you
would remember him.
He further explained that Mr.. King's
father, a successful lawyer, had always
lived extensively. trusting to a very
heavy life insurance as ample provision
for his family. In July he had sudden
ly become paralyzed and utterly help
less. His professional income of course
cea ed, and his lie insurance was of no
avail. And upon Jack had fallen the
support of the family.
eft may be only q few months, Or it
may be years, but as long as his father
lives Jack must give up all personal
hopes and plans" saidJoe, land it was
! this which he wished me to convey to
you, in some delicate rose-leaf fashion.
He could not trust himself to come, and
I, villain that l was, went West and
said nothing. ] hoped mystery might
help hs cause. He is a noble fellow,
and l want you to like him, Miss
Alice"
Another happy winter hurried to
meet the spring, and u busy ma:dens
rejoiced in new conquests Of brush and
pencil. Even Kuth's rejected story, il
Illustrated by Alice, led the van in a pop
ular magazine. and Alice's clever do
signs vivified many a pa e of the day.
awe can have our studio in New
York next winter" chirrupped the girls.
One March a ternoon Alice was COM
PEELED to go into the city alone, leaving
Ruth in charge OF the little mother in
invalid luxury before the open fire.
"You are too cosy to leave" was
Alice's reluctant good-by.
She was delayed until dusk. Rarely
had she been in the .reat city alone. "A
sudden s~now-squall peltod her; the
wind rudely assailed her, and a sense
of outcast loneliness Swallowed her q
she hurried toward the station.
Miss Denver!. How strange to meet
you here! l am on my way to Stirlin2
to see YOU"
in q moment Mr.. KINGS umbrella
was over her head. and her hand was
drawn authoritivcly within his arm.
How warm and IL hit it grew with q
quick sense Of shelter and protection.
His voice was not steady when he
spoke again.
Il am free now. I bring a years
f%delity-be good to me- Alice"
Hal an hour later two very brisk
and s%parkling young people blew in al
the door in Stirlins.
Don't bring the entire sou'-westel
in with your growled Joe Beach.
from the tireside.
"You here" cried Alice.
"Of course. I came to help Ruth
take care Of mother" with q big paw
on the invalid's slender hand.
"Jack, did you know?" But before
he could answer Alice was out of the
room.
.Isn't there room for another big
boy on the other side?" said Jack
squee ing six feet of ingratiatingg, man
hood between the mantel and Mrs
Denver's chair.
IF it is to be one it should certainly
be BOTH" beamed the mother, with 8
hand on each burly shoulder.
The sprightly girls were singularly
quiet this evening; with furtive glances
and sudden bushes, little reveries anc
conscious Commissions.
But for once the fun went on withou
them. The youngmen were irrepressl
BILE, laughing at their W jokes TIL The
fire snapped and the wind shouted il
sympathy, and the little mother forgo
illness in smiling admiration.
at last, in the waning freight, the
sisters stood alone by the hearth. They
had treated each other Ill the evening
with an odd, shy ret cence; even nov
Alice spoke with hesitation.
"auth, have you really"
"Have you!"
"Jack says we need not be sep
arated."
-".Joe says we need not give up on
art"
cor our mother"