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

grass. as 1 sat thinking; down the
lane l hear the tinkle Of ~cow-bells;
still through my mind are float
ing half-formed plans for flight into
the world-for selfsupport-for wonder
full deeds that shall leave no time for re-
pinings at spinsterhood and unappre-
ciated beauty. l know I am beautiful,
prettier far than my sisters; every clear
truthful brook on the parsonage farm
tells that. The leaven- of old. MIS-. Bar
toms making is still working in my
brain, when a shout at the bars lets me
know that Vic and Bobbett have. availed
themselves of my promise to act as
4 guard of honor on the home walk.
Jealous of even the last few minutes of
my solitude I do not answer or look up,
A stumble, a sound of some one fall
ing, a ringing child laugh, are only or
binary music in my ears, so I pay no
attention to the approaching group,
until Bobbett's voice, joyful and exult-
ant, sounds clear on the evening air.
"We've got him, Barbie; he's prom
ised to stay! Now you needn' be an old
maid any more, spite of Granny Bar
ton!'
| spring to my feet while a hot tide of
hot blood rushes to my cheeks and sets
my temples t~hrobbing. Between the
trees | see three figures coming toward
me; Bobbett heated and somewhatdu dusty,
Vic with her yellow curls bobbing, her
eyes dancing, and sur bonnet swinging
from her arm, while each child holds
tightly by the hand a gentleman. As
he catches a glimpse of me. he half
stops and attempts to draw away from
the children, while a look that is partly
surprise and partly uncomfortable mer-
riment flashes into his eyes. He is one
Of those faultless looking people, who
Immediately set you to wondering if
your dress and hair are i~rreproachable
and your general appearance present.
able. lnstinctively put up my hand
to my hair, though l know it is tumb-
ling about my ears, and look longingly
toward my hat a few feet away.
"Well," says Vic, pulling her charge
toward me, you don't seem a bit glad
to see him, Barbie, and we've brought
him all this way, too"
"'That is q fact, Miss Cameron, YOU
do not appear glad to See me, though
your cousin Frank promised me you
would be-" And the gentleman takes
q hand from Bobbett and holds it to-
ward me.
.'My cousin Frank?' Are you MI.
Ashburton?" [ falter, mechanically,
placing my own, stained with grass, in
the firm white hand he extends.
cat your SERVICE" he answers. II
hope you do not disapprove of me.
Really l have no cause to complain of
my welcome at your home, because
these yyoung'people," looking benignly
upon Vic and Bobbett, ..have been un-
exceptionally kind and hospitable."
CT amt a hospital at our house.
Father fits lots of fellows for the minis
try. and you said you'd stay"
says Bobbett, looking a tri-
tie belligerent as he sees my
eyes beginning to flash, and detects,
with keen childish instinct, the twinkle
of merriment in Mr.. Ashburton's laugh
ing brown ones.
"And l am perfectly prepared, my
young friend, to be fitted for the minis
try or anything else, if the rest of the
family sanction your kind and cordial
invitation"
you'll have to marry Barbie, any,
way" says Vic, looking like a small
termagant for the minute as she sees
Bobbett is getting excited.
"Children,' l say, sternlv, catherine
myself together with an effort, .ttakee
these books up to the house, and find
mother"
They know enough to mind when I
speak decidedly; as their little figures
disappear in the direction of the bars, L
feel the color fading out of my cheeks.
l know l am growing white and cold,
and I turn toward Mr.. Ashburton, of
whom l have heard, and about whose
possible coming l have often thought
with IN iciness of demeanor calculated
to freeze a sunbeam. He looks at me
with q kindly expression on his hand
some face, but to my suspicious eyes
the lurking fun and merriment at my
discontinue prevail, and | am confident
| hate him. l do not say anything, so
he begins:
II am persuaded, Miss Cameron, in
fact l have felt sure of it for two years,
that we are destined to be the very best
Of friends. Your cousin Frank prom
ised | should not come here as a stran-
ger"
AS unlike myself as possible [ answer
stlffly: 81 do not make friends easily"
Which is as false a statement as it is
impolite, but then l instantly recall all
the glowing accounts this same Cousin
Frank has given me of The manifold
PROJECTIONS Of his friend, Mr.. Ashbur-
ton. simultaneously | remember that
those dreadful children have set me.
Barbara Cameron, before him in the
light of a forlorn spinster, for whom
they must canvass the country to find
some one willing to offer himself as a
matrimonial sacrifice in my behalf! The
thought STILES all the cordial words of
welcome that would at any other time
have been ready On my lips, and with
only bare civility l ask him to return to
the house, and, i%nwardly chatting, but
outwardly calm, ! walk back through
the lane by the side Of this faultless gen
tleman, h restful peace, which my
silent orchard meditations had been
bringing, all put to flight and my grew
ances only increased by this new atflic-
ton. [ look askance at Mr.. Ashburton,
considering him as one more thorn in
my rose-garden of life, and grimly
promise myself that he shall not find
the parsonage so pleasant sc tn oo,,oo