Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1884-10-31
both SO duh, 1t seems like irving to

both SO dull, It seems like irving ia
strike fire with two wet sticks"
Meantime in the parlor Amelia had
taken off Graoie's hat, and was holding
the housekeeping child upon her lap,
and looking abstractedly out through
the blinds into the quiet street. 1t was
characteristic of Mrs. Fargo that she
had not mentioned her sisters name,
and Amelia was wondering in her own
mind how she should address her hos
tess upon their next meeting, when a
gentleman entered by a door at the end
of the roo and came directly toward
the sofa near where she sat. He was q
tall, fair man, with a little professional
stoop in the shoulders. DR.. Albert
Trim, in fact, coming, according to his
habit, to rest q few moments before
dinner in the shaded parlor.
He was close upon Amelia before he
saw her. and she slowly rising, and let
ting Oracle slip to the floor, Confronted
him with q suppressed scream.
"'What, you'll" exclaimed the doctor,
coming to a sudden stand.
"Youw repeated Amelia, echo like.
''In my house !" continued the doc
tor.
81 v knew it wa your house, you
may be sure, and I'll go out of it at
once" She snatched up Gracie's hat,
and turned toward the door, dragging
the child after her.
"You shall not stir. I am delighted
to see you here; you shall never leave"
81 shall leave, and this moment, too"
She caught Oracle up and made a
movement to dart past him, but he
stepped before her with one arm out
stretched, barring the way. Oracle,
alarmed at this gesture, uttered ! pierre
ing shrek. There was a sound of
quick steps approaching, and Mrs. Far
go appeared on the threshold. DR..
Trim dropped his arm, and Amelia,
with flushed face and indignant mien,
approached Mrs. Fargo.
'.What in the world is the matter ?"
exclaimed this lady. "A7bert, 1 thought
you were a robber. How have you
been frightening Mrs. Pollyn ?"
"Shall l eXplain?" asked the doctor,
looking toward Amelia, who vanished
through the door without replying
''Why, where are YOU going?d cried
a NoASC Ill oAc Hall. IL WIS NILS. 1IllQ,
who arrested her guest on the way to
the front door.
Mrs. Fargo and Albert now rushed
out, and the storm center was trans
ferred to the hall.
"You must not go, Amelia. Ientreat
you do not co." cried Albert, wildly.
"Of ourse you will not CO." said
Mrs. Fargo, with decision. ~ never
heard OF anything so absurd; come back
directly. 1 insist upon knowing the
meaning of all this" She took Amelia
by the arm, and almost forcibly led her
back into the parlor. 'sIt is clear, you
two have met BEFORE" she continued,
assuming the Office of inquisitor; when
and where was it?"
''Shall l tell?" asked Albert.
Amelia maintained a naughty silence.
'You do not object, and, really, 1 see
10 reason why you should. Mother,
you have wondered that l did not
marry. This is the reason" He
pointed to Amelia, who still stood
draped in her long Widows veil, clasp
ing the white robed child in her arms.
II was not to blame" she said,
calmly.
You were to blame; you should not
let your father influence YOU"
"You should not have disputed with
my father. He was older than YOU,
and of course knew better"
''That is an exploded assumption.
But | am not going to enew that dis
cussion with you" Then with a sud-
denly awakened tenderness he adj
vanced and took from her tired arms
the little girl who was nodding heavily
against her shoulder.
"There, sit down." he said, gently.
':After all these years We may certainly
let the old quarrel rest. was SO taken
by surprise that I did not do justice to
the tender feeling my heart has always
retained for you.
Tender feeling-quarrel! What in
the name of heaven are you talking
about?" cried Mrs. Fargo, impatiently.
81 am going to tell you," returned
Albert, laying the head Of the sleeping
child against his breast, and beginning
to walk the floor. ..How like YOU she
is, Amelia" he said, looking fondly at
her. ''See, mother, this should have
been your grandchild. Yes, we were en-
gagged. You remember, Amelia, the
night l proposed? 1t was after the ball
at the college, and we were walking
home together through the moonlight
village street. You wore rose pink silk
with tulle over 1t, and the tulle was all
in t~atters, but YOU looked as lovely as
an angel; and you said Yes without
hesitation, like the frank, sweet girl
you were. All! we were very happy.n
"But you would always dispute with
papa about the proper treatment of fe-
vers. and the giving of calomel, and all
that" said Amelia. sadly. ..Papa, who
had practiced medicine forty years, and
who of course knew so much better"
"Ah! don't speak of that" pleaded
Albert, humbly, melting more and
more, wrought upon, not by memory
alone, but by that inexplicable tender
ness that will flow out about . little
head nestled against the breast. clown
that [ was wrong"
''You admit it, at last" exclaimed
Amelia, with an air of triumph.
'Wrong in disputing, I mean, not in
the principle