Turner County herald. (Hurley, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1884-03-27
THE RING IN THE CARD BASKET,
BY ALICE W. cox.

BY ALICE W. COX,
1t was bitter cold, thoroughly min.
viting night, and yet the young folks in
Mrs. Vanderpool's cozy little parlor
were managing to have a wonderfully
enjoyable time.
Ida" said Grace, /" who do you
think will be here tonight ?"
~ don't know" said Ida, "but ]
really wish the girls and young men
would not find it so very entertaining
hereljust for one night at least"
oh, that won't do, Ida! You have
been wanting an introduction to the
Wlitons for some weeks, and Mr.. Sa.
ker is going to bring them here tonight!
1t Is solely to please you, for am al.
ready acquainted with them"
IIhere must be something very at
tractive for -"
ITO besure there is r. quickly broke
In Grace, who thought Ida great mu.
slcian. !" How in the world would our
friends enjoy themselves if it were not
for your music ?"
" And your singing" added Ida.
Hark there is some one now: wait
minute till 1 go to the door,"
Grace, stop! can't, won't meet
the Wiltons tonight.
With these words Ida fairly flew to
her room, and there, In the seclusion OF
the apartment, thought of the past,
only a few years back-but there-she
heard Grace's voice calling her. No.
she would not go! Grace must come to
her. In avery few moments Grace did
come. She told her it was only Mr..
7 Hastings who had called, and as he had
brought something for her, she must 90
down and receive it.
Waiter Hastings was a tall young man
with very fair complexion and hair to
match, ever anxious to please the young
ladies. Having heard Miss Staunton
express desire for certain song, he
had Immediately purchasedit it, and had
now come to present it.
Ida was soon persuaded to see Mr..
Hastings, and, having readjusted her
hair and neck ribbons, was ready to be
borne to the parlor by her cousin
Grac.
Grace always had her way, and Ida
expected nothing else than she should
have to suffer the modification of being
introduced to Jerome Wilton with
blushing cheeks after all.
MIR. Hastings at once presented Ida
with her wished for song, and asked her
to play and sing it for him, adding:
You know how very fond am of your
music. Miss IdaI'
30 Ida played and sang, and while
she was doing 80 did not notice her
cousin Grace steal quietly out Of the
parlor.
But che heard the sound of converse
tion in the hall. They had come. She
could not mistake that voice! How
many times it had whispered honeyed
words in her ear!
She could not quit the parlor and
leave Mr.. Hastings, SO SHE waited,
still hoping she might get an oppor.
tunity to disappear without being no.
ticed. But no. Fate was against her,
and coon the visitors we're ushered in by
Grace. After all it was Just as Ida
had expected Grace had her way as
usual.
Miss Wilton's first name was Belle.
She was the happy possessor of q beau
tiful face peeping outfrom an abundance
of lovely curls that hung carelessly
around her shoulders.
Her brother was tall and handsome,
How strangely he acted toward Ida!
They seemed to have met before, to
be old friends, and yet why did such a
coldness appear to exist between them?
Why did 1da's rosy cheek turn SO
pale? While Grace was helping Belle
toiremove her wraps Ida stole quietly
away. No one would miss her, she
thought.
But they did miss her. Some one
asked for music. But where was Ida?
Nobody could play like she.
In little while Ida returned shaving
somewhat recovered her composure.
They were all singing-all save Mr..
Hastings, who sat on the red sofa,
apparently deeply interested in the
singing, but his thoughts were with
Grace, whose rich alto was the only
voice he heard.
Ida made her way to the sofa and sat
down beside him..
"Mr. Hastings" she said, shave you
ever met jerome Wilton before?"
"Once, Miss Ida. believe he has
not lived here long,"
,Idascarcely heard the earswer. Hereyes
had a dreamy look, and her thoughts
we're far away.
: But the singing ceased, and she was
awakened from her reyery by some one,
who was no other than jerome Wilton,
himself, asking her to play.
She arose, went mechanically to the
piano. and played she knew not what,
but when she had finished, some one
whispered in her ear: ri thought you
had forgotten that long agc!"
81 shall never forget it as long as
/ live" murmered Ida, unconsciously; but
when she looked up and saw to whom
( she was speaking, she would have rushed
from the parlor, had not strong arm
detained her, and familiar voice
whispered:
"Just minute, dear!"
The others had strolled into Grace'e
studio to examine her latest painting, q
copy OF "The First Appeal"
Edward Shaker and Belle Wilton
viewed this work OF art with peculiar ap-
probation. Their .First Appeal' had
already been taken-in fact, they were
engaged.
Ida, still detained by jerome in the
parlor, was playing the old song again;
I when she had finished. ho said:
Miss Ida, it has been a long while
since last we sang that song; should you
be happy if the old days could come
back again2', 3
She said nothing, but kept on looking
through music-book for another song
that she thought might please him.
have Just returned from Brazil,
jerome said. ssThree whole years il
6trazii-how long that time was to me
was it SO to yon?" She did not reply,
ana aa,, ne asked "Haye you no answer,
no" she replied, "I have none. J"
and You are not glad to-
was but seventeen, mere child