Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1884-07-04

sne nurse, or with the little girls. but
o. oeelmes she was with a tall. stately
!aoy with very black hair. and ives 81
S Iae saMe deep hue. I v SPOKE to
ner when in COMPANY with the iadv
Aest the latter should consider Fl /. III
esty. 0"'''ei Ao-
h. After ter awhile | began to feol that 1
sau lost a day if one passed without nv
aioa 'ing little Floribel and having a
p,ay win her: l told my husband of
NY new-found source of pleasure. and
ne laughed and said 81 was iust.like ali
the womcn.n
NY husband is very kind and indul-
GEM 70 me, but lacking in sympathy.
on, Charles I sighed, .if she
were only mine! I would never weary
d pettlng and playing with her,"
"Mell, Jennie, pet me-" said my hus-
But you're away all day; and 1
can pet you in the way I could this
gear little thing. I actually covet her,
l wonder if it's wrong to do SOP"
why, my DEAR" said my husband,
II you want one of the things so badly,
l dare say l can bug you one at = rea-
sonable price. Suppose we advertise"
mo, indeed, 1 returned; ..for 1 want
only THIS ope; the little creature that
I've earned to love, and who seems to
know and love me. And 1 would, on
no account, have one that was not of
the lest blood. and this l know, from
her fine features, little Flori.el pos.
sesses."
"Well, dear. I'll get you a canary
bird, or a poll-parrot, or Ma'tese-h
"Scat, Charles! / cried, half amused
and half vexed. "You know I have
often tod you that l dislike those
things. The piercing notes of q canary
go through my head; a parrot is odious,
and l have a detestation for the whole
feline tribe. But l wish you could see
this little beauty. l know she has not
her equal in New York City"
"Pshaw" cried my husband. GLOW
you women do carry on"
.If you could only see her for YOUR
self, Charles, | know you would be of
my opinion" [ retorted warmly.
But Charles only ''pshawed" again,
and said he had no use for such small
fry.
So, finding my husband so unsympa-
thetic OF the subject, l did not mention
it again, but continued my daily walks
On the Square and my constant meet
ings with Floribel. At these meetings
| always took her in my arms, and
lavished a thousand caresses upon her.
I had learned to love the little thing
dearly, and l believe she loved me in
return. She would always run to meet
me with a g lad little cry of recognition,
and she did indeed beguile many of my
weary hours.
But the more I saw of her, the more
longed for her. l wanted her for nv
very own. I should then and there
have fled temptation and never looked
upon her again. But 1 could not. That
innocent face, those sweet, bright eyes
which had learned to know me so ven,
possessed a fascination [ could not re-
sist. I coveted her possession so earn
estly that it became the one absorbing
subject of my thoughts. Iresolced to
steal her!
Who can understand the workings of
the human mind? Who can tell what
conflicts of conscience [ endured ere |
came to so sinful a resolution? Judge
not, oh man, thou that judgest thy
brother; and, oh woman, that 7judgest
thy sister woman. Wait till ye also are
tempted, ere we condemn. Know you
not that n idea long dwelt upon in
secret dominates over the mind till in
sanity is produced? l can offer but
one plea in my behalf. l believe I was
temporarily insane, and hardly &C
r., ,~\ol 11 oo,.fos r1y u Ioo,n,o - 10000
maniac.
never breathed my intention to my
husband. lie would most certainly
have prevented its execution. l did not
think what account 1 should render to
him atterward, should I succeed in nv
design.
If l had thought that the treasure
could have been purchased, there is no
sum [ would have considered too ex-
orbitant to have given her into my pos
session. But I felt sure such offer would
have been worse than useless.
From the moment l made up my
mind to commit the theft, I watched
for my opportunity, but for some time
lone presented itself. I never saw her
without the nurse, or some of the fami-
~ WIZ way hOPo SAOoo "dtC4 upOA
her. But one day I met her as usual in
the Square with the nurse, and a bright
thought occurred to me.
"Here, nurse" l said, for we
had become quite well &C.
quainted now. and drawing
some small change in my pocket, stake
this and 60 across the square to that
candy shop and get some sugar-plums,
and we'n have a little feast under the
trees. Floribel looks as though she
would enjoy some; and I'll take care of
her while you are gone" The nurse
readily assented, but hesitated when she
rose.
..Of course, ma'am, you won't let
Floribel stray off! And you'll be here
when I get backp You know, ma am,
I'm responsible
"You can certainly trust her with
me-" I returned, $50 be off, nurse
And the woman went. I waited until
I saw her enter the confectioner's door.
rhenI sprang up. "Moribel!'I called
and at my voice the little n came
toddllng up. I snatched her up in my
arms and commenced to walk, slowly