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

door and walked down the dusty high
way towards the farm house she called
home. She was very tired, and the long
mile before her seemed interminable.
just then there was the sound of wheels,
and a span of bay horses were reined up
close beside her.
would you like to ride home, Miss
Welton ?" some one said.
Carrie looked up In the sun-browned
face of Alexander Hall. There was no
smile in his grave eyes, and the shadow
of a frown was visible on his brow.
II thank you-no. I would prefer to
walk" Carrie responded.
Every well. Get up, ponies,"
And the span and buggy whirled past
her, leaving cloud of dust to settle up
on her linen dress and straw hat as she
trudged along the highway, looking very
flushed and angry.
The idea of thinking I would make
up with him in this way!' she said,
mentally. t'No, indeed! He will have
to apologize before 1 ride with him
again. l could see that he was Just as
set and stubborn al ever. No doubt he
intended to give me another lecture, and
thought this would be a splendid oppor-
tunity. He will learn that I have some
dignity, I can tell him."
Carrie was so tired she ate but little
supper that night, and retired early to
her room to think over matters in soil
tude, away from the gathering tongue
of good Mrs. Smith, who felt it her
solemn duty to ''entertain'' her boarder
said entertainment consisting in reci-
tations Of the neighborhood affairs, past
and present.
When Carrie felt we'll and happy, and
was not worn out with her days work,
she bore it vary h%eroically.
But tonight she was too nervous to
endure the ordeal. Mrs. Smiths voice
grated upon her nerves like the filing
OF a saw, and she flew to her room for
protection, pleading a headache. In
truth it was q heartache which troubled
the girl.
During the last six months she and
Alexander Hall had been very good
friends-such very good friends that
they were, in fact, lovers, and needed
only a few words to belong to each 9TH
er for all time; words which would have
been spoken ere this but for an unex-
pected event.
Smithtown boosted of two stores
which, of course, were visited at certain
periods by drummers. One of them. a
handsome, dashing fellow, had recently
made it in his way to pass Sunday in
Smithtown. Everyone in the little town
knew why he had remained.
He had CHANGED to see Carrie Welton
n evening at the store making some
purchases, and he was not at all Slow to
express his admiration for the teacher.
He begged the favor of an introduce
ton, which, owing to the somewhat in
formal manners of Smithtown society.
it was not difficult to obtain, since
everybody knew everybody there, and
the handsome agent seemed a very nice
fellow indeed, one whom all the young
ladies would be glad to consider an ac-
quaintance.
MI. Parker attended church the fol-
lowing Sabbath, and walked home with
Carrie, much to the indignation of Al
exander Hall.
He took it upon himself to say some
very cutting things to Carrie when they
next met, to rebuke her for her readi-
ness to receive attention from a cloth
ier's dummy" as he called MI. Parker,
and they parted in anger.
The next meeting was that on the
dusty road.
Carrie congratulated herself on her
behavior, and then cried herself to-
sleep. But she was sure he would come
again in q day or two, and then she
would be a little more gracious, and
take him back into her favor, for really
smithtown was very dull without him.
But Alex. did not come to her the
next day or the next, and a whole week
vent by without her seeing him.
Then a strange report came to her
ears.
"Alex. Hall has an auction to-day"
n of her pupils remarked.
IAN auction. What for?" Carrie
asked wonderingly.
''Why, he's going away-going to
take up a claim in Dakota. He's sold
his farm to MI. Roberts, and to-day he
sells off his horses and machinery"
'Does his mother go with him?"
asked Carrie with a dull pain at her
heart.
.'No, she is going to Iowa, to bar
daughter. OF course the farm belonD
to her. and the money will be hers; and