Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1884-02-29

WHO kept early hours IOr 3 1aS0lOnaDl0
had just expressedher intention
go home. when suddenly she felt the
arm on which she was leaning tremble, /
and then become rigid as iron.
"What is it, DAMP she asked, glanc-
ing up at her companion. His face
was pale and his expression mock:ngly
bitter, as she had never seen it before.
Nothing, Elinor." And then they
both paused, for a very handsome wo-
man bad barred their way, and she
held both hands impulsively toward
MI. Woodford.
20, D~an-dearest friend! Is it really
you?: But 1 needn't ask. You are not
changed at all; l would have known
you anywhere"
"And l would have known you. too,
l think Mrs. Norton; you are not greatly
changed either" Dan answered., care.
lessly, as he took one outstretched hand
in greeting, barely touching the deli
cately gloved fingers with his own.
''And this is your daughter" the lady
continued. "How beautiful she is;
pray introduce us, Dan"
p7ointedly, and with something like a
frown on his face. "This is Miss Elinor
Carey and she will, no doubt, be pleased
to make the acquaintance of a lady so
accomplished and brilliant as yourself.'
Elinor cordially acknowledged this
strangely-worded introduction, marvel
ing what it meant. She had never
knownDan to be so cold or so ~satirical
in his manner.
80, 1 beg pardon; but people call her
your daughter. They make such mis-
takes, you know"
people do make mistakes, some
times" replied Dan. ''Happily, they
are also easily corrected, Sometimes,
Mrs. Norton"
The lady colored deeply beneath the
faint touch OF rouge on her still rounded
cheek, and then grew pale. She turned
to Elinor and said, in a voice she vainly
strove to make quite steady:
81 hope you will let me have the
pleasure Of improving our acquaintance,
my dear: Thanks 1 will call to-mor-
row."
"Was that an old friend?" Elinor
asked in a whisper, as Mrs. Norton
passed out of hearing.
"About forty" Dan answered. pro-
vokingly. "though she doesn't look it.
But those blonde women wear so we'll
they have no feelings I suppose. Now
that lady lost a husband, who adored
her, before she had been his wife quite
two years; yet see how well she must
have borne it. Not even q wrinkle
TO be sure he left her nearly a million
to console her."
"And she hasn't married again? All:
her heart was with some other man,
said Elinor, shrewdly; and she cast one
keen, swift, jealous look at her compan-
ions face.
When Dan Woodford reached home
that night he went into his study and
took from q drawer in a writing-desk a
small packet wrapped in silver paper.
1t contained a few letters, some with
cred flowers, and a tress of yellow hair:
but he didn't examine the contents
and he didn't even waste a glance on
them, but carelessly tossed them into
the CRATE, and with a smile watched
them urn to white ashes on the glow.
ing Goals.
Mrs. Norton called the next day, anC
was shown into Elinor's drawing-room
She exerted all the witchery she pos.
sessed in pleasing and fascinating the
young girl, and she was in a great de.
gree successful. Elinor Thought he1
charming'as well as beautiful, and only
differed with her on one subject.
II am sorry not to meet your papa
Mrs. Norton said when she rose to take
leave, after she had a%pologized formak-
ing ga very long visit for a first call"
"He is not my papa" Elinor an
swered, coloring, she knew not why.
"But I supposed of course that you
called him So" said Mrs. Norton with a
smile.
81 never called him 'papa' in my
life," said Elinor, resenting the smile.
"Nurse tried to teach me to call him
'daddie' when | began to speak. But ]
called him Dan instead, and I shall
always call him SO"
"Dear mel interrupted Mrs. Norton.
"But there is such disparity OF age; he
is old enough to be your father"
II never think so!' Elinor returned
indignantly. Mrs. Norton smiled, and
left the younger woman feeling very
uncomfortable.
From that hour her manner toward
MI. Woodford was changed. Instinct.
lively she seemed to know that he and
the beautiful Mrs. Norton had once
been lovers; and 'lovers once, lovers
forever was Elinor's creed. She re.
membcred how his arm had trembled
and how his face had changed that
night when he saw her, after long years.
There had been a lovers quarrel, she
felt certain; "'but he loves her still and
| she loves HIM" And her heart ached
at the thought. How often she gazed
with envy on Mrs. Norton's violet eyes
and radiant crown of golden hair.
And all this pent-up hopeless passion
made it rather hard for poor Lord Stan.
hope. Not that Elinor ave meant tc
encourage him. But he came so con.
stantly, he was SO good, so sympathetic,
and she SO unhappy. He quite misun:
derstood her faltering tones, her chang.
ing color; and when he asked her t
marry him she refused with such evi
dent dismay, and so much regret for his
Disappointment, that he knew no
which to think-whether to think him.
sell a fool, or to believe her a heartless
coquette. But he was q gentleman.
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