Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1884-11-21
wedding, and the bride e,cct beoan 70

wide circle of humble friends we'll
doing while she should be away Jest
lngly. Godfrey Orde would tell her he
grudged the time she spent in con-
fluctuations with Aunt Helen over the
many trusts to be left in her or the
rector's hands, but the eager confidence
with which she would seek to draw
him into her projects, and her delight
IN his approval, disarmed him of any
passing chagrin and left him no shadow
OF excuse for complaint
They were all of them certainly yery
happy-per.ectly content. And vet.
How a cloud rose on this fair sky, none
knew exactly. Those whom 1t over
shadowed most acknowledged it last of
all. For it was so easy, SO right of
Leonie to glide into treating her almost
brother with the free winsomeness that
kept her childish spite of nineteen
years. He was of necessity almost as
often her companion as Agatha's. She
had been fond Of him long ago, and
was it not her duty to be fond of him
now? 10 what precise depths this duty
led her she didn't stop to measure.
until, alas! they were unfathomable.
And Godfrey Crde, his word and
honor pledged TO Agatha, felt himself
safe to bask, pleasantly amused; in the
animated presence OF her younger
sister, never finding out, till Nays
warm weeks We're entered, and his
wedding fixed for the first day of June.
that he was turning traitor to his troth;
that the charm of Leonie's gay nature
was stronger than the sweet gravity of
that to which he owed allegiance. But
not to himself would he allow this
possible at first.
81 think" urged his mother, anxi-
ously, one night when they were leav-
ing The Beeches, 81 Go think, Geof-
trey, as Agatha sings no duets with
YOU You would be wiser to sing fewer
with Leon:e."
"And Why" said her son, shortly.
"Well, Agatha-may not ike it.
Other people may-at least, they do
notice it,"
"Agatha is entirely above anv
wretched jealousy" said Mr.. Orde, i'm
patiently.
Still 1 should be sorry" his mother
ventured on, ''that YOU should even
seem to slight your wife that will be.
ieople might say you were marrying
Tor money, and Agatha doesn't deserve
that. Godfrey"
"With or without money, she de-
serves the best any human creature can
give her." returned Godfrey, warmly.
''Don't fancy | underrate her, moth
err" And with that Mrs. Orde had to
be satisfied, though the ambiguous
speech left her disquieted.
Still, he meant to be-nay, he vowed
he would be-loyal; and strong in self
trust, went next day to The Beeches
and found himself listeningfo for Leonie's
step, watching for LeonIe's cominr,
made infinitely glad by the dangerous
hours music which u~nsuspecting
Agatha pressed on them while she gave
audience to homely guests.
That hour he vowed, though, should
be his last OF dalliance with q tempta-
ton that was getting too strong. keso-
lutely he would avoid Leonie hence
forth, r~esolutely devote himself to
Agatha. And SO for days he did. dull
ing his own spirit into unutterable ach-
ing, bewildcring Agatha, who thought
the two had quarre.ed and filling with
pain unspeaka lie the heart that was
Just learning its luckless secret.
elbow the child trets over your leav-
ing" said Aunt Helen, pityingly; and
Leonie's sister, gazing at her, white
and ~listless, wandering through the
garden, wondered, with a sudden fear,
was it for that alone she sorrowed!
A DOUBT, double-barbed, shot through
her mind. Guiltless herself of falsity
in a single thought. it seemed un.
worthy, evil, reasonable to two she
loved. But truth or treason it mus
be. Which, for the peace of all, she
must find out.
1t wanted only two days of her mar
rage, and on the last evening but one
her nearest. friends were gathered al
The Beeches, all noting approvingly
the close attendance Of Mr.. Orde a
her side.
Once only he left his post, when LIE
onie, who had obstinately refused
single song, suddenly yielded anc
sang, not the gay air that used tt
suit her best, but the very saddest o
her stra rs, with a tremulous patho!
that ended in a sob. Then GcotfreA
Crde drew slowly towards her, as i
scarce master of his steps, and as thu
notes ceased, looked down into hel
fever bright eyes with such a glance a:
love of Agatha had eve wakened.
Standing near, with his young host
ess, was the rector, looking ten years
older than when he came to Wynford
People said the place couldn't sui
him.
..Your sister sings with tears in hel
voice." said he. and, waiting vainly fol
response, saw to his pain that tear:
were trembling, too, on his compan'
ions dark lashes.
II am-tired," said Miss Temple,
..yVill YOU tell Aunt Helen to bid al
good night for me:?" and. turning
Swiftly away, abruptly left her guests,
of whom one departed soon, sharing, il
not comprehending, the pang that
drove her into solitude.
"She was tired'-a plea that barred
all talk with Leone that night, all
share in next days preparations for
the festive morrow. Godfrey Orde,
coming, as usual, early, was met by
a message only-'Would he return
towards evening"" And when he DID
return, for the first time Agatha de.
scended from her OWL room and went
for a last hour with her lover.
Leonie, too restless for all company
wandered hither and th:ther, now