Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1885-10-09

fully of the crowded hearth at homo
and the many other people who arr
supposed to be enjoying themselves
There is always a great Expectation o
something marvelously delightful a
Christmas, what we never quite knew
but we do expect it every year, and
every year We feel just as disappointed,
as we have done ever since the death
of the days when the delight took form
in the receipt of a new doll or q top,
and too much to eat.
The Major had worked himself into
a state of savage despair over
his different woes. and was al
most weeping for sorrow for himself,
when he suddenly saw Edith coming
toward him. That wretched invalid
as the Major termed MI. Scott-was
not with her, and she was walking very
mined manner that told any one who
knew her that she had made up her
mind to do a disagreeable duty, and
that nothing should deter her from
what she intended. How sweet she
looked as she came through the
straight, red-stemmed pine trees,
through which the blue sky cleaned
and the white clouds seemed to play
at hidc-and-seek! Then she came out
OF the pines and along the edge of the
elf. In one moment the scene had
changed. Her foot slipped on the
grassy pine-needles blown down by the
Siny0,o c1o +hra1r ,,r lr,. lo-I, owl
disappeared on the edge of the cliff
that all at once gave way, and, crumb-
ling like a piece of sand, turned to go in
an avalanche after her.
The Major forgot his illness, forgot
everything, save that he, loved
Edith, and that she was dead, and
jumping up from the couch, that
for five months he had never left, ex-
cept to be carried to his sofa or bed,
dashed forward at once, to rescue his
aarling's remains, or perish in the at
Sempt.
If he lives to be a hundred, he will
never forget the moments of agony he
spentbefosp he reached the place where
Edith had disappeared, and could look
over and sse where she was. Every
cruel'word he had ever spoken tcrher,
every syllable of reproach he had
poured out on her devoted head came
back to him, and he could almost have
shrieked aloud to Heaven for help,
when, he suddenly saw Edith's face
rising over the cliffs. He stood mo-
tionless; then, he rushed forward and,
without one word, drew her hands in
his, and dragged her forcibly up to a
level with him.. Then he looked over:
no harm was done. The soft red earth
had c.umbled little and slid a short
distance down towards the sea, but in
SO gentle q decline that q child could
not have been hurt in the least, and, all
Edith had had to, do, was to turn, and,
with snail detriment to anything save
her garments. climb back again to ter
"a firma.
Thank God for the landslip!7 said
the Major, after The first explanations
were over; and Edith having heard all
his story and told hers in return, had
consented to take'up again her twisted
threads OF life, ana make the BEST of
what wa3eleft them both. eff it had
rot been for seeing, you go over the
Cliff, l should neyer have spoken, to you
again"
"Oh, yes you would" sud Edith as
Size shyly took his hand in hers; ''for I
could not stand the idea of it's being
Christmas, and you all alone and sad.
Aad wheHLiwas coming towards you,
[ vas going slowly in order TO make
upmy mind%exaotly what to call you.
Frank seemed dead to me-; Major
Pliestly was, not my old friend; and
Francis seemed as, if [ wanted to be
seyere-andI did not. ! only wanted
to make youdiappHs, and zee the smile
| &new eewell return. [. forgot every
thing, Frank, except that | loved you,
and that you WeGe in trou .ble."r
And lifting Up, her face so his, she
.gsye~himn the. first kiss she had given
hina for eight; Icing, weary years.
tie bells began be- ring, and the sound
came on the" breeze through the pine
trees in a measured cadence
'Goodbye. to, the Inva7ids' Corner
form me-" said the Majars. THAT
vretched DOCTOR would ha7s, Kept me
another month on my back. but YOU
can see foryeMrself how we'll / am"
Aud. indesd, when tha5;''wretched
invalid' came. out to sitssin the sun
shine when the mist had disappeared,
expecting.ta,tiud Edith as.asxal. ready
to,read to, him, he was electrified to
see her walking to meet him, leaning
loNingson the strong ar,asof the othel
habitue of; the Invalid& Gorner.-Ar.
gosy-.
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