Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1885-12-18
had been hidden to the reunion of vouno

had been hidden to the reunion of vounc
people decorating and arranging 10, the
general festivity. How could she 90
empty-handed tomorrow to that wide
nall, where all appeared %gift-laden? She
could not know that the ANYWAYS loving
tact had already sent thither, in her
name, a contribution wisely proper
toned to her position.
She had strayed beyond her intention.
Here was the picnic ground of the COM
munity.. Gazing absently about the
place in its winter aspect, her
beauty-loving eye caught the CLEAN of a
bush OF crimson mountain berries, in
great demand for decorative uses.
Strange that they should have escaped
the invcstigative corps of boys. But
the shrub grew SO far over the edge
OF the steep Arroyo that it was barely
in sight. Adelaide had been q fearless
climber since childhood. She swung
herself now, over and down, to the side
OF the tree, and tossed up one brilliant
spray after another, until, with the fall
OF a supporting branch, she reeled,
slipped, fell and went sliding, e%raspinc,
down. Her progress was checked, with
a short wrench of pain; her foot had
caught, fast damned, in a crevice of
rock. She struggled to rise, but could
not cxtricatc the prisoned member, and
the pain was so intense that she became
unconscious.
Once more becoming sensible of her
condition, q familiar voice impressed it.
self upon her stunned faculties.
"Hallo! young fellow, down thereof
the tone was genial, if a bit derisive-
'do you give me leave to carry away
your spoils9"
Adelaide answered family; she was
weak and giddy from her woon. Be-
sides, womanlike, she felt that there was
no need fpr special exertion-was not
her lover there? He would do all that
was needf1l. And, indeed, at the first
sound of that dear, plaintive voice, Ed
ward Anyway came fastening down with
headlong, anxious speed, and bent over
the helpless girl with the plying solicit
tude Of a mother.
"But [ am wasting time while you
are suffering" He took off his coat,
his waistcoat, ever his soft cap, and
wedged them under her, cushioning the
rocks. 'The easiest way will BE- for
you to lie here while 1 undermine this
rifted bowlder; there seems to be a hol-
low underneath" And presently his
voice came back to her muffled and
Strange: you can talk for years of this
adventure, Adelaide. You can dis
count that old party who thrust his
hand into the VOLTS den-you've gone
into a lair. feet foremost, don't you
know? There's q regular caveful of
bones down here!!"
"Oh, Edward, pray be careful"
The rescuer laughed. ooh, the ten
ant evacuated the premises long ago.
Do you think any well-regulated coyote
would maintain an abode SO near to a
picnic ground? There, you are free!"
He came up and assisted her to an
easier position, then started back to the
Arroyo bed for water; but Adelaide saw
him stoop at the foot of the bowlder,
look %curiously at something, and then
he came back to her with u shapeless
mass, apparently of much weight,
in his silken handkerchief.
81 think youth forgive delay with the
WATER" he said. ''Will you take
a careful look at what I pushed out
Of the den with a lot of bones? I think
you and / have heard" he added, drylv,
''of a mysterious disappearance from
the grove up yonder-a little matter of
money!"
Adelaide reached out with eager I'M
Outstanding; sprained foot, sharp rocks,
late hour-all were forgotten.
"Oh, Edward, it can not be! I dare
not believe it,"
The young fellow was on his knees
beside her, displaying his find as a pris-
oner might his ransom. The buckskin
bag was rotten with age, and the golden
slugs had been shaken through as he
moved it. But the money was there,
and the bits of the leather wrapplngs,
and-what was this? A rusty steel
chain had been wound around the mouth
of the bag.
"Oh, don't 1 know it wcll?n cried AIDE
laide Huntley; ga hundred times 1 Il have
heard father tell how the money-bag
was tied up with an old-fashioned shawl
chain of mothers, and the pins stuck
like skewers through it, crosswise. Poor
father!'' she cried, with sudden rccollec-
ton, W must take the news of this to
him at once. But first of all to your
father! His claim is iirstn!'
"To think" said Edward Anyway, :'of
these years of miserable misunderstand-
ing, because a skulking coyote smclt a
meal of buckskin!. And the romance OF
we two coming to find it out! Darling,
do you realize that this will be plain
sailing for our future? The taboo is re-
moved-I am no more anathema!"
The senior Anyway had long loved Adj
claide Huntley-even before the son of
the house had found her his day-star.
They had conferred upon her every ben
eft and attention that had been practi-
cable under the difficult conditions. They
were, then, seriously afflicted at sight OF
her in such a serious plight, when Ed
ward came in, half leading, half carry
ing the girl. 1t had been no easy IN
dertaking to convey her, all disabled us
she was, from the scene Of their advent
ure in the Arroyo. But the issue repaid
the difficulties Of its attainment.
81 think l will go with you home"
said Benjamin Anyway; eve have the
open, sesame! now, you see. For 1
take it that your fathers wrath is only
for the unfaithful steward"
81 do not know" said Adelaide, shy
and ashamed; ''he has judged you SO
u~njustly all these years.
"You are fearful of his hating the