Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1885-10-30

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and inquire how Miss Howard is after last
nights d,ssipationy
l started, II answered.: If you wish
it particularly we will do so,' aud, as y
forced the words. my svoice sounded
strange, and l felt that the color a left
my check.
1.-The manner of my assent must, I sup-
pose, have strengthened any suspicion he
already felt as to the true state OF the
case with me, for he crossed the room,
placsd his hands on my shoulders, and
Win ms bright. searching eyes, looked
'.'Tell me truly, Philip-truly, mind
Is there anything liks love between you
two?'
Even then I might nave told him, but
! was too proud 70 say ! loved without
self on his mercy, US It seemed to me such
a confession must; so 1 met his eyes with.
out qualling, and answered firmly:
There is no love between u.s.
But you do love her?' persisted Ger.
"'I admire her for her great beauty;
that is ALL
And even as I told the lie, I saw that
knew that my fate was scaled.
"sIhe1 let US co. he said, quietly, as
ne moved his hands from ny shoulders.
w rode over to your home; we saw
you, and my jealous eye detected a faint
Dlush and look of pleasure on your face
as you greeted us-a blush and a look
called forth.
Gertrude, it is for you. not for me, to
SIGN at heart, I pleaded indisposition and
returned to my books; sacrificing polite.
ness. l left Gordon Tree to follow his own
devices. Well did I know whittier his
steps turned every day. and clearly could
/ i T0Q0 in FIJI hri Oh fon cd a-,,~,c:,. = ~
ever bright face how we'll the suit he was
urging. %prospered. So much so, that it
was with o feeling of dull despair, not
surprise, l listened the night when he told
me you had consented to be his wife.
Lover.llke he sat, hour after hour, dilat.
ing upon the PROJECTIONS of the pr ze he
had won, and reveling in his visions of
future happiness. And l, who loved you
as l believe no other man ever yet loved
woman, suffered torture on the rack of
his raptures. I had to listen to your
praises from the lips of the one whom I
lieve had robbed me of all I longed for in
the world. And there was to be no delay
no respite for ME. He was wealthy,
SO what was there to wait for? Within
ried.
How I bless the day I came to see
effusion of his joy. Now you shall
complete your kindness by letting me STAY
with you until the happy time. OF
course must go away a bit to see
about a house aud that sort OF thing,
but 1 meau to be here as much as /
cam
"If 1 had followed true impulse as I
spoke, l should have cursed him and
babe him begone, but l was forced to
restrain myself and tell him how well
come he was to make my house his
home as long as it pleased him. Yet /
felt l dare not stay myself to witness his
happiness. That night, as 1 lay in bed,
casting about for an excuse plausible
enough to enable me to leave my guest
alone for the next month or two, | knew
that in the depth of my heart I hated
Gerald Gorlon-L hated him rs the one
who had stolen my life's hope from me
Il hated him for his animal spirits, his
good looks, his power of pleasing and
winning the affection of man, woman
or child, SO different from mel wen
be happy with bin, for he had all the
qualities TO mako a home happy-I
hated him as Cain hated Abel, and for the
same reason: had not his offering been
accepted and mine rejected, And
several days passed by: eacn day the tor
lures l endured seemed greater; each day
my. hatred grew more intense. In a fe-
verish sort of way I forced myself to
laugh Inc jest, and Gordon. with alover's
selhShness, never noticed now how un.
natural my manner was, or guessed how,
by this time, 1 detested the sound of his
voice, the clear ring of his laugh, or even
his very presence.
"'One thing pleases me more than I can
say he placidly remarked one evening.
1T is that what l once believed to be a
fact was only u creation of my own brain.
l was afraid I might be the rival of my
old friend; but Gertrude herself assures
me the only feeling that ever existed be-
tween you wv was one of pure friend
ship. So I am happier, knowing you
will dance al my wedding with a light
heart.'
.Danee at his Wedding! would rather
dance on m m0taer's srase'
gertrude. my wife, there is one day
in every year which 10 solemn and sad to
both of US. A day when the choicest
flowers are laid on a tomb, now growing
which you spend alone, holding a lock of
hair, and gazing on a miniature. And
yet, if the love you bore another man is
strong in your heart, upon that day you
have ever seemed to draw closer to me
than at other times. AS your eyes, sad
think: Our grief is from the same source
mime Tor love and his for friendship
Aud with one memory between US, I
know for the moment your heart grows
nearer to mine, and l realize what life
might have been could your love have
crowned it. Read now the truth and hate
me.
.That day was the first for a long time
/ had spent alone with Gerald Gordon.
You were away on q visit to some friends
at a distance. The weather was fine,
though wintry, and as l felt I could not
endure the long hours indoors in the So
ciety Of the man I hated, I suggested TAX
ing our guns and walking down to the
coast in the hope of shooting some ducks.
Gordon leapt at the idea. ! shall be glad
to do a bit Of hard walking,' he said; 'ror
three weeks l have only bsen love max
ing, and that isn't much exercise. I
fancy my muscles must b. growing soft
from want of using.'
"As he spoke he held out an arm like a
bar of iron for me to feel.
A hours walk brought US to the coast;
YOU know it we'll. For the distance of,
perhaps, two miles runs a turf covered,
aImc.st perpendicular cliff; then it shelves
away gradually, and one can easily get
down to thu waters edge. Here was our
destination. We intended to walk along
the edge of the sea, shooting anything
worth powder and shot,.
1.-THE tide, when high, lashes the foot Of
the coast cliffs: when low, it leaves a strir
of sand uncovered. The rock Of which the
cliff is composed, is of crumbling, unsta-
BILE chalk, aud has the habit of getting
followed out under the surface, leaving