Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1885-10-02
hi fallen from her shoulder,.

hd fallen from her shoulders. She
nv saw him pick it up, and, with .
gstnre not to be mistaken. layit, care
July folded, on his wife's favori>e chair
atthe extreme end of the room. That
cha she was not to touch again. Then
h'teft her. in a moment more to re-
TIN. Constance Emery looked up,
an once more her heart stood still.
Hshad repented of this cool abrupt
nos. this undeserved GOODNESS, and
VS. come to whisper a tender
wrd in her ear, to console her for
wat he had perhaps been forced into
bya death-scene. He came back to
tn table. leaving the door ajar.
Take good carr of that piece of pa
peg was all he said, as he pointed to
tn scheck.
4gain the door closed. and this tine
he vas indeed gone. She heard him
goo his closet on the same floor and
locs himself in: that was a sign also
sheh learned to understand. Moth
ing r1nained but to do as she was bid.
After all. he was master in his own
houss She might weep. demonstrate.
implre-she could not stay against
his viii.
Humiliation. mortified vanity and
dlsmy were succeeded by other feel
lngsf On the whole. perhaps. her sud-
den departure would not create much
talkin the neighborhood and in the
kitihen. She was young and no rela-
tiol. Would it not be quite natural
fer MI. Harden, in the eyes of the
world. her benefactor only, to send
ler away? And certainly. as far as
ner own feelings and in~clinat;ons
were concerned, she would rather be
anywhere than in a house with the
blinds down. and the hush of death
rcigning over it. In her heart of
hearts. but for the errand, she was
really glad to go.
And. lastly, that check, when she
grew calm enough to think about it,
altogether altered the aspects of
things. She had no idea of Mr..
Ha.den's real wealth. but the sum he
had just given her in lieu of wedding
ring seemed 10 her simple eyes enor-
mus. Whatever happened, she was
. ;reat parsonage now 1t was char
ater;stic of the girl. as she deposited
tle check at the bottom of her
tank and sullenly made her prepara-
TINS for departure. that she never for
asingle moment regretted the afrec-
ton pf this man or what had passed
muster for his affection. She only
thought of his rough batteries, his
unfislrative compliments. his homelv
admiration. But all these. and much
mort surely, awaited her in the tri-
umunant future. Why should she
shed a tear for one who could part from
her chen without a handclasp, a smile,
a find look? She almost felt that in
tinf she should learn to hate him.
I'ue enough, punctual to the mo-
meht, William waited in the porch with
the brougham.
/ moment later and o woman's trunk
WIS placed on the top; a slender. girl
ISL figure, wearing a small, crimson
hat with white feather. and tight-it-
ting crimson mantle bordered with fur
stepped in; the door was shut; ana, us
if divining his masters wishes the old
mhn-scrvant drove the carriage swiftly
toward the lodge-gate.
w.
What the rich man did with his in.
ner life from that time none knew.
Outwardly it was clear for all to see
a model of a~ustereness, rectitude and
rigid adherence to duty. Mr.. Harden
made no atiectation of piety-of con-
version. as the phrase goes. He did
not take to reading his Bible. or exces-
sifo church-going. The exactions of
conscience and custom in this latter
respect had ever been fulfilled by him.
But, in his lonely. remorse-stricken
wtlowhood. he took to good company.
Alike in look. dress and manner, he at
fested the air Of a gentleman. As if to
challenge the world, moreover. to say
q syllable against his character, he
generally had to reside with him some
needy clergyman. or young man pre-
pairing for holy orders, with whom he
tobk his meals and spent his evenings
over chess and backgammon. He gave
clerical dinner parties, too, delightine
to| assemble round his luxurious board
all the clergy of the ne ghborbood-
we'll pleased also, in turn, to accept
Invitations to their houses.
and be initated into what is called
good society generally. The world of
course welcomed the millionaire into
their ranks. He might have married
half a dozen times t. his social and
moral advancement. had he pleased.
From the first, however, it was evident
to all that, whatever John Harden
might do for the church and society,
he would never marry again. Clerical
ladies might get money out OF him; no
woman would ever persuade him to
purchase a wedding ring. These dis
fractions relieved the tedium of soli-
tude. and. if he did not look cheerful.
at least he invar. ably an express
SION of satisfaction. He might we'll
look satisfied! He was satisfying HIM
self-in other words, Us he thought
balancing his moral affairs, and put
ting himself on the right side of TIE
banking book.
Nor was tho widower forsaken in
moments OF sickness, or when intirmi-
ties overlook him. The devoted Anna,
whose heart had once turned wholly
against him, whose very feminine in
stincts had revolted against the
Sights put upon her mistress, now tes-
tilted ever aifectionate sol;citude for
the changed, rcpentant man. And if
there was one person in the world to
whom he ever opened his lips on the
subject of the past. it was to his wife's
IN 'tI,f,,l eo,v.nt aud onlv friend ITEM.