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

Did Major Priestly remember. VS. 81.
did. how she and he used to make tn.
tisher-boats at home into omens. And
according to the number that passed
them in a certain time, obtain answer.
to their questions respecting their flu
ture? Did he recollect how the yer,
night before their quarrel, he and sht
had gone to the cliffs beyond the Manor
and when he had declared he would le
the fsher-boats decide their future fo]
him, and the odd number had answered
eyes" to his inquiry as to whether she
was to go with him TO India or not: E
late boat had crossed the long path O.
moonlight that led from the sea to the
sky, and answered No." at the yer,
moment in which he was claspine
her in his arms, overjoyed al
even the mere idea Of hel
givingup her duties at home to 60 with
him? Nay, he could not remember,
as she did, every sail on the tiny YES.
sci, as they CLEANED for a moment like
a sheet of silver, and then passed away
into shadow. Nor could he recollect
the scent of the seaweed, and the
sound of the choir in the church as
they practiced their carols, wildly care
less of tune and time, as they took adj
vantage Of the choir-mistress' absence.
If SO, he could never have left her as
he had done.
The eight years had not altered
Edith II whit. While she was still at
home, the sister who was to have sue
ceeded her in her duties had married,
and it was Laura's husband with whom
Edith was sitting in the Invalids' Cor
ner, taking Laura's place for the pres
emit. as Laura's baby was only about a
fortnight old. How could Edith know
that Mrs, Priestly was Gead, and that
the Majors loneliness was cue to the
fact of his being a widow,r? How
could Major Priestly know Tint Edith's
heart was still his, and that
Il word from him would suffice
to make. her stretch out her hands to
him and take back the trot,' he had
broken sosmany years ago?
As the quick days went on, bringing
Christmas nearer and near,r,,. Edith
longed to speak. Major Priestly lay
there so lonely-so very, YER lsnely.
No one ever sat by him. Nome ever
came and asked him how he was.
Every morning his servant WOULD ar
range the rug and chair in the same
unsatisfactory manner, and afer tarn-
ing the newspaper for his master,
where only this advertisements We're
visible, Notwithstanding strict orders
to the contrary, woul& disappear, Only
to return with the midday letters.
And again, when'the' sun went down.,
he would come With the white pory
shat drew the chair"back again % the
hotel, where the Major spent long, sad
evenings, thinking Of the past.
Every word Edith spoke to her CON-
panion, that he occasionally overheard,
made him more than ever convinced
that she was married., And, although
at times Dugald Scottiha& tried t, be-
gina conversation with him, When he
wassleft alone, while Edith sought for
shells OK tiny very late;. or very, rery
early flowers, that even at Christmas
wersfto be found in the chimes. The
Majors angry state OF mind would,not
allow him to avail himself OF these ad-
vances, and he receivedithe1a so coldly
THAI even Dugald's good.nature would
not stan& such constant rebutfs, and
he soon gave up trying to make the
Major speak. Ursa Major, Dugald
called him; and Edith would often
vince at the descriptions her brother
in-lawF gave OF his sullsy companion;
and mor than once shev WIS going to
take him into her confidence, simply as
a means, OF stopping his needless talk.
But the remembrance OF the way in
which she had been jii5ed kept her 81
lent, and there seemed small chance Of
the twolonely souls, whorwere longing
to forgive and be forgiven, ever speak
ing to each other again: when quite "a
small thing occurred which might have
been 3: tragedy. and only ended, as
things ought to end, in wedding bells.
The night before Christmas Eve had
been terrible. The great north wind
had rison when the u set angrily be-
hind the lovely range Of hills to the
right Of she 1nvalids' Corner, and came
signing and moaning through the pine
trees, chat presently began to creak
and groan like the mastss OF a ship at
sea. Then a ragged, gray cloud drift
ed by, and the rain cameswirling down
through the air: the sea. began to roar
and lash the cliffs, ROW foaming at
their feet, then rolling in,with an angry
howl tslat could be heard all over the
town.. And in less time. than it takes
to telltis, the whole atmosphere seemed
turned into a battlefield, where the
wind and the rain fought and strovss
together for mastery.
The, morning brooks. peacefully, tie
blue sky. tlecked with: pntfs OF while
cloud looked like April; a late thrush
sang.lnstily, and the robins seemed as
vocal as larks. There was no one at
all in the Invalids' Corner when she
Majors pony arrived. there. The damp
of the night before was rising from the
shore and cliffs, under the warm
sunshine, and was drifting. out torsea.
WHARF, the fishing boats were dashing
past under the fresh breeze, as i1sin. a
hurry to make up Ibr lost time.
When the pony was Embarrassed, the
Majors servant said:
II must put You a bit furthenback.
s5r. These cliffs are like powoer, ana
give directly there's any rain.s You
might have a nasty fall for see, sir,
she pony's feet have gone righ3ihto she
mire at the edge"
And so saving. he pushed the chai,