Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1885-02-06
A KISS in THE DARK.
How an Unprincipled Man Was
OutWitted by a Woman.

Hon. Marmadukc Gervoisc was a
man with two very decided idcas-onc
was that any young lady on whom he
might propose to confer tho name of
Gcrvoisc ought to think herself Il very
lucky girl, indeed; and the other was
that she ought to have u magnificent
fortune to counterbalance in some
measure the immense advantages which
would accrue to her from such auniou.
lie was not, by any means, 4 bad fell
low-in fact, men generally said
"Gervoise was a dcuced good fellow
so good-tcmpcred. you know, and al
ways ready to lend y hand And they
were right in saying so, for he had
learned thata good-tcmpercd man, who
$ willing to be useful to his friends in
little matters, is generally welcome, and
everybody is only too glad to mako use
of him, instead OF undergoing any
trouble themselves. But he had n
disadvantage he was exceedingly
poor. Still he was to be met every
where in town and country, and in tho
latter particularly ladies gave him a
hearty welcome. MIR. Gervcise was
so Jolly and so useful. We really don't
know how we should get on without
him. Besides. he was undoubtedly n
man of good family; and. even if queer
stories had occasionally been whispered
about him. how many people are there
whose lives would endure rigid cross
examination? Only mothers with
daughters whom they were DESTROYS of
placing i'll society looked askance at
him. and warned their girls mot to
give any encouragement TO that Mr..
Gervoise." The rest Of the world was
glad to see him. or was utterly inditfer-
cnt to him; and. as he shot we'll. PLAYED
4 good game OF billiards, was great in
The art OF arranging picnics and water
parties, and had agood tenor voice and
some knowledge of music, both men
and women found him Il good COM
panion indoors and out, and pro-
nounced him an acquisition.
AT the time of our story there was q
very large gathering of guests in the
tine old house known as Bindon Court.
the property of Thomas Fudgelow,
Esq. an honest-heartcd and hospitable
lttiuistStuiSi WIN ilstll lllIltlCU u very
charming. beautiful and well-bred wife.
and who was never so happy as when
entertaining as many pleasant people
ms his picturesque. but somewhat ramb-
ling. house would hold. Among the
number OF his guests at this particular
time was Hon. Marmaduke G%crvoise.
He found the house a very pleasant one
to stay in. and made himself very use
tul III many ways TO the owner. putting
him up 10 many 4 wrinkle in the mat
ter OF inviting and entertaining his
guests. and managing to make all
things run smoothly and pleasantly
when difficulties cropped up. as they
occasionally did. But he had another,
and far more particular reason. for
wishing TO be AT Bindon Court on this
especial occasion, Miss Muriel Mer-
ricwcthcr was very lovely. Very Young.
very charming i'll manner VERY highly
accomplished. aud report said she had
twenty thousand pounds q year. abSo-
lutely her OWL Moreover. She was
an orphan. she was 4 great friend OF
Airs. Fudgclow's. and She had prom
Used 10 spend this October NJ Bindon
Court, so Hon. Marmaduke conde-
sccnded to imagine that he might be
induced to think seriously about her.
AT any rate. the shooting at Bindon
was iirSt-rate. and if the young lady
did not prove SC attractive as he hoped.
he would at least have some sport.
TO Rindon, therefore. he went. and
he at once set himself cnergeticallv to
work 10 carry the lovely Muriel and
her fortune by assault. 1t must be re-
memhercd tina, he WAS y favori;e with
women. that he was 3 fine. manly.
handsome fellow enough. and one who
wsuld hardly fail TO make an impress
Sion oil amy girl whose heart he had de-
termined 10 win. Miss Merriewether
was not q girl easily won. keweveI.
She had set up for herself . standard of
manly excellence far beyond that re-
quired by the average young la4;- 1t
NAY be that her wealth had already