Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1885-07-31

smallest wish, and who could read your
thoughts before you uttered them?"
William felt he wits going it, and paused
for breath.
.Oh, yes," softly replied the heiress;
Mary Jones and l are awful chums. We
are quite by way of inseparables."
She had not understood him, SO hs would
lave all the labor of beginning aga;n. "Of
course the friendship of two young girls is
a lovely idea, but l did not exactly mean
that" 1t was four minutes to twelve.
William felt that the moment of his self
imposed ordeal had arrived. Either he
must a k Miss Dreggs' hand, or for ever
hold himself dtshonored as O moral cow
ard. A thousand times rather would he
have led a forlorn hope to certain death,
or been ordered to spike a gun in thev very
teeth of the fiercest enemy. But this was
q duty enforced by himself, and he would
not finch.
"You did not mean that, Mr.. Brown?
Then what did you mean?"
Miss Dreggs, l meant the continual
and everlasting friendship that an honest
man bears for the woman he loves;" and
he possessed himself of the han with
much the same graceful movement a
dog employees to steal a leg Of NUT
ton from a butchers counter. He was
prepared for any outbreak. Had Miss
DAOSSS SudLCu0u u0T uanu AWAY, anu
asked him to take her to her papa, he
would not have been surprised. But no,
she did just the one thing he did not ex-
Pect; she pretended not to be aware of
the fact that William was convulsively
pressing her hand in unexpected triumph.
Yes, she must care for me-" he thought.
MWell, I have long suspected as much"
He went on with q push.
when your father is away, or engaged
on his public duties, n you are alone,
for you must occasionally be alone, don't
you envy girls less fortunate than your
self in the possession of beauty, social
position, a loving father. but who yet
have som one on whom to lean for sup
port in all the endless petty troubles Of
life?"
Miss Dreggs was looking sentimentally
into vacancy, but was nevertheless listen.
to propose? Well, she might do worse.
He was good-looking, clever and would
be able to bring about her all that artistic
and long-haired set amongst w1om she
ask her to be his wife, yes, she would
think about it. She knew she could OBJ
tain her fathers consent were she to set
her heart on marrying a crossing
sweeper.
"Has it never occurred to you that your
wealth makes you a maSk for fortune-
hunters and a~dventurers to aim at? And
that it is almost a sacred duty. you owe to
society to marry a man capable of loving
you truly for your own sake?"
Yes, she had often thought this. And
it struck her now that she had always
admired this sensibls and far-seeing
young man.
swell, I suppose I shall marry some
day." she murmured:
"The man who did not give you the
would be an IDIOT. With you to work for,
I could achieve miracles. A face like
yours to smile approval should make a
man stronger than a lion. You told me
just now you would let me paint you l
feel that I could indeed work wonders if
you would inspire me. All, if you would
say that"
Ting, ting. ting-the clock was begin
ming to strike the fatal hour.
'tSay, what, Mr.. BROWNE" And the
sweet smile or her lips and the soft look
in her eyes seemed to tell William that
she would say anything he asked her.
At the first sound Of the clock he had
dropped her hand and started to his feet.
Twelve O'Clock! Good gracious, I shall
be awfully late at the Robinsons."
whats the attractions at the Robin
sons, Mr.. Brown? You seem to DO very
anxious to be off,"
Had he been playing with her feelings?
No, that was impossible, he was far too
much of a gentleman for that. Yet why
had he stopped SO suddenly, just as he
was was s g9lnTM Mic to 5 SPEAK o saia PERHAPS te bsppse1 he
Then she looked at William, who was
suffering agonies in the torture of a
ing to stay, yet Aot caring to break his
solemn word to his brother.
you were just going to say?" she
son ssesMfhave known the Robinsons
all my lite-I don't mean, I was going to
say that-of course there's no attraction
there one quarter as powerful as I leave
here-but I promised my brother-that is
good might, Miss Dreggs." And Will
"May l call tomorrow
ION yes, I suppose TO-"
With this concession William hurried
away to collect his hat and the family
overcoat. On his way down stairs he
met a great tragedian, the theatrical god
Of the awakened and cultured of the art
world. This eminent parsonage, not
knowing Mr.. Brown from Adam, shook
hands with etfusion and passed on his
way. "Ah," thought William, "these are
when 1 am united to the lovely. Lizzie
Dreggs." That she would accept him to-
morrow, when he called to formally de-
mand her hand, he had no manner of
doubt. He walked as on air down the
muddy Grove End Road, and looking nei-
ther to the right nor le t, arrived at the
paternal doorstep with more than one
mans share of London slush on the pat
ent elastic trousers. He had meant to tell
Freddy the glad tidings, that i'll spite of
his ill omened nickname, fortune was go
ing to throw her greatest gifts in his lap;
aud he was about to make Il match that
would set people talking from Hampstead
oven unto Bayswater. But his brother re-
celved the mud on the dress suit with such
indignation and disgust, that William felt
confid ences were OUT of the question, and
determined to keep his news for a more
| rrOpitiOuS OccaSiOn.
'By the bye," said Freddy, as he
took a long fond look at him
self in the glass before departing tor the
fray; sis that Dreggs girl there to-
night"
"Miss Dreggs was there when I left"
replied William; and he smiled to himself
as he thought FREDDY will hardly. call
her that Dreggs girl when he hears she is
my future wife" Then he said good night
to his brother, and prepared to sleep the
sleep of the happy and contented. and be-
fore long fell to dreaming that Papa Dreggs
was holding a bag OF glittering gold in
one hand, and slapping him on the back
with the other, saying the while: "Here,
take her and this, my boy, and make your
self happy between them."
While sweet dreams were waiting on the
rest of the now iOvOus William. the object