Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1886-12-24
SECOND CHOICE.
BY EUGENE DARKLEY.

's7hgaged. Kate! Really engaged?"
col. yes" said Kate Marcy; cts real
enough. lsuppose."
"Ana is he young? Is he handsome? Is
he very much in love?"
'7ieis Mother young nor handsome"
saidsKate, briefly. Gle is 60, at least, al
though Z must confess that he is toerably
well preserved. He is Gen. Grenville.
No arc to be married in February or
March. Now, you know oil about it.
skate. you will let me ask one question
moro" coaxed Belle. Do you lcre him?"
"Js,it .likcly?" retorted Kate, with shrug
Of hershou.ders.
Miss Haviland clasped her hands.
skatel Kate!" she cried. II see it all
You are going to sell yourself for rank and
geld"
"bon,t be goose!" said Kate, crimson
nag 20 The roots of her hair. Zone can't be
afGcnHmentalist MI ones life. J"
Kate Marcy went home from the theater
matinee that afternoon, and flung her
"My dear. what is the matter?" said Mrs.
Marcy, a pale, pretty little widow.
mamma, 1 am so tircd!" cried Kate,
letting herself drop into chair. utterly re-
gardless OF founces, sh-draperies, and
seal-sain saoque.
Tired of what. my darling?"
"Of evefy1hing!" said Kate. "Of my en-
s 8, e. to that dreadful old man most of
ness, opened q blue velvet case that Law
OIL the1ajAe.
SEQ what he has sent you" said she.
aYour favorite jewels-sapphlres- set
around with diamonds. Are they not
beautiful, dears"
Hates checks flushed; her eyes sparkled
at tho eight Of the gems.
"ff I could only have the pretty things
without having him!" said she.
Mrs. Marcy took Gen. Grenville into her
confidence that evening, when he was
waiting for Kate.
"My dear General" said she-she was
about fifteen years younger than her in
tended so11-in- law-athis matter must be
settled at once,"
what matter?" said the General, bandly.
aThe matter of your marriage"
Nothing could make me happier" said
the gallant General. eff Kate will name
the day"
Ooh, that, Of course" said Mrs. Marcy.
"6h,hl wesay the tenth of next month? :"
With the greatest of PLEASURE" said
Gen. Grenyiile.
Mrs. Marcy hurried up stairs, ostensibly
70 toll her that the day was fixed.
ooh, pshaw!" said Kate. "Why is he in
such a dreadful h1rry?"
When they were driving along in the
'slear December moonlight, Kate boldly
proposed q pken which had been for some
sine agitating her mind.
"Gen. Grenville, said she, in her sweet
est voice.
@Do-do you object to skating?"
Mot in the least" said Gen. Granville.
"Whoa Spider-gentIy, Beetle! Really
these horses are particularly gay to- night."
Because" said Kate, MIR. Leverinoton
has invited me TO go to the rink next Tues
day evening, when"
Butlhe- sentence never was finished.
A full loaded furniture van, emerging
unexpectedly, like a moving mountain,
from side street, upset the equanimity of
Spider and Beetle; they gave a sudden
plunge, and the next moment Kate, the
General, and. the eight heels of Spider and
Beetle were mingled in one indistineuish-
able mass.
The usual crowd assembled-the police
rallied-and presently it TRANSFERRED that
Miss Marcy was unhurt, that the General,
,vho had been flung against a lamp post,
WAS unconscious, that Beetle was only
slightly hurt, and that it would be neces-
,sary 10 shoot Spider on the spot.
Poor Kate!
Her first thought-oh, most ungrateful of
all Kates!-was, "Well, this settles the
question. We can't be married on the 10Th
ofsJanuary noar. And if the poor dear
General should be fatally injured, wonder
gif mamma would expect me to wear
crape!"
Gen. Grenville, however. was not fatally
injured, as it happened. HIS shoulder was
dislocated, his ankle was broken and he
had received formidable looking cut on
the forehead; but superb constitution