Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1886-07-02

was staying at the post, and that
ben Woods. who happened to be lonng-
me- near the horsc-block i'll front OF the
ONCE, had cut at the lady's horse With a
switch he had hold in his hand, which
mad caused it to rear suddenly. and al
though the lady was Il good horse
woman and quickly controlled the ami
mai, she had been IA good deal alarm I'd.
Darcy, meantime. had gone into the
Office, but returned Just in time to SEQ
what had happened, and had struck tho
rulllan with his whip across the cheek
and neck, making the blood come, after
which, the lady being 81 good deal un-
strung. he had mounted and ridden
away with her, leaving Ben uttering
savage threats of vengeance.
All this, recitcd in Mary's cars, chilled
her poor little heart with terror, and
made what had seemed hopeless and
impossible ten minutes ago, seem now
practical and imperative. She was re-
solved to communicate with Darcy, and,
as only one way presented itself to her
mind. that she must take.
She waited until the father of the
family had gone Off for his evening Cos
sip at the village store, and the kind
mother had taken her little ones to bed,
and then, when she herself was supposed
to be safe in her W room up stairs. she
crcpt out of the house. wrappcdin Il dark
cloak. with the hood drawn over her
head, and flew rapidly down the garden
path and out into the road. She felt no
impulse of fear for herself. 1t was all
absorbed in her terror for the safety of
him who was so much dearer to her than
her own life. 1t WA Il quiet time and
she met no one. When she reached the
garrison there was agreat deal of excite
meM prevailing and she was allowed
to slip in unnoticed. Making her way
around to the back of the long, low
room, from which she could hear the
sounds of music and festivity, she saw
that, as there was no porch here, there
was no one standing about who might
see her; so she climbed upon some lum-
Der which happened to be there and tried
to see into the oom. The shutters.
however, were closed on this side. but
when she cautiously tried to part the
ones near which she stood, she found
that it yielded a little. Through the ap-
crture thus created she looked in. ri
sight that met her gaze literally dazz)ed
her. The festoons of green and flowers,
the brilliant lights and, above all, the
bewildering costumes were $ o unlike any,
thing she had ever seen before that she
became breathless for an instant. But
in all this brilliant throng one couple
was pre-eminent. Surely no man of
them all had such eleganccso of form and
distinction of bearing rs Capt.
Darcy, who was looking splendid
tonight in his giittering uni
form, and surely no woman of them all
could compete with the sumptuous
beauty he was clasping in his arms as
they whirlcd around the room to a
m%addening waltz tune which the band
was playing. She was q dazzling
brunette, dressed in a. gorgeous pink
satin which displayed her creamy | eek
and arms with a startling liberality to
Mary's astonishcd gaze. A circlet of
diamonds clasped her round throat and
solitaire diamonds cleaned at her ears
and scinti[lated in her dark hair.
In an interval of the dance this couple
paused just inside the window at which
Mary was watching. He bent eagerly
toward his companion and said in fer
| NC4lCS C-ASlGCS UDhCSs GS lC l1OublS WlClO.
cd her jcweled fan:
"Have l tired you. dearest? Forgive
me-. 1t has been S % long since l have
held you to my heart-and [ have miss
ed you so-and longed for you-and
been so wretcled and lonely without
you"
How tho fine eyes, that Mary loved
so, CLEANED as he said it! How the
dark check flushed! How fast and
eager came the deep-drawn brcaths!
He looked at her with an excited. fcrvid
look, compared with which the fond
and tender gaze he had so often be-
slowed on little Mary seemed weak and
meaningless.
'Have you, indeed, been SO wretch
ed?" asked Darcy's companion, with q
splendid CLEAN of her dark eyes. II
might perhaps have doubted that, from
certain hints let fall"
"What hints?" asked Darcy, sud-
denly.
GAS to a certain rustic beauty, with
whom Captain Darcy has been seen
walking in quiet and sequestered spots"
Mary's heart beat loud and she list
ened breathlessly.
''How can you listen to such non
sense?" said Darcy, lightly, gazing at
her with a fond Representatives,.
II did not listen to it-or, if 1 did, it
was only to laugh at it, returned his
companion, showing her cleaning teeth
in Il dazzling smile. mo, indeed! If
ever I conclude to try the undiverting
pastime of being jealous, it will be Of
no rustic beauty. l know you too well.
The Injuries and retinements of life
are all potent with you. Rusticlty and
poverty are not for you. Cleopatra
sailing down the Nile might possibly
cause one a pang or so, but no rural
Phyllis"
"You know me well. as you say, my
beautiful onc," he answered. ':NVhat
created being could ever charm me after
youp You will have to acknowledge at
least that you are my destiny, as 1 an
yours"
Mary heard it all and her heart seem
ed turned to stone. She did not, for
one instant deceive herself. She not
only felt and knew that Darcy did not
love her, but she perfectly realized that
he never had loved her. And she com
pretended, at the same time, as she had
never done before the depth and length