Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1886-07-30

only by rough frontiersmen, of letters
lost IN transit, of Intelligence DELAYED.
OF patient search for her, first in the city !
OF her former residence, then among the
patrons of her little school, who, in the
hurry and hustle OF heir w more for
tunate and happy lives. had lost sight of
her and ceased to interest themselves in
her w%ell-being. "And now, Margcry, I
have found you at last, and we have met
never to be parted again. This very
nlght-now, within the hour-you
give yourself to me for all our
lives, till death us do part The for
malltles have all been observed. Your
landlady has told me all she knew of
your story, and while waiting for YOUR
return 1 have taken all the necessary
steps. A clergyman will be here in a
few moments. See. here is Il ring made
OF the first gold l ever dug out of the
rocks of California. l vowed that it
should make my wedding ring, and it
fits your finger like a charm. Look up,
dear girl, and toll me that you will be
glad to wear it for my sake"
''But this is so sudden: SC hurried.
dear Harry; my black dress; surely you
would not
"Surely l would not myself, nor let
you be superstitious about the color
OF q dress. We will take care of that
hereafter. Fate has led me a will-o'-
wlsp journey long enough. will have
ny more of it. will have you now at
once and forever. Shall 1 not, Mar
garrett" And he had his will, and Mar
garet never went back, to the chair and
desk of the office.
A few months passed in wandering in
foreign lands brought back the color to
Margaret's cheek, the light to her
eyes, and elasticity to her spirits; and
then, when she had become again the
gay and joyous Margery of his recol-
llections, her husband brought her to a
lovely home, where for many years
she was the light and blessing Of his
life. The fateful ring was never men,
toned. Margaret at first dreaded that
he would inquire what had become of
his first gift, but if her husband ever
thought of it, he never spoke his
thought. Twelve years of happy welded
life had passed away, whcs;, at the
close of a bright summer day, spent in
sharing the pleasures of their country
home with city friends, Margaret and
her husband were seated upon the YER
andah watching the frolics of their
two children upon the lawn which
sloped down to the Hudson. They
were silent, but happy in the perfect
love and trust of entire confidence
and unchanged affection. Suddenly
Margaret turned to her husband: ssHar-
~, there is q question l have often
wished to ask you, but you have al
ways seemed to shrink from the subject
w%heneverI approached it, and l have
never ventured to pursue it, may I ask
it now?"
''surcly, Margery, there is nothing
you may not ask NEIL he replied.
"Do you remember, dear, when you
first found me and were telling me of
your long search before you cot any
clew to my residence, I asked o how
you at first discovered me and YOU n
swercd, as it afterward seemed to me,
evasively-though at the time I did not
think of it-that it was knowledge
gained through an old friend that en-
abledy you to trace me. Tell me now,
Harry, who it was and how you were
led to the right place at last.S
''Iell me first, Margery, do YOU still
retain any remnant of your old super
stitidn about opals? Would YOU ac-
ceptfrom Inc, in honor of your BIRTH
day tomorrow. an opal ringP"
''0h, Harry, no! Think. That opal
was = parting gift from your father to
his wife and was ominous of all the sor-
row She felt in her great loss. 1t was
| the fprerunner of the misfortunes that
dark ened my life, and it was only after
1 par ted with it-for I did part with it,
Harr y, when I thought you faithless
and my need was prcssing-that my
happiness cam back to me. Give me
no more opals. 1t is weak and foolish,
but that ring cost me too much"
"See here, Margery. see what for
more than twelve years | have kept con-
cealea from you and carried near my
heart, and Harry took from a tiny box
the ola gage dc amour that had played
such an important part in their life his
tory. "This, dear, is the friend that
told me where to find my wife. The
jeweler who wrought my gold into the
ring you wear was looking over some
specimens | had brought from the min
ing country, when he brought out a tray
of rings to compare some stones with
those showed him. Among them lay
this ring, which 1 instantly recognized.
A few words of inquiry gave me the adj
dress you had left. From that l easily
traced you to the house in which found
you. bought the ring, and for years
have wanted to put it back on your hand.
where it belongs. Have we not all these
years been prosperous andhappy; happy
in each other, in our children. in our
lot in life, our hopes for the life here
after? Are you now afraid of the baleful
influence of the opal, Margery?'
For reply Margaret held out her hand,
the jewel was restored to its old place
upon her finger, and her tears of love
and thankfulness were bright as tho
sparkle of the opal ring.-CAicago Inter.
Ocean.
A TRUTHFUL BEGGAR.