Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1886-11-12
A CYCLONE As A MATCH
MAKER.
BY MEMO.


George Washington MacLean, valedic-
torian of Harvard's class of 50, was firmly
resolved upon pedestrian tour of the
Western States, from Dakota to the Golden
Gate, should his fancy SO dictate.
Ohlivious to the eclot of his freshly
blooming laurels, camly Indifferent to the
horror of his ambitious mother and ns-
shctic friends, heartlessly ignoring the
desolation of the fashionable resorts de-
prived of his erudite and fascinating self,
in pursuance of this heroic intention, one
lovely morning in July he babe his deeply
aggrieyed parent cheerful adieu, and wa
1uxuriously whirled away ON the lightning
express. To be candid. his meditations
during the rapid Journey were the reverse
OF disagrecable.
Notwithstanding vigorous opposition, he
had succeeded in gaining his point: a tri-
samph as dear to the masculine heart as the
traditional last word is supposed to be to
guiieless woman: thereby securing for him
self immunity from the exactions of society
for at least two, and probably three
months.
Now, as society had not heretofore APP
peared at all in the light Of bette noH to
this somewhat spoiled member of the
jcaacsse doree, whence the sudden disaf-
lection? Ten years before, when the now
stalwart six-footer, was registering boy of
ID. MacLean pore and his bosom friend,
John Allen, had solemnly pledged their
children. George MacLean and Ruth
Allen, in betrothal. Mr.. Allen and his
daughter having departed for Europe
shortly afterward, George MacLean had
not bebcid the young lady since, (blissfully
ignorant Of the bond created by his father,
he h1n Dloaon is-,-<s es,,ol.Hn odie,,
AS years and strength increased, however
he had not been suffered to remain in ig.
norance of his destined fate. The fortunes
of the MacLean family having somewhat
declined, MIR. Allen being enormously
wealthy, Mrs. MacLean, more eager than
judicious, daily impressed upon her son
that, while his fancy was free, to rove like
butterfly from flower to flower, his hear
was to remain intact to be presented il
virgin freshness at the altar of Miss Aliens
affections.
In vain he protested. His indignation
was met with an air of smiling superiority
and tue comforting assurance that ali
young men were alike, aud that he would
feel differently by and by.
Even his grandmother favored him will
divers lectures on the subject.
Love, bail" snapped this unsophisti.
Gated old lady, contemptuolsly, in reply tc
his plea that, not having met his betrothed
for years, it was impossible that they should
care Tor each other.
81 AN astonished, George Washington
that your mothers son could possess such
silly ideas. An establishment first, love
afterwacd, If necessary" nodding her white
head oracularly, with such an uncanny ex-
preston in her still sparkling black eyes
that George involuntarly thought OF
witches, and with youthful irreverence in
wardiy congratulated his aged relative that
times had changed since the days of those
model Christians, the Puritan fathers.
While the divinity to be remained abroad
he endured this unsolicited advice with
moderate patience; but at the date of his
departure from New York she had actually
arrived in this country, and was expected
TO join Mrs. MacLean at Newport the first
of August George remembered her per-
fect]y, tall heyden, with mass of red
hair, and II decided way of expressing her
self, which had often led to wordy war
between them TO pay court to any girl in
August was facilitating, George decided,
but to deliberately make love to an indi-
vidual whom circumstances naturally led
him to detest, was insupportable.
Suddenly discovering that he possessed
thc most conspicuous virtue of his name
sake, inability 10 tell lie, George resolved
upon bis pedestrian tour; and in spite of
his mothers fearful circumstances, shook
the dust of New York from his feet, pre-
paratory TO march cover the hills and ia,
away"
Arriving at Breckenridge, lac left his ad-
dress with q banking house, and started on
his long walk.
To the city-bred youth, somewhat closely
confined Of late years at college, the sense
of freedom was ipexpressibly delightful,
while The varied scenery through which he
passed appealed to his ardent appreciation
of the beautiful in the highest degree.
After trayersing Dakota, following the
line of the Northern Pacific, he found HIM
self on The borders of Montana, in which
State he expected to pass week or two
with on did college friend, who was pre-
empting claim within few miles of
Yankton.
DAKOTA had not appeared to
him the fairy land described
by enterorising agents. The interminable
stretch Of prairie at length wearied his eye.
The grandeur Of mountain scenery failed