Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1886-01-01

W 1ue GEap IN .un0 WlnuOW Gue uualoAoAoA
bait Of letters written for foreigners as yet
unfamiliar with the language. The first
missiyc Of this polite letter writer was long
and discursive. Inquiries We're made about
the family of Mr.. Perkins, the brewery
and the savings.bank Mt Milwaukee,. A
Miller's lover Max, who had taken to evil
ways. The episle was signed Johann
Strauss.
'Can you say more-just y word?" asked
u suppose you mean to add a post
"Dat's 1t. Just So"
Then Mr.. Merridew wrote at dictation
the following postscript:
Beware Of %wounding your own hand
with the knife. New trust fine ladies who
play thegoverness."
The name of James Perkins was inscribed
on the envelope, but without other adj
dress, for the man could not find 1t. In
scrap of paper on which number and street
had been treasured. Finally he paid, prom
Using to return in the morning for Mr.. Mer-
ridew to complete the task, and, taking the
letter to read torhis wife, went away.
Left alone, the closing words of the let
ter reverted to Mr.. Merridew's mind.
"Thatw was a queer postscript to send a
Western brewer" he unused, rubbing his
nose with his pen. Then he upset a box Of
waters with his elbow, and was obliged to
crops AOF tuolu Denchtu Guo tuDlo Ou utAIIuS
M knees. A gold piece lay on the floor
directly under the table. He seized and
held the treasure near the light. At first
glance it appeared to be a twenty-franc
gold coin, but on closer inspection it
proved to be a medal of Napoleon Bona
parte, commemorative of the battle of
Marengo.
"The man must have dropped it from
M%erridew, .dazzled by the shining gold. 81
will give it to him when he comes back
With tn the ne sdd sav for : ssd enTySS, Vel @.n nover
returned, but the placard disappeared from
the shop window, almost m~agically, unless
q woman took it who entered to beg.
Harry Lewiston was OF q sanguine tenn
permanent, yet he could not deny that the
prospect Of the opening year was gloomy.
He wished to marry Rosy Merridew, for
whom he felt a rapturous devotion. He
was a clerk in a chemical mandatory,
and as he possessed unusual quickness
of intelligence, his employer had prom
Used to promote him to the post of book
keeper on the LIST of January if he would
invest the sum of one thousand dollars in
the business. This advancement meant nm
increase Of salary, marriage with the girl
of his choice, and a home.
"He might as we'll ask rue to fly to the
moon on q broolnstick," grumbled Harry,
with a wrinkle in his white forehead.
allow am l to get a thousand dollars
scraped together by the new year? Does
man by the noseI happen to meet in the
street and demand the sum Or his life?"
He was two years older than Margaret,
and had always cast the burden of care ON
her shoulders since childhood. She had
made him a home on the fourth floor of a
Brother and sister belonged to the class Of
toilers who must earn their own bread in
large towns. She revelled in her abode,
and, like Mrs. Merridew, dreamed of fresh
fields, with a pot of plants growing on the
window ledge. On holidays Maggy baked
her house in order with a careful hand.
Boarding would bring me to an untimely
grave" she said. II like to make my own
oatmeal porridge, and break the tea-cups
myself"
A light step on the stair aroused Harry
Merridew appeared on the threshold,
wearing a captivating jacket of blue cloth
trimmed with gilt buttons.
81 did not expect to find you here" she
exclaimed, all smiles and bushes.
Harry took her in his arms and kissed
her. II have a business appointment at
noon, before going to the factory" he said,
after this agreeable preliminary embrace.
Maggy warmly seconded the caress, and
put on her bonnet. She was going shop
ping with Rosy, as the day was Saturday.
The two girls departed in gay spirits. Ten
minutes later other steps assembled the
stairway, and a small boy knocked at the
door, demanding a bandbox left with the
lady by q poor girl:
There's no 5andbox mere, and l never
searching the premises. Harry believed
that there had been some mistake, and,
with his accounts adjusted, went out, dis
missing the matter. g
Nobody in the great city extracted more
enjoyment from a holiday than did Mar
she went about with Rosy, and ut noon
they ate chocolate cakes at the counter of
q confectioner, after the n of women
kind.
"oh, Maggy, if we could see tho skating
"Come along, then" rejoined the valiant
Margaret.
~ must run home first and tell mother"
Rosy sped away, and Margaret fingered
before a shop window Respondent with
velvet and satin fabrics, wondering vague.
ly how it would seem to be thus arrayed
cashmere. A man paused beside her. She
recognized tho bearded individual
who had knocked off her hat on
that thu evening = week before go when
only confirmed a suspicion that he was
following her. WhyI Her heart beat
more quickly. She entered q large store,
and passed out at right angels by another
door. The second street gained, Maggy
slipped into an area behind the ash barrel.
After waiting a few moments she smiled
at her own cowardice, emerged, doubled
back, and regained her post Of waiting for
Rosy, with a certain exhileration in hav-
ing led her follower a f~ruitless quest.
Scarcely had she esulned her place when
a HAND grasped her arm, while a voice
said:
"This time I have you"
Maggy grew pale. The bearded man
was again beside her.
"What do you wish?" she murmured,
family.
"Much," he replied with GOODNESS.
"How dare you touch mel" she ex-
claimed, with sudden courage, for she saw
Harry and Ross approaching, arm in arm.
II beg your pardon. Fol Heavens sake
don't run away again! !" cried the stranger,
striding after her as she hastened toward
thel lovers.
Harry is going with US to the Park! ~
was Rosy:s joyful announcement.
"Ask this-person-to explain his con-
Duct" said Maggy to her brother.
The stranger stood his ground. He con-
tinuea to gaze at Margaret with an alb
1 a@~I1I n v,,,sar otoo