Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1886-03-26

- y SaAc aU Will one S lover, his
arm about one. ones head upon his
breast! And my lover is looking at it,
perchance, with another woman's head
pillowed on his heart, his arm
about another woman. And, at the
lntolerable agony of the thought, |
cilnched my hands until the nails pressed
into my palms, and tears forced them
selves between my closed eyelids. 80
God, punish him; let him not be hap
py!' l muttered between my tight-shut
teeth. Unable to bear my misery long
er, | turned away and rang for my
maid.
II will go to bed now," 1 said to her,
forcing myself with u superhuman effort
to speak calmly, even checrfully, and 1
retained my composure while she un-
dressed me, tortured my hair and per-
formed various offices for me which 1
could well have dispensed with. l had
never m my life been waited upon by a
maid, and l hated it intensely. 1 felt
that her ann was intended to con-
vey sympathy. She was dying for me to
make some little confidence or explana-
ton to her. I almost wondered that she
did not ask me a point-blank question
such a child as l was; but, m%crcifully,
she was too we'll educated in her profess
sion to forget so far what was due to her.
self. The effort at composure was,
nearly too much for me, and the moment
she left me l flew to the door, bolted it
and flung myself on the floor by my bed
side in a paroxysm of weeping.
Midnight chimed from my clock, and
still | sat with my head pressed hard
against my hands; still I sobbed and
cried ovcr my lost illusions. Half-past
twelve-one! Irose and threw open
the window, and stared into the night.
The moon was more resplendent than
ever; the hush of the night was perfect.
l alone Of all creatures seemed alive and
awake-I with my intolerable woe.
Then l lay down on my bed, but not to
sleep. A dozen plans for the morrow
chased each other through my excited
brain, but through all of them ran the
horror of that home-going to be q Jest
and a by-word. Again 1 rose and went
to the window. Faint streaks of GRIM
son lay athwart the horizon. 1 staid
there until they changed to orange and
to yellow gold; then, worn out and
%shivering with cold-summer night
though it was-I returned to bed, and
fell into a heavy sleep. Some hours
later | awoke with a racking pain in
my head, and a general feeling of ill
ness and utter prostration. For some
moments l lay trying to recall what had
happened; then the past day and night
rushed upon me like a flood, and 1 re-
membered chat to-day l must go home.
hnt, even with the thought, a paroxysm
of pain overcame me. laid my head
back on my pillow moaning.
Half an hour later, when my maid
came, l was PROSTATE, speechless.
Her words of commiseration fell like
a stone upon my ear. l was indiffer-
ent to every thing but the maddening
pain in my head my wrongs even
were forgotten-there was no thought
of rising or going away. 1 could only
lie and moan. The woman did her
best for me. She bathed my head
with eau de, cologne, fetched me tea,
begged to be allowed to send for a
doctor; but all I craved was to be
let alone. She shut out the light and
left me, saying she would be in the
next room; and I lay there and
moancd and tossed my fevered head
from side to side. Pride and grief were
all gone; / was absolutely Indifferent to
every thing. George might have had a
dozen wives. l might have been dis
graced ten times over-I should not
have cared. Hours went by, and then
/ heard his eager voice outside the
door talking to the maid. Presently
she came in softly.
"Sir George has come, my lady. He
is so dreadfully grieved that you are i'll.
He says may he come IMP"
"No," 1 moancd. '.Oh, my head!
my head!" She went out. I heard the
ring of disappointment in his voice,
then more talking. 1 did not care
everything but my pain was indiffer-
she came in again and whispered:
'.The doctor is here, my lady"
She drew back the window curtains,
and some one took my hand and asked
questions of her in Il low voice. l was
past speaking myself. Then he went
out, and another person came in on tip
toe and stood beside the bed, and look
ed down at me-, uttering incoherent
words Of tenderness. l knew that it was
George, but 1 did not unclose my eyes.
| felt Il gentle kiss on my brow, more
kisses on my hand. They gave me
neither sensation of anger nor pain
that m%addcning pain absorbed every
thought.
you will soon be better, my own
darling" l heard him murmur; but l
turned away my head and went On
moaning to myself.
Presently Scaton came back and
brought me something to drink. Then
she put cold %bandages on my head, and
after a time the pain grew less intense
and I fell asleep. When / awoke my
head was infinitely better, but l had a
dazcd, drowsy feeling. I was able to
drink some tea and eat a piece Of toast,
and by this time it was seven o'clock.
l had the windows thrown wide open.
Would l see George now? He was so
anxious, and Seaton put on her most
pleading, persuasive tones. The blood
rushed to my face. l turned away. to
hide it, and said that my head was ach-
ing again, and that I would rather not
be disturbed.
: She gave me a draught, and a delight
ful sonan of well -hpinr Oycrcame mo.