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

1umor' ,ulod TO see you. Maggie, my
saatIa = i iahn the curtain should be a
! was reading in the newspaper this morn.
ing about the public letter.writer Of nthar
lands: There is the scribe of the East With
his ink-horn in his girdle, ready to do any
mans bidding, end there is the letter
some little nook where he can be found by
despalring sweethearts, and others whose
early education has been neglected.
took q prize for neatpenmanship once, and
l still have q writing class or two, YOU
Know: NOW l am going to hang this pla-
card IN the window tomorrow morning,
and If l make a pot Of money writing let.
ters, l will help Harry on a btu
Rose slipped her arm around her
parents neck and kissed him on the ton Of
his bald head. ~
1.-THE newspaper is the history of the en-
tire world for a single day, as some great
man has said," remarked Margaret Lewis.
ton, accepting an office stool, for she was
She placed an old and dilapidated band
box on the floor beside her as she smoke.
and consulted her watch.
"Whered did you get that handbook" cried
Rosy.
Margaret laughed, and raised it to the
level OF Mr.. Merridew's table for public in
spection.
"The bandbox looks as if it might have
held your Observation-Disclosures best bon.
net, Rosy" she said. "Handsome as it is,
l am going to ask you to stow it away
somewhere for me. How did l come by
the thing? Why I met Heloise Michant;
keep the handbook for her, so 1 took pos
session Of it then and there, and brought
1T around here, as l have a message to de-
liver from Harry"
"Who is Heloise Michant?" inquired Mr..
Merridew, eying the bandbox askance.
"When took charge of the Perkins
hired Heioise Michant in Paris, and
brought her on home with us,' Mag
gle explained. 1.-THE girl is Alsacian,F II
believe. She was frightened, and home
sick, poor thing! l did not suppose she
address, it seems. A sister has arrived at
Baltimore, and she wished me to take
charge of her worldly goods while she
went to seek the newcomer. She is not
sure of retaining her place afterward. I
met her near my house, and promised to
stead"
why didn't she take her bandbox with
herr" demanded Mr.. Merridew, gloomily.
Both girls laughed merrily.
at would not hold together for a jour-
ney," giggled Rosy, lifting a torn edge Of
seen-some fragments of faded silk and
ribbons, the finery dear to the heart of
maid-servants, since all distinctive Co.'S
tunes of class have been abandoned in
favor of tawdry imitation of the mistress,
How well it is tied together, though"
of fine cord knotted about the box in such
a manner as to retain the cover in place.
~ will put it away in my closet, Maggy,"
said Rosy. "You have enough on your
hands without stray bandboxes, DEAR"
Margaret Lewiston was tall, large and
| fupntv Udorc nf aoo Cha yuoc oftiroI In
mourning, with a ruche of Grape about her
throat instead of a white collar-a costume
which enhanced the pallor of her complex
ion and the warm tones of her abundant
auburn hair. gathered in a superb mass at
the bach of the head. Severe simplicity
robbed her Of youthful coquetry, while the
carriage of her shoulders evinced a reso-
lutte nature. She had firm faith in her per-
sonal %plainness, n her world accepted
her at her own valuation. She would have
cut off her red hair with q relentless hand,
had she not feared that her droll aspect,
thus shorn, would make the children
laugh; she was q teacher in one Of the
great public schools.
She loved the dimples, the pink-tinted
cheeks, and graceful figure of Rosy Mer-
ridew with a generous appreciation of the
beauty Of another rare among women.
Harry's message delivered, she departed
to attend a teachers meeting and q friend
ly ray followed her from Mr.. Merridew's
door,. The night was clear and cold, with
Christmas three weeks away. Ice crusted
the pavement, and the shops were bright
with holiday decorations. Margaret Quilted
the Sixth Avenue, where the store was stu
ated, directing her steps toward the east side
of the town. As she reached the corner of a
crowded thoroughfare a light blow Of q
ane swept of har hat. Surprised Ind in
dignant, she caught the hat, and turned to
discover the aggressor. A man had just
| N0irnhaH tho Sfana nf n co11ar roCto1ron Mt
with q freshly lighted cigar in his mouth
and a stout walking stick under his arm.
His flowing beard and wide-brimmed felt
hat proclaimed him an artist. He had
been dining at an Italian clearinghouse o n
minestya, macaroni served in bowls, crisp
f%rittura, and salame, in remembrance of
similar meals partaken of in a vine-draped
pergole of the Roman Campagna, on on
the rocks of Capri-banq1ets favored with
laughter, and TASKS of golden Lacrima
Cristi, and the red Palermo wines.
"You should be more careful with your
cane, sir" said Margaret Lewiston, CURLY,
standing there in the full brilliancy of the
gas lamp.
He made no reply, but gazed at her in:
tently. As Maggy replaced her hat and
Amid the roll of heavy vehicles, the crack
of whips, the tread Of many feet, two
voices reached her ear distinctly, as q
thread of sound sometimes piercesa tumult
of mere confused noise. The first voice
said, in the French l%anguage:
"Did you see herr"
"Yes," replied the second voice.
"Would you know her again?"
Crust me for that, my friend"
Maggy shuddered, and yet she glanced
behind her as she turned the next corner.
The man who had emerged from the res
taurant seemed about to part with a COM
rade in the crowd.
"Can they nave meant me!" she won
dered. And again that nervous shiver
chilled her blood.
Next day Mr.. Merridew adjusted his
placard in the window. He imagined
that the eye of the street would be imme-
diately attracted to the unusual announce
ment Of letter-writing. He waited, like a
hopeful spider, with the curtain of the re :
cess closely drawn, nor would he suffer
any disturbance of the arrangements made
about the table over night. No flies en-
tered the web. AS the early twilight feb
Mr.. Merridew's disappointment acquired
q phase of excitement. He refused to eat
his supper, quite pettishly, and sat bolt
upright at his desk, as if fearing some pre-
cious opportunity would escape him
should he desert his post: Vigilance re-
ceived unexpected reward. In the dark
the burly form of a man passed the show
window, where a gas-jet tlickered, re.