Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1886-08-27
Sea BEACH LIGHTHOUSE.
BY HAnRS eA1Dw1x.

BY HARRT EALDWIE,
"Mine, ali minel Another month, aud I
shall bring to my feet the proud and hand
some man who can make me mistress of
Glen Villa and Of all his immense fortune. I"
The speaker was a dark, beautiful
woman Of thirty years, with eyes that
rivaled the diamond in their piercing glow,
and long flowing hair that formed a sable
crown.of glory to her perfect womanhood
The time was eventide, the close of q
dark, sulleu day IN November, full of TT
full shadows and mystic echoes.
Through the lowering pines and fir trees
the lurid, angry western sky filtered film
of ruddy color that tinged the rocks with .
sickky glare.
Beyond the glen, with its pretty villa
and artistic lawns and garden slopes, the
sea dashed frettully ON the rock bound
coast.
Voices of ths air and sky seemed in
complete harmony with the emotions of
the woman who, q light drapery over her
head and shoulders, stood by hedge,
looking meditatively through ravine to-
ward the ocean
There was triumph and hopefulness in
her tones, and yet some mental calculation
of possible failure in her fond desires
seemed to arouse latent determination
and defiance against any adverse fate.
AS she stood there, a picture of sinister
and repellant rather than enlicing lowell
ness, her mind seemed to weave memory
Of the past, and to build fair aerial castles
Of love and wealth for the future.
The retrospect was brief: it recalled to
her mind how she, Beatrice Langley, one
year previous, had secured the position of
companion to the invalid, Mrs. Theme, of
Glen Villa.
She had left behind her dark and bitter
past A willful, wicked coquette, she had
broken score of hearts, finally welded q
faithful, loving man named Ernest Wall
dron, had tired of his devotion, and in q
moment of cruel wickedness abandoned
him, taking with her all of his money she
could secure.
Then there was Il brief, fitting, fevered
life at fashionable watering place, and
then, her i'll gained means exhausted, pow
erty and desperation came.
Once she had heard of her husband.
She had broken his heart and beggared
him. He had sought her vainly, first for
givingly, and then with black, despairing
vengea nee i'll his heart.
And then she saw his name in the list of
large number of persons killed in a rail-
way accident.
It was ut this time that Beatrice Langley,
as she chose to call herself, had secured
the position alluded to.
She was tired of the old life, she longed
for rest and seclusion, and she found it at
Glen Villa and her life had become calmer
if not better under the gentle influence of
Mrs. Thorne.
Besides these two and the servants there
were no other residents at the villa until
one month before our story opens.
Then there occurred, in the return to his
home, after long sojourn in Europe, Of
the heir to the Thorne estates, the son of
the invalid, an episode which changed all
the currents of Beatrice Langleys exist
ence.
The idol of his mother, brave, earnest,
handsome. the first glance from his eyes
conquered the beautiful siren, and the
wicked heart that had treated the honest
love of honeat men as plaything knew
herself all the bitter-sweet of fervent, pas
sionate esteem.
She knew that he was wealthy, she
fancied he was heart-free. From that mo-
ment every magnetic vile of her intriguing
nature was brought into action to captivate
Wiltred Thorne.
The fond mother, confined to her room.
did not know how the first introduction OF
her son to her fascinating companion had
led to frequent meetings in the drawing
rooms, to strolls to the beach, and moonli1
drives.
Wilfred Thorne was lonely at the quiet
villa, and glad to be entertained, and really
esteemed Miss Langley as most pleasan,
companion.
The witchery of her arts pleased him,
her friendship fattered him. month
more would have cemented the dangerous
companionship, and the siren whispered
fercely to her ardent heart that sooner OF
later she would certainly win his love ano
entrap him into a marriage.
1t was of all this that she was thinking
that lowering November night as she stood
lost in reveric by the hedge.
The last few DAYS Wilfred had brought
a gentleman friend to the villa, but hao
found time to drive Miss Langley down the
beach, and she fancied that the pressure OF
his hand was more fevent, his glance
more friendly than ever when they pared
Cruel delusion! In her vanity and Wll!1u
determination the siren Overestlmated mel
own powers Of witchery.
1t was destined that in that very hour she
should learn her fate, and became lncltee
to an act tragic, cruel, and heartlessly re-
vengeful.
A dazzling dream of wealth and comfor
was rudely dispelled by the sound OF ap'
preaching voices.
Beatrice started and was about to haste1
toward the house, when she observed ina
the intruders were on the other side OF tnt
hedge, and could not see her.
Instantly, too, she recognized their Voices
Wilfred Thorne and his gentleman frienc
[o~ I,
was in sight, and then with an eager curl
osity in her face crouched closer to tht
HEDGE and I;atopad