Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1886-02-19
"You aatter.n I murmu,ea. ironically.

She saved you trouble, this girl, I was
puzzling low to approach the thorny sub
iect. She stepped straight into the BRAN
bles.
"How happy should 1 be to call you So"
said l, sarcastically. "But for that, you
must first marry my uncle. Possibly you
may have noticed that Mr.. Grimston is a
very proud man."
su ra ,w hsG ssgss 81 ssn1 rs3|G9i%"ed' ""h0' I'm
III disowned my mother for marryinga
u'Aubigny. No Frenchman, according to
his creed, would be an English gentleman's
equal"
father was the exception, ] suppose"
"And do you suppose,' I exclaimed, en-
ragged, that he ever would have solicited
your hand had he known the social stand
ing OF your father, the policeman; your
grandfather, the confectionery; your step
father, the hairdresser of U~nionapolis!n
Her stare was tragic now. Her cheek
paled. She trembled.
"You're Joking she faltered, hoarsely.
lsprang up exultant.
"Nay, denial is useless. This letter."
placing these historical facts beyond dis
pute, arrived yesterday in time to frus-
trate the imposition.''
snatched the letter, read, shuddered, sank
"Wretched girl!h 1 shouted. (which are
entrapping him into a marriage under
false pretenses?"
Stop, Mr.. David" sue implored.
AS well might she ave cried: "Whoa!"
to q runaway fire engine"
Little whippersnapper of q nephew
dead mems shoes! Parasites"
Mercy" she entreated.
$50 perish oil fortune hunters"
She seized both my hands, saying: "Be
silent and listen, y so ,authoritativcly that I
obeyed-as though she were my aunt, in
deed.
"My mother is the cause Of this. She is a
beautiful character, but she's got what they
call an oriental Imagination. She objects
to giving plain things their right names.
I'm used to hear her call a postillion a
cavalier, dish-covers cupolas, q temporary
jug a tiagon, a street fight a duel, but this
was carrying things too far! Mother,
what frightful mischief have you done!
Too late!"
Can you possibly mean" asked, be-
wildered, Chat these-disclosures-takeh her
daughter by surprise-that you believe
yourself of gentle birth?
.Of course I did," she replied, simply.
How should 1 know betterl True, once
since my engagement she dropped a hint in
her exultation that excited my suspicious.
ButIneyerd reamt of anything approaching
this, OF l should have insisted on knowing
the worst. Then, perhaps, if I'd fallen at
his feet with a frank confession; but now
he'l never f~orgive-never, in the violence
OF just resentment, believe me innocent of
this fraud, for | can not provo it. 0, my
knock!'
She started up.
"Come to denounce mother and child.
How shall face him. How brave his re-
p~roaches!"
She hid her face.
/ stood over my aunt that was to have
been, feeling almost tall and quite heroic.
Now for a revenge, now for Goals of fire.
1t was a glorious moment.
Cecilia" oI said, cit may not be too late.
Listen. Touched by the sunshine your iniiu-
once has brought into my %uncle's life, I
withheld that letter-gave him one about
onsilage instead. He suspects nothing.
The frank confession is still yours to
Worthy nephew Of your uncle,' she
cried, intending u compliments. I'll thank
you afterward. He mustn't find you here.
This way-quick."
l barely disappeared through one door as
my uncle entered through the other, con-
cerned to find his betrothed in tears.
'My dear Celia" he began, so tenderly
that | must peep through the key-hole to
certify it was uncle speaking, "this
wretched accident has affected your
nerves."
III train was upset, but it takes more
cut TO pieces; | do. 1t would have spared
me what I mind worse, and you would
nave regretted me. Say you would, Rich
ard"
trayed myself by starting and yelling,
what have 1 don to provoke this strange
reception?"
Our MARRIAGE she said. with desperate
dignity, 'can not take place"
Said my uncle, with frowns in his voice:
n ,lhd; q jtes til Celia is ill-timed; I don't
"Wait; and-you-will," she faltered;
from me hitherto. Circumstances over
which 1 had no control materially affect
ing our condition"
"Pecuniary circumstances" he suggested.
"You mean your fortune was overstated.
Your mothers liberal expenditure has led
her into debt?"
cts worse than debts,n she declared,
paused, then announced, solemnly: "Blots
on u escutcheon generations can not
~efface.n
"a family skeleton" he began uneasily,
trying to laugh. s'That's bad"
Worst than the worst you can imagine"
mot a crime?" he muttercd, startled.
IWorse than a crime" she affirmed.
Hereupon he rose ilmpatiently, saying:
cussion of the brain"
"Not II she returned, mournfully, 'it's
my mothers where the screw is loose.
Don't blame her before me, Richard. She
~ iOildntlc-Sne mas mlSleu you uDOuG our
origin by using high sounding language.
The awful truth | L never knew myself. Our
anion is impossible. an no fit match for
Richard Grimston."
THE daughter of an eminent public func-
tionary, and of a collateral d~escendent Of
the Norfolk Howards is no unfit match, even
for Richard Grimston."
'He was a simple policeman y she sobbed,
Gin England; a storekeeper in America.
Mothers family's only connection with
their illustrious namesake was that they
supplied their breakfast-table with fresh
rolls. Take back your betrothal ring, Rich
ard, the worst has yet to come. The late
Mr.. Pierpont was no artist-but a-a-per-
fumer, ETC."
There was a tremendous pause, broken
by Celia's sobs. Touched, I was using my
pocket handkerchief behind the door. My
uncle's voice, when he spoke again, sounded
o~miniously familiar.
"You will excuse me if I leave you now.
This intelligence has stunned me COM
pletely. If true-'
'It's all true" sho declared. "Ask
mamma"
"Your word sufices," he said hastily, and
left the house.
Instantly l ddrted from my hiding place
to the assistance of my promised aunt,
PROSTATE on TIE sofa.
"Celia-aunt, be comforted," l implored.