Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1888-01-13

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door, and before Miss Fullerton could
express the surprise she felt, Madam
Hatherton entered and warmly well
coined her guest, Ruth Marvin, who
Immediately presented her friend.
Madam Hatherton's appearance was
as peculiar as her surroundings She
was small. very spare in form. and
made to appear even smaller than she
really was by stoop in the shoulders,
so marked as to look almost like de-
formity. Her slender hands, we'll
shaped and very pretty, flashed with
many and curious brilliant rings; in her
ears large diamonds shone like stars !;
her piercing eyes were deep-set and
very dark, cleaning from beneath
brows that were heavily marked, but
quite white; her skin was shriveled,
her lips thin, and her hair-so much
of it as was seen beneath a velvet head
covering that fitted close like skull
cap-was white like her brows; and
her costume was short, narrow .skirted,
skimp-black velvet gown, with antique
lace rutfies shading the wrinlzled throat
and wrists.
Her greeting to Ruth, although af-
fectionate, was not of the usual descrip-
tion; she neither kissed her nor shook
hands with her. But walking straight
up to her, and looking up into her
bright face, said @You are we'll, my
dear? Yes, 1 see. Fresh as o rose,
and as sweet"
She then graycly and tremendously
greeted Miss Fullerton, motioning her
to seat; aud under cover OF converse
ton with Ruth, and an occasional word
to Laura, took long and critical
survey of the latter.
"This is something more than my
daily visit, madam" Ruth said at last.
III want you to play for my friend
will you?"
Certainly, L will play for her"
Madame Hatherton opened the
piano, and her first touch of the keys
proclaimed her master of the instru-
ment. She played the old and half
forgotten music of her girlhood; but
Laura Fullerton, herself fine musi-
clan, thought she never heard such
playing, and her heightened color and
the tears in her eyes proclaimed her
admiration. The old lady was not
above such subtle tiattery, and gentle
flush OF pleasure stole into her with
cred checks. She laid her hand gently
on Laura's arm. "Once 1 could sing
the songs" she said, "but my poor old
voice is cracked and broken now"
"You need scarcely regret it, while
you make the piano sing so divinely, Z"
was the enthusiastic response.
Madam Hatherton was pleased with
her guests; she treated them royalty,
making them partake Of cake Of her
own made, and wine that looked like
molten gold, OF imprisoned sunshine,
in delicate glasses, each one of which
was curiosity. She followed them to
the door, and even stepped over the
threshold to look after them, urging
them both to come again soon. Her
gaze fingered longest upon Laura's tall
and elegant figure, and she kept her
eyes fixed on it till the curve in the
road hid her from view. Ruth was o
dear, sweet little creature, and the old
lady loved her; but Laura had given
the tear of sympathy and emotion dear
to the musicians soul-doubly dear to
the old and forgotten, who seldom find
such sympathy, save in their own men,
ory Of the triumphs Of their youth.
$50 that is Laura Fullerton!" Madam
Hatherton murmured, as she returned
to her solitude, and closed the door.
"She is noble-looking girl, and if he
really loves her-who knows? -she
may make good man even of him."
Her face softened, her mouth quiv-
cred. and tears blinded the flashing
dark eyes. All at once she seemed to
grow very old, her limbs trembled, and
seemed to fail her, and she sank help
lessly into chair.
ooh, Alfred Alfredo she cried, in a
broken, piercing voice, and then a
tempest Of grief shook her. while pas
sionate tears rained like a storm over
her aged face.
For soma time Madam Hatherton
abandoned herself to this wave of
emotion; but by and by, when it's force
was spent, she rose tremblingly,
searched for he, keys, opened her Sec
Rotary, and took from it an envelope
which she opened, and drew fourth the
contents It was her will and she read
it carefully through. Call this must
be changed, she said; and replacing
the will, locked her secretary, and re-
turned the keys to her pocket.
| "Well, she is an extraordinary Great
ure, Ruth" SAID Laura, "and I don't
wonder you feel an interest in her.
Her face haunts mel don't imagine
where have seen her before"
"It's haunting face, Laura. I'm
sure she has history, and curious