Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1888-12-21

gaming, the town stores had festooned fronts
of evergreen. and extra illumination
showed windows piled high with rare and
beautiful souvenirs for the gift-giving sea-
son of the Year.
1t was nine o'clock Christmas Eve. and
all was. indeed. well. The spell of merri-
ment and happiness unalloycd seemed to
have settled down over the lordly mansion,
aglow with brilliant lights, just beyond the
crest of the hill, and upon the humble
wood-cutter's. hut nearer town, alike. A
stranger, passing from house to house
and pcering in, would have decided that
here was the ideal oasis of contentment.
JOY and virtue amid the dark desert of life.
Under the snow matched roofs, however,
that royal evening of excitement and glad
ness, pictures We're weaving, soon to Join in
Il coherent series of scenes upon a broad
stage OF action. In Il cosy room in the sin
gle hotel the place afforded seated at IL
table containing wines, cigars, and other
concomitunts to II social chat. We're seated
two young men, one dark featured and
With Il keen, restless eye that bespoke
thirty years of reckless experience in the
dark ways of life, the other his junior by
half IL decade. and having Il somewhat
tired and dissipated expression on his face.
The elder of the two WAS known as Bruce
Herbert and was comparative stranger
in Glendale. His companion was Ellis
Markham, the son of the occupant of the
lordly mansion on the hill, who was reput-
ed to be the closest and wealthiest resident
of the village.
It's no use. Herbert" the latter was saw
ing. Il tell you I'm in a box, and even the
quite liberal cash present my fond but
:stingy old governor has given me for the
holidays won't enable me to bridge over my
.6lffipufjpS m in :, tprrib1a CT
Sorry. Can't it be helped?" murmured
Markhams companion. his clear, cold eve
in startling contrast to the fiery, irritated
face of the other.
No. l have half u mind to cut out and
let the explosion come. Icant stay to face
it; disgrace. MISREPRESENTATION
las bad as that?"
Yes"
You'd better make confldant of me
Markham" insinuated Herbert, with a
crafty smile of mystery. I've been your
friend"
Il know you have"
And you've stood by me-"
Il have. indeed 1 have!" replied the
younger man with effusion. "Noso grapes
for me! and when found out that it was
impossible for me ever to win the love or
fortune of my fathers charming ward
Eunice Davenal. why. not only abandoned
the field to you. but. honestly. I've been
working like a Trojan to win governor and
girl to see your value as Il match"
Good for you!" murmured Herbert, with
frightening eyes
L told the governor who you were
nephew of the great New York banker
james Herbert. of your immense bank ac-
count, and all that and. as he is anxious tc
have Eunce marry and as she won't have
me, tell you that you are the most eligible
person in view; stand an elegant chance tC
win the prize"
oh! he's anxious to marry her off. is he 2
muttered Herbert, contemplatively strokine
his silky mustache.
Yes. You see, according to her fathers
will the day she marries the estate is set
tied. and my father receives a large sum as
a beduest, only the use of which he now en-
Joys. and Eunice assumes control of her
own fortune. It's princely one. Way uI
in the tens Of thousands. There is another
provision, however"
What's lhat?"
If Eunice marries without my fathers
consent she forfeits the fortune But she
won't do that. She knows you are in love
with her. think she likes you"
she doesn't show it much!" remarked
Herbert, with a dubious shrug of the shout.
ders.
"Oh! all women are coy. You win the
governors good graces at the party to- night
II he favors you, it's settled fact"
Think 500"
Il know it," assured Markham confident