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

III puV 1iiC3 SNSA CiAC SAAAS AAAAAA -
reprobate. and my heart is broken
about it,"
"But his aunt-what is the new
trouble? Perhaps she will relent."
"No chance of that. In order to re-
move herself from the temptation of
his influence she has disappeared, and
left no trace of her whereabouts. Poor
Edward! No wonder he is desperate
they drive him So
''But what sort of q woman is this
aunt?" pursued Ruth, much Interested,
after the manner of her sex, in love
story.
II don't know, dear. I never saw
her, never heard her name. He was
afraid to introduce me lest she should
prejudice me against him, think.
Ruth was all sympathy and full of
hopeless suggestions; and the two girls,
having become fairly embarked on a
subject so near the heart Of one of
them, soon forgot old Madam Hather-
ton.
These two girls occupied the same
room; and the discussion OF Laura's
love affair still engaged then when
they fell asleep. 1t was close on mid
night when Ruth started up with q cry,
the cold dew of fright upon her, brow.
"Laura-Laura! Wake, for heavens
sake!" she cried; Something awful is
happening. Oh! I've had such a
dream. I'm afraid Madam Hatherton
is murdered.
Nonsense, you foolish girl. You've
had the nightmare, and suppose your
dreams were colored by your converse
tion."
II tell you she's in some danger, and
I'm going to her." Ruth returned,
resolutely, jumping out of bed and
hastily dressing while she spoke. II
saw her lying on the floor in her room,
pale as death, but her eyes were wide
open, and they seemed to call me to
her. am going."
Laura listened with cold, uncom-
Portable thrill. She also rose and be-
gan to dress herself. II will go with
you," she said; "but I'm sure we will
have laugh at our own absurdity."
Better to laugh than to cry" Ruth
answered, shortly. "But you're very
good to offer to come, Laura Finish
dressing while call the boys"
Ruth's two brothers consented to &C.
company her, although protesting her
nonsense; but as she declared her in
tention of going alone if they refused,
they were content to make virtue of
necessity; and, spurred by her example
and sharp entreaties, the whole party
took the road, the young men armed
with revolver and couple of stout
sticks. 1t was q brilliant moonlight
night, almost as bright as day; and but
for Ruth's fearful apprehensions of
evil, her companions We're much in
clined to regard the expedition in the
light Of frolic. But Ruth put O
damper on any such feeling and urged
them all, by precept and example, to
hasten, herself taking the lead and
running with a speed that required
some exertion on Laura's part to keep
up with. As they came in sight of the
old brown house Ruth stopped, with a
suppressed cry.
"There," she painted, edo you see
that light, moving from room to room
already it has twice changed it's
place. L knew something was wrong,
or otherwise Madam Hatherton would
be in bed and asleep"
Her listeners were much impressed
by her words and for the first time be-
gan to share her fears. They came to
sudden halt.
1--WE must not be heard approach
ing" said Will; "if any burglar is
there, he will hear our steps on this
hard-frozen ground"
"Slip off your boots, WILL" said
Jim, taking off his own as he spoke (;
the girls will carry them, and we will
go on ahead"
Noiselessly they flew forward in their
stocking feet, and Ruth and Laura,
trembling with the sense of DANCER,
followed. 30, my brothers, if they
should be hurt! moaned Ruth. A pis-
tol shot was heard the next moment,
and Immediately afterwards a flying
figure bounded from the door, and was
pursued by Will and Jim far down the
road The girls fastened into the
house. The candle had been upset, but
by the moons light Ruth soon found
matches and relighted it. She then
led the way to Madam Hatherton's
room, where the poor old lady lay upon
the floor stunned and insensible, but
not dead. She was still dressed as
when they had last seen her, and, by
the appearance of papers stewn about,
and ink upon the stand, had sat UP
later than usual to write. Ruth and
Laura exerted themselves to restore
her; they chafed the poor old hands,
and both discovered at the Same mo-
ment that every one of the COSTLY ,,;,, no