Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1889-01-11
a,yhr Mr. wa]Rar Won look 50 ser,ou

"Why, Mr.. Walker, you look SO serious
and sad What is the matter?"
will YOU answer my questions, and
waste no .ime?'
YES, sir.
Would you preferred to have gone home
this evening"
Most certainly.
aWere you informed yon could not; and
if so, by whom:"
Mr. Bolen told me we could not get a
train until morning.
Are YOU aware of the fact that Mrs.
Bolen is here, i'll this house?"
Il am quite sure she is not.
will YOU step down to the foot of the
stairs with me; and it there are no gen
tlemen in the Office, so in there With me!
Please don't hesitate: Annie; am your
friend"
why, what can this mean. Yes, ] know
YOU are my friend; | will do as You wish.
The office was at the foot OF the stars;
tho clerk and porter were the only ones III.
Mr. Walker stopped in the doorway. say
ing. Il wish to show the lady the register
aud method of registering.
Why, certainly: step in. Mrs, Bolen.
i have MOI assigned you room but Will
do so, and have a servant show sou to it
whenever YOU &lSll laS -iiSo +Nit'tS<A''
looked at the register. she realized why
the clerk addressed hcT as he did.
They returned to the Darlor, when Mr..
Walker told her a irain would leave fo1
| their city in about halt an hour, and as
Mrs Bolen was not there. he would be
pleased to escort her home, if she would
allow him to do So
Would it not be the better way for you
To leave Il note for Mr. Bolen?"
He rang the BELL ordering pen, ink, and
paper, when Miss Anders penned the fol
| lowing, handing it to him for his perusal:
| Mr.. A. L. Bolcn:
SIR am informed that the regular train
| for our city has notye gone %, so will i'm
prove the opportunity and go home. trust
that A. Y. Bolen and wife. who 1 see are
registered (D here, will reach their home
without any delay. ANNIE ANDERs.
Oh. how bitterly she realized that she
had been foolish, headstrong girl
What noble, true, good friend she had
in Mr.. Walker! How gentlemanly, con-
sidorate and kind he had been! They
were both too much occupied with their
thoughts during the ride home to give
much expression to them.
Upon arriving in their own city, Mr.
Walker saw it was too late for him to get
any supper at his boarding house and in
sisted upon Annies going to restaurant
with him. He was very gay and tried to
make her forget the experience of the day.
After supper they walked slowly toward
her home. Upon his rallying her from
her silence, she said: MIR. Walker, 1
cannot find words to express my thankful
ness for the many and continued acts of
kindness YOU have shown 10 me in the
past year." He interrupted her: "Ex-
cuse me, if you really want to please me,
you will lay aside some of your forlnality
in'addressing me; call me Frank; and if
you think 1 have shown YOU kindness,
please not refer to it again.
They had arrived at her home and he
thinking she would prefer to be alone,
bade her good night, when she seized his
hand, saying, Frank, 1 thank you, and
ran up the steps and into the house.
When Mr.. Bolen returned to the hotel
the clerk handed him note, and said:
Your wife has gone out with Mr..
Walker"
Mr.. Walker and Annie Anders were
married and moved to village in Col
orado, where he engaged in the mercantile
business, and was very prosperous and
happy. He purchased great deal of
property, which, in time became very val
uable
Mrs. Walker had been East on visit.
While on her return she became &C.
quainted with young lady for whom she
had formed q strong attachment. Upon
learning she was gong to Colorado, and
wished to teach, she urged her to go home
with her, promising to use her influence
in assisting her, and had no doubt that
she could get all the scholars she
wanted. Mrs. Walker was compelled to
remain in Denver one day, al least, and it
would take two days travel for her to
reach her home after leaving there.
If the young lady could, and
would wait for her, then accompany her
home, she would be pleased to have her
do SO. They had no family and would
offer her homo for the present at least.
stop in Denver with you. When you have
time would like to tell you something
of my history. After hearing that, if you
are willing to have me accompany you, 1
will be delighted to go with YOU"
Mrs Walkers curiosity was very much
aroused to hear the young ladys history.
Mrs. Walker, before tell you anything
in regard to myself. l wish to exact a
promise from yon; it is that You will as
sist me in concealing my identity if 1 can
satisfy YOU that have good and sufficient
reason for leaving my home, and travelling
under an assumed name. l will tell you
why / left home and assure you there is
no one can truthfully say aught against
my character"
My dear girl, I, too, know something
of the trials that surround lady away
from home. have needed and found a
friend, and will do anything in my power
to assist you, when satisfied your course
is a proper and honorable one. Now 1 am
all attention"
My father is wealthy and we'll known
merchant in one of our prominent West
ern cities; we had as far as money could
make it, beautiful home. supplied with
all the conveniences and luxuries; but
there was skeleton that dove away all
the pleasure from it. That was the knowl-
edge that father was a roue and profit
gate. whose course of life was killing my
mother. / had been away from home
most of the time for several years, attend-
ing school, and visiting with my relatives
in the Eastern Stutes
When l came home was shocked and
surprised at my mothers thin, sad, and
care-worn look. I tried to cheer her, but
only partially succeeded: l insisted upon
her going out more in society," After be-
ing home few months realized that she
was slowly but surely dying of broken
heart. determined to demonstrate with
my father, and did SO, when 1 was told
Al,oL ~.