Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1889-01-04
4 LAST YEARS BIRDS
NEST.
The story OF One Womaa '>N'oHv,
RY RyE JOHNSON.

IL vas strange so dainty an affair
should bring such a look OF utter con-
sfsarnatii,s 10 Blair Nnnbal's handsome
face.
He gszel at 1t in dead silence, with
ayes full Of acquitted 'i;srair. for many
minutes. then viii. sound taixt sob
and a groal laid his ?ace upon his arm.
The object before him was q beautiful
rosewood hcx lined With white satin.
in the center, half covered with il1ny
Lace. was % last wears birds aest, the
cause OF all his SORROW.
II locked strangely out OF place i'll It's
dainty setting. but Biair Dunbar we'll
understood; the message and lesson it
vas meant to convey. II his heart was
broke and his whole lie ruined he had
40 one To biunie for it but himself.
That thought added torture to his
already almost unl,eara,le torture
Blair Dunbar was an author. re-
porter special correspondent. aud what
not There was no phase of literary
work but he had hand in mose Or
less All the winter and spring he had
worked hard, and the summer before
We make his acquaintance lie had gladly
availed himself Of an invitation to ;.c-
company a large party OF literary
friends os camping expedition into
Eha r.orl5h pine woods.
There was score OF more of them.
all carefully chosen, and L do not think
yol4 could have found such another
merry party in a dozen States.
There were authors, reporters, poets,
scribblels Of both sexes. and publishes.
or two; al reioiced to lay work aside
and eager to get all the enjoyment pos
sil,le e7et of the eight weeks Of their va
cation.
Among all this shining talent were
Two chi: wio did not. belong to the
Victoria Mead. gAece of tie aged
authoress who matronized the party,
and a lovely young widow. named Lang
don, The first was beautiful girl of
20 and a great heircss. She was in
feeble health. and it was hoped the pure
air and balsanlic odors would benefit
her. Blair had shown her many cout-
icons attentions, pittying her weakness;
bu: they had been coldly received. and
hey words were so few in response to his
attempts at conversation that he ut last
gave: her over as hopelessly dull, and
turned his attention to Mrs. Langlon.
She was a notorious Airt, and the
game commenced between them was
watched with interest by all the nle;n-
},srs Of tho party.
Blai, felt it was belittleing himself to
thus play at love-making, but the
widow was young, beautiful. and ve1
Interesting companion. AS it has been
since Adams day. the woman did tempt
me-"
Several weeks went by, and still
the game went On. Very real it
Was in seeming, SO much so that the
onlookers were deceived. But Blair had
no Thought save to pass away the time
so one dag he was inexpressibly shocked
by 81 betrayal upon her part, ofreal feel
ing Then, like the child who burns
sts fingers at the fire, he sought to avoid
thc consequences of his folly 10y grad
7'aliy withdrawing from the game and
turning his attention to other things.
He devoted himself to Victoria Mead
one day, and then there was scene; for
Mrs, Langdon became Jealous.
The camp was situated on rolling
point which extended out into bcauti-
s11l lake for enough to bring the water,
III three sides Of them. Huge pine
trees furnished delightful shade, and
sweet rr,lsic l',lled them to sleep as the
vitid sighed among their branches.
There were about dozen tents, aud
thei1 various colors made up bewitch-
ing scene to an enthusiastic camper
Mrs Langdon and Blair we're wander
ans sbo''t camp the evening Of the day
q WHICH hnve spoken, enjoying the
cool breeze and glorious August moon
light. She was undeniably cross, and
he was unusually silent. Her Jealous
iaacy coniured up reason for this, for
Victoria had had a fainting fit short
F1tyne before, and the widow cho Sc to think
la:& iyre-occupicd Si!s,:a nose f:uu gax-
.fT nn la: fnn,1;:,t.
= aksivd l!iis, a!:a i4.1 tie lad taste