Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1889-04-05
Mrs. PRICKETT'S TRIAL.
On HELEN a. srEIN,IAuER.

On HELEN a. S-TEINtIAUfCH.
Mrs. Dr.. Prickett was in trouble,
there was no doubt about that, though
we did not know it until we called upon
her-Jedidiah and I.
She met US at the door with red,
swollen eyes, and generally Woe
begone expression Of countenauce, but
seemed glad to see us Especially me),
and asked us in as cordially as could
have been expected under the circum-
stances.
OF course we Especially JedidiahD
wanted to know what was the matter,
but could not quite make up our minds
to ask, for she wasn't woman who in
vited familiarity, even from her best
friends.
Husband talked of losses and failures,
but they didn't seem to meet the case.
In fact, they made no impression on
her, she only said eyes," quite pen
sively, to be sure, but with far-away
look in her half-shut eyes which was
very touching.
I then thought it might be servants;
so I talked of mine, and how they acted
Or rather how other peoples hired
help acted, for do believe I have one
of the best girls that ever worked out,
and she has been with me for dozen
years last Christmas, SO I can't COM
plain. But, said, on behalf of other
folks, that it was becoming serious
problem to know how to get ones work
done in well-ordered household where
everything must be done just so.
And again she assented, adding, how
ever, that she thought her help must be
rather better than the average, as they
gave her very little trouble; but-and
then the tears came, and for q second
she buried her face in her handkerchief.
So we both waited and tried to look
sympathetic; but nothing came of it,
for she recovered herself presently, and,
taking up from the table copy of "Ben
Hur," asked Jedidiah what he thought
of it. And then they talked books and
authors for good half hour or more.
But [ did not join in the conversation,
nor in any way encourage it, for I knew
that something allied her, and I felt that
I should not have done my duty were I
to come away without sympathizing
with her.
OF course, being man, Jedidiah was
more easily thrown off the track
than I, but 1 could see that he
was not heart and soul interested in
their talk after all, as he was quite ready
to take the hint and change the subject
when [ said:
SWELL, truth is stronger than fiction,
and life all around us is full of mysteries
and tragedies, and more to the same
effect.
He talked we'll on that line; but we
did not gain her confidence; SO we set
to bordering harder than ever what
could be the matter OF course we
had asked after the health of the family
when we first came. There being no
Grape on the door We knew there could
not be death in the house, still we
thought there might be some one lying
Ill whom she feared would die But
no, she said they were all we'll.
We had nearly begun to think we
should have to give it up, for we already
had prolonged our stay unconscion-
ably for a morning call, when
Jedidiah had bright thought, and
spoke of the unusual heat of the sum-
mer and how many persons were being
sun-struck, especially in New York
City (she has an only brother there).
eyes," she replied, "there have been
many sudden deaths and casualties of
late, but, thank God, our family thus
far has escaped"
That put an idea into both of our
heads, Jedidiah's and mine; we knew
now to certainty what she had been
crying about. The Pricketts were not
church people-not even over and
above respectful of religion and towards
pious persons, he being an infdel and
she, though an excellent woman at
heart, very worldly. Therefore, to hear
her speak so gratefully mado us feel
quite sure that abe must be "under
conviction" You see there had been
q series Of revival services held for