Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1889-12-27
glittering buckle upon her little

SllpIet.
The child seemed uneasy. 1t walled,
and she rose and walked the floor with
it, soothing it in low, cooling tone OF
endearment, now and then singing a
lullaby. At last it was asleep, withits
bit of face hidden in her neck, and
she sat down again before the fire. /
stood and watched her; indeed, [ had
forgotten all else.
She had soft brown eyes; don't know
any other word to use; they were ton
der and quiet. She looked quite happy
in silent way. AS she swayed back
and forth, the lamplight and then the
freight touched her forehead, and
cheek, and sweet mouth, and white
neck, with their different tinting-the
freight making her rosy and radiant,
the lamplight showing the lovely face in
paler guise. I thought, "What if this
were my home? What if that was the
darling wife had longed for all these
years, and that my child? What if I
might move now, and she would turn
her head and listen for my ,tep?"
The thought made me tremble. ]
retreated to the road, and walked back
and forth there, trying to think to some
purpose. OF course could not enter
the house, though it would probably
not be difficult to do SO. I might get
the books with little difficulty, for that
young girl was probably oil the person
under the roof; but somehow did not
want them; the current of my mind had
changed. walked half mile down
the starlight road and came back. Once
more went to the window.
The child was awake and crying. She
was walking the floor with it again.
forgot to be cautious, she was so rncon-
scious, and quite leaned on the stone
sill as stood. Turning. in her walk,
she happened to glance toward the win
dow, saw my face as the light fell upon
it, and, uttering scream of terror, fell
to the floor.
rushed to the door; it gave way to
my hand, and went in and raisel her.
She was quite senseless, but she still
clasped the child, who screamed fright
fully. 1 laid it in it's cradle, and tried
to revive her. She scarcely seemed to
breathe before she broke into hysterical
sobbing.
Don't cry, don't cry!' said awk-
wardly. II did not mean to Tighten
you. Look up! I am David Marie.
You must have heard of me. I meant
no harm in the world. I was only
looking at you, because you looked so
pretty"
She did not seem to see the ludicrous-
ness of this explanation. She caught
her breath, and looked at me with
dilated eyes and the utmost anxiety for
some time.
"You are Uncle Johns brother?"
"Yes." And then I knew who she
was, Aurelia May, a favorite neice OF
my brothers wife, whom had never
seen.
Il was very foolish to be so fright
ened, she said, at last; "but you looked
like ghost
"Shall you tell them?" asked I.
"Uncle John and Aunt Susan? No;
and don't you, she said, with blush.
She had taken the poor baby from
the cradle, and, as it soon hushed its
cries, we concluded that it was not
hurt. Before the family returned, Au-
relia had regained her natural color and
composure, and I had reason to be
thankful that it was so.
John started when he saw me, and
looked bewildered when I arose and Of
fered him my hand; but he took it, and
babe me sit down again, cordially. Per-
haps some good word which he had
heard in the house of God had softened
him; certainly the pure face of that girl
had changed my heart. We sat to-
gether, a pleasant party, that evening,
and the next day John and I entered
AAVO ~ GALL u1SCuSS1Ou Oh our business.
He was finally willing and even anxious
to give me two-thirds of the money, but
1 would not accept it.
"No, no, john" said I, @we will di-
vide evenly, and, if you want to do any
thing more for me, just try to make
Aurelia think that I'm not monster"
"Aurelia?" repeated John. "Why,
she don't know that there has been a
word of trouble, and doesn't dream of
such thing. If You want her go in and
win; the coast is clear, and may God
bless you!"
was not much used to women, but
she liked me, and finally I got her. It
frightened me to think how wretched I
should have been, if I hadn't. I have
only to add that she is just as good as I
thought she was when I first saw her
through the window; and, if God pros
pers us, 1 may, before another year, see
her rocking baby that is mine, the
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