Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1889-11-01

the gate clicked, there was q sound OF
quick, firm footsteps up the red brick
walk, and Roger Fame, pale and ex-
cited, stood beside her.
Mother, is Violet here?' he inquired
huskily.
"Whv, Roger, what is the matter"
queried the diplomatic old woman, as
she vigorously stirred her jam.
Then she is not here!' groaned the
young man, sinking despondingly into
a chair. Il have driven her from me
forever, and all through a piece of 1n-
pardonable negligence.
Explain yourself, Roger" said Mrs.
Gaylord gently. why has Violet left
her home?"
Roger turned his white face toward
her with q look of hopeless agony
stamped upon his hopeless features.
Il went home" he began, slowly, sin
time to take Violet to the afternoon
matinee; but finding the house appar-
entity deserted, I wandered through the
rooms in quest OF her. What impulse
led me to the attic chamber [ know
not, but when opened the door cold
chill struck upon my heart, for the lit
tie hair trunk stood open, with that ter
rible wooden casket lying on the top of
the other contents. / knew it had been
placed at the very bottom, and it
dawned upon me instantly that Violet
had been amusing herself in my alb
sence by exploring the attic, and COM
ing upon the string of pearls, with it's
accompanying note, had gathered q
wrong impression from its contents and
left my roof forever"
Il do not comprehend you, Roger"
said Mrs. GAYLORD, still stirring her
jam. "What pearls and note do YOU
mean?"
"Of course you do not know" an
swered the young man hastily. 81 had
not even told Violet as yet, though L
had long been intending to do so. 1t is
an old story, mother. My Uncle Roger,
for whom L was named, was engaged to
lovely girl, Octayia Narien, or the
Star OF Silver Greek. as she was called
by her admirers
This was twenty years ago, when
Roger Fayne was a young man OF %.
He was the chosen lover of beautiful
Octavia, but he had one rival, a dark
princely looking German count-Sig-
mund by name, who had sworn to win
the Star from her betrothed, if to do
so he periled his own soul.
One night there was to be a grand
ball-a masquerade--but owing to a
business engagement my uncle could
not escort his lovely fance, though
he intended to drop in later on in the
evening.
So Octavia accepted Count sigmund
as her escort, with the understanding
that Roger was to take her home when
the ball was over. She was to repre-
sent snow queen, and her lover said
to her. as he kissed her lips in farewell
the day before the masquerade:
j will send you some Jewels to COZ
respond with your costume, darling;
but don't quite break Count Sigmund's
heart with your beauty, my beautiful
star.
Octayia laughed at thin, although her
heart sunk strangely at his words, and
so they parted.
"The jewels came next day-a mag
niiicent rope Of pearls. And when ar
rayed in her ball dress, Octavia WARREN
was such vision of loneliness as is
rarely seen by mortal eyes.
$50, at least, thought Count Sig
mund, and he haunted her through the
evening like a shadow. His costume
was that of Mephistopheles, and Octa-
via shuddered and grew winter than
ever when she met his passionate gaze.
My uncle came at midnight, but he
looked IN vain among the gay dancers
fora sight of his snow queen. She was
not visible; but several people had
seen her gong toward the conservatory
with Count Sigmund, and thither he
bent his steps.
"The soft odor of jasmine and night
blooming cereus filled the all, the muir
mur Of ripping fountains filled his ears,
as he wandered among the exotic and
tropical plants in the quest Of his love.
"On the velvet margin of little
fountain he found her, but no smile of
welcome greeted him. In her tillny
lace robes, with the rope of pearls
crossed over her breast and lznotted
about her slender waist she lay-dead!
In her heart a jeweled dagger, of
foreign workmanship, gave clew to the
assassin, but Count Sigmund was never
found. He had fed to his native land.
My uncle never rallied from the
shock. In one short month we laid him
beside his murdered Octavia. The
pearls passed into nv noscassion o.