Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1890-05-30

@ P~y AlelhR vi liz |
sunbeaLSg DER the waving green mead
ows, and the singing of the birds in the
hawthorn branches overhead. brought
10 me such u sense OF calm and quiet,
that L fell asleep. L was awakened
from my slumber by the sound of voices
on the other side OF the hedge, and,
listening q moment, I recognize one of
them as the voice OF Mr.. Thorne.
How in the name of all that is won-
derful did you happen to come to this
little village, Fred?"
II came to see you. Jack, old boy. |
Are you not flatered?"
We'll. yes, rather; but I never knew
before that you cared so much for me-"
We'll, the fact.is, we've been hearing
strange reports about you, lately, and 1
came here to investigate. OF course
they are not true?"
HIN! Can tell you more definitely
when l hear what they are"
In the first place, they say that
you've been flirting. But you would
not do that"
Certainly not"
Both men laughed, and the one called
Ned, continued:
You see, we heard that you were
more reckless in regard to your firta-
tions this summer than ever before. So
1, as q true friend, ventures to advise
you to return to Miss Lillian Wade.
She has heard it all. and so often, that
she cannot help but believe it, and
consequently, tiirts desperately. I had
an idea that you ought to return and
effect a reconciliation as soon as posi-
BILE. You could not afford to lose her
thousands"
"By Jovo! is it really so bad as that?"
1T really is, or L should not be to-day
in this poky little village giving you
such good advice. But tell me about
your innocent amusement. Is she o
beauty?"
Indeed she is. Oh, it's been de-
lightful. Doyou know, Ned, that were I
not wholly heartless Ishould have fallen
in love with Kathleen M~avoureen, as
1 call her. She loves me, too. Had q
lover before 1 came, and last night,
when he asked her which it should be.
she told him that she liked him, but
that she adored your humble servant"
well, Jack, you have not been lazy
I see. Will she make you any trouble
when you go away?
"Oh, no; I've been too cautious for
that. Tonight Til tell her about it.
She may cry awhile, but she'll 500 get
over it."
The two walked off down the creek
and their voices soon died away in the
distance.
L arose from the bench with clenched
1oyIo opI h,1rpip~ ohooEo oh ~ woo
terrible, that /, Kitty Ross, should be
so wronged.
II must have revenge!' I said, "but
how, and in what way?"
With nv head bowed on my hands, I
thought and thought, but could find no
way out Of my difficulty. Suddenly a
bright idea came to me. [ would ask
John to help me. At first a feeling of
shame forbade my seeking his aid, but
that soon passed away.
John had always been my friend, and
l knew that he would not fail me now.
/ fastened to the house and wrote:
DEAR JOINT am SO sorry about every
thing. 1 want to sec you, Meet me by the
hawthorne hedge at 6 O'clock"
The letter was sent. aud 1 waited i'm
patiently for the appointed hour.
at length 1 stood by John again in
the hawthorn-lined lane, but this time
1 was humility persontied.
"Can you forgive me, John" l asked.
He answered Yes" and then, when
I had told him all, we made u plans.
When, later on, Mr.. Thorne came to
his kathleen Mavourneen, [ told him
that I had been seriously thinking about
what I had decided upon the previous
evening. aud that I feared it was an un-
wise decision.
Never was such complete surprise
depicted on any co%untenance. He de-
handed the cause Of my disloyalty. as
he termed it, and when [ told him that
I had never really loved him, but
had been merely trifing with him, he
left me vowing that l was the most
heartless of creatures.
He went away from the village next
dav, and we soon after heard of his mar
rage to Miss Wade and her thousands.
He never knew that I had overheard
his conversation with his friend, and
firmly believed that it was an instance
} of the bitter bitten.
That evening We stood together again
in the moonlight, dear, patient John
and I. Again he took my hands in his,
and again he asked me, which shall 1t
\ be, Kitty, which shall it be-"
"You, John, you!" I answered, and
the sorrow seemed all rolled away from
4 my heart. Again that night a tear fell
on the plain gold band which was in its
old place on my finger. But this time
l it was a tear of Joy, for now John was
happy, 1 told myself. How careless l
!. was Of my own happiness!
Well, we'll, that happened years ago,
and tonight as 1 am writing, JOIN
/ looks up from his paper and asks
9 "What are you writing, Kitty? , j.,
t "The story Of how I loved you" !
d He smiles and says, "Well write fol
t the benefit of your masculine reaaerl
e hat thew must never tell q woman 'sne