Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1890-12-05
HIS SACRIFICE.
BY CLARA M. HOWARD.

lilo SACRltICE.
BY CLARA NJ. HOWARD.
Arriving at the little town of B.,
late one Saturday afternoon, found to
my vexation that the train for A
had just pulled out, and that there was
no other train until Monday morning,
As my orders were imperative to report
to the firm at the latter place this very
Saturday night, there was nothing for
it but to hire conveyance and drive to
A., distance of fifteen miles.
As I drew near the livery barn for
the purpose of hiring team I noticed
an unusual stir and hustle about the
place, indicating that something un-
usually exciting had taken place.
Nearing the crowd gathered about the
door, saw in their midst a coal-black
horse, covered with foam, plungine
wildly about in his mad efforts to free
himself from the men who held him.
The broken shafts of carriage still
dangled at his heels, and his harness
was torn in several places.
"A runaway, eh!" remarked to one
of the men. For answer he pointed to
the group within. which I had at that
moment perceived. It was strange
sight that met my gaze-a sight never
to be forgotten.
On a pile of straw upon the floor lay
young man of perhaps thirty years,
whose once handsome face was purple
and swollen as from lorg-continued dis
sipation. His clothing was torn and
soiled, his curly chestnut hair was
matted and unkempt, and from wound
in the white temple the blood was slow
" oozing. His gray eyes were wide
open, but in them there was no light of
reason. His wild rawlings were pitiful
to hear, and brought tears to the eyes
of the rough men gathered about him.
But to me the strangest part of the
scene was the picture presented by the
figure of young girl kneeling at his
siAe and striving to staunch the flow of
hlood trickling slowly from that ugly
Wjund. The afternoon sun streamed
in upon her golden hair and lit up her
pale face, turning the tear-drops, which
fell like rain upon the face of the suf-
ferer, into diamonds. Sobs shook her
from head to foot as she listened to the
wild rawlings of the wounded man. An
elderly gentleman. evidently her father,
begged, threatened and commanded her
to leave the place, but she was deaf to
all entreaties. Her rich clothing now
dabbled in the blood Of the dying man,
and an anmistakable air of good breed
ing about both father and daughter de-
noted that they belonged to the, upper
stratem of society, while the story re-
vealed by the young man in his delirum
will explain his position. A moan es.
capped the young girls lips and then, as
she listened.
@Whoa, Selim! Back, you brute !!
o my God! Can 1 not stop him? See,
he is dragging her to destruction! Stop
him! Stop him! There, he has killed
her! See the blood upon her sunny
hair! O God! to see her drawn through
the dirt by that savage beast! And l
am powerless to save! o this cursed
drink: but for that / might have saved
her! Why, o why did they harness
that black devil to a carriage? Did I
not warn them? But what did the
poor prentice lad know about o gentle
mans horses, still less lady's! And
now she is dead, my beautiful darling
whom I loved SO! Dead! Dead! Dead!
lam her murderer-yes, her murderer
for the drink made me powerless to
save her. All, there she stands now, at
the door of the shop, asking timidly if l
can replace Selim's missing shoe. How
beautiful she is, in her blue habit and
plumed hat! How sweetly she is smll-
ing at me, now that the shoe is set,
and she is ready to mount will as.
sist her?' Ye Gods, what bliss to hold
for one instant that dainty boot and
feel the weight of her tiny hand upon
nv shoulder. There, she is safely
mounted on the back OF that tiger whose
ewes flashed angry defiance at me. Inc
SIGHT of his arching neck, dilated nos
trils and paving boot, aroused in me ne
the desire to conquer him, but should
have failed but for her. She held him
ouiet Netting him and calling him her
dear Selim' till I nearly went mad
with envy. See the blood pouring
from her temple. The brute has
killed her, and I am to blame
But I am dying too! Will she know
me up there. and smile upon me as she
nsed TO. do when she came to the old
Hmltny W S1s' Ao .'iI: ,,o11v
eyes set my pulses throbDlng Maa asn
till I thought Of the difference pes" ~,
lis, and that drove me TO drink! ";
the demon that maddened me, an an,
made me her murderer! DON'T ~
see he is trampling her DOWN. WY
do Won not save her? See how the car,
risee rocksl There, it is overturned
Why, o why, could l not stop n'm
-.
There she comes now, riding ina,
mettlesome steed as though she were :
part of him. All, my lady has q i over
Curse him! See how her eyes o1 Ss!s
before his ardent glances. see 10y =,
the rich blood mounts to ner o .a.. =
the touch Of his hand. I could tnloI ="
him! What right has he TO come o W.
tween me and my love? Yes tnes "'