Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1890-11-28

But lady at his side seems to claim
oil his attention, and is dressed, too,
like bride. 1t certainly wasn't Grace
Atherling, his proud sister, whom she
met once at their uncle's, year ago.
No; she didn't resemble her ono hit.
That prOvokingiy beautiful veil, too,
looked like the browning point of a
bridal trousseau.
Mrs. Hunter looked again, This time
she saw look on the handsome young
lawyers face as he gazed down on the
woman's beside him that made her feel
awfully uncomfortable, somehow.
Well, Mrs. Isabelle Hunter sat the
services out without feeling the least bit
thankful. for reasons best known to her.
self. Bernicc, however, seemed wonder
fully attentive to tho sermon.
sThis is my wife, Mrs. Hunter. bowed
Howard Altering at the close OF wor-
ship. as he led the yelled lady up for an
introduction.
elena, DEAR this is my old friend. Mrs.
Hunter, of whom | have often spoken.
and this. !" turning to Bcrnice, who stood
by with q mischicvous twinkle in her
eye. dis another friend of mine. Miss
Hunter.
~ am sure VIC shall be tho best OF
friends" exclaimed Bernicc. dclightedly,
as she acknowledged the introduction by
cordial clasp of the hand and a dainty
little kiss on the fair cheek of Mrs. How
ard Altering.
Mamma Hunter said but little on the.
way home; but her daughter ceased not,
to dwell on the exquisite taste OF the
brides attire, fairly bubbling over that.
her dear friend Howard Altering had
such q ladylike wife. a
There are more martyrs in this world
than those burned at the stake; and
Mrs. Hunter felt in her Utmost soul that
She suffered all the keenncss of chagrin
and wounded pride in that short service
hour. 800
But it could not be helped. Howard
Altering had right to marry whose
ever he pleased, for all her; and, now
that he had exercised that right, Ber-
nice would most likely have her bent In
preferring that poverty stricken Thurs
by. 1t would come to more than that,
too, her motherly intuition told her. Oh,
it was dreadful.
She had always heard of the "black
sheep" but she didn't think such
dreadful thing would crop out in the
Hunter family.
Now, something told her that Bernice,
with her wit and beauty, her accom-
plishments and queenly bearing, would
metamorphose herself shortly into that
undesirable creature, and likely as not
elope with that bookkeeper-maybe be-,
fore Christmas; she had noticed that they
were wonderfully intimate lately. Oh,
dear!
But the Atherlings had accepted her
invitation, and must be entertained.
Her cnviablc title as the finest hostess in
all Merriweather must not suffer; &c.
laying aside her terrible heartache, Mrs.
Hunter put through the day in the red
hot crucible of substituting smiles for
tears. 5,f af 5aqa
She felt more like weeping bitterly, Of
course, than smiling down on the inno-
cent, girlish figure usurping the place.
she had so long coveted for Bernice; but
there was no opportunity, and she must
live it down. ss.s :,
Finally the day dragged through, and
what q Thanksgiving it had been, to be
sure. None but Mamma Hunter ever.
knew how every moment of that awful
day heightened out on purpose to stab
her wounded, calculative pride through
end through.
Is, Strange that Bernicc did not by word
or look taunt her with the failure of her
plans; she was doubtless too well salts
fed with the prospect of being left with
Thursby only to entertain. Never mind,
that book-keeper should never enter the
house at Merriweather Place again; she
would have her revenge.
The Atherlings were gone now, the.
china and silver had been restored to
their respective closets. and Bernice had
gone sedately upstairs to write a letter,
and neighbor, Mrs. Amsden, dropped
in.
@of course you've heard the news
she exclaimed, almost before Mrs. Hum
ter wheeled an easy chair into place for
her comfort.
"That Howard Altering is married?
Yes; he and his wife were here to-day
replied Mrs. Hunter, coldly.
"No! oh, no; that's nothing out of the
common" exclaimed Mrs. Amsden, inn
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