Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1891-05-08


q throwing the rope down after it.
He then returned up stairs, closin
9 but not fastening the cellar after hin
4 He resolved, as early as possible mex
4 morning, to procure his materials TO
fastening up the we'll.
: He passed sleepless night, and a
: 5 O'Clock in the morning was at work
5 and in couple of hours had accom-
plisled the task.
AS he had expected, days passed ant
: no SUSPICION was excited or inquir,
} made regarding Brown Tom.
Melton finally returned with hi
niece, the latter looking lovlier thar
ever. In fact, some new Joy seemed tt
glow in her cheeks and sparkle in hel
, beautiful eyes. Williams courted her Wig
orously, but she treated all his advances
with the most contemptuous indilier
ence.
He complained to her uncle, and the
latter exhorted, entreated, and even
threatened, but all to no purpose.
Il am determined you shall marry
i; Williams" said he.
1T is useless, uncle, answered Mary,
her eyes sparkling. eff must tell YOU
the truth, Tom Barton, the young
sailor, is the only man could ever love
enough to we'd"
j Barton And how has that young
rascal treated you? Gone off to sea
without leaving you a word 1t is plain
he cares nothing for you. 1 should
think pride alone would cure You of
such foolish attachment"
MaJx cuiI ,,nf1,in~r H.,
! dropped and she colored deeply. but a
smile lowering round her pretty lips
showed that what her uncle had said
had not troubled her in the least
Mr.. Melton was much annoyed, but
he consoled himself with the thought
that all women are mysteries difficult
to unravel.
Williams continued to call. Since
the fearful night we have mentioned, he
had grown thin and pale, for the ga he'd
head of the young sailor haunted his
imagination sleeping or waking.
Still he was more determined than
ever to win Mary Melton for his wife.
He had run terrible risk-had stained
his soul with crime-to obtain her, and
the fearful work should not be for
nothing.
One dark winters night. left alone
with her in the parlor, lie pleaded Hard;
pleaded on his knees.
mo, I can never be your wife, she
answered, resolutely, and rose to leave
the room.
"Back!" exclaimed her uncle, ehter-
ing with suspicious suddenness; tsyou
shall have him or by Heaven, I TWILL turn
you into the street'
He caught her by the wrist and drew
her toward Williams.
"There!" he cried, tercely; 'prdm mise
to marry him, or leave my hous{ for
ever. Which shall it be?"
Il prefer to leave your housed she
answered, resolutely.
She rose and swept out of the loom
to her own, through the Windows of
which, however, she looke: anxiohsly,
as if expecting some person.
Suddenly she drew back with joyful
cry.
He comes! he comes!"
There was knock at the street-door.
Mary ran down and opened it. swift as
fawn.
Then she entered the parlor, arm-in-
arm with tne-looking young msn, on
seeing whom Williams drew back with
a cry of superstitious horror.
1t was Tom Barton, the young sailor!
Behold my husband" cried Mar y, in
thrilling accents.
"Ay, married to the dead!" groaned
the superstitious Williams, and fell
senseless on the floor.
When he came to, explanations fol-
lowed. Tom, it seemed, had recovered
his senses soon after being put into we'll,
and by means Of the broken wall had
assembled to the cellar. Thence he had
crawled through one of the holes ID the
foundation, and made his way to the
street. The blow he had received had
made him lightheaded. He wandered
to schooner, which was to sail for
Astoria, the captain Of which Was
friend of his.
The vessel reached Astoria nexthay.
Tom had now recovered his reason and
contrived to get note to Mary. lShe
came day after day. and nursed him in
one OF the town hospitals. He urged
her to marry him at once. She pstied
him and did so-the secret to bekept
from her uncle until Tom should dome
after her. AS shown, he at last r4cov-
cred sufficiently to carry ont this (pur-
pose. 81 u ea
What more need be added?
Williams, in the relief of knowing
that after all he was not murderer.
was almost reconciled to Mary's living
become the wife OF his rival.
AS to Mr.. Melton. on hearing how
Williams had behaved, he babe him
never enter his house again.
Il will now go into the street, as you
babe me, said Mary, taking her hus-
bands arm.
{ No! FOL" exclaimed the old man; 81
Twill try to forgive you'll"
Mary. therefore, remained with her
uncle, while Tom went to sea.
In few years the young sailor came
home, after successful voyage, which
had made him almost rich man.
Three years later he gave up u sea
life, and became a prosperous merchant,
happy in the society Of his charming
wife and children.-Ne,v York Week1y.
Endurance of Chinese Coolies.
The power of endurance Of the
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