Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1891-07-17

"She couldn't have got any one else
to bring her here, 30 she ought to be.
l bet the beastly water puts an edge on
temper like her! Yes, I expect it's
pretty dull alone with her. Poor
Nelly!"
"Oh, don't mind; and we've got a
new neighbor."
"Old Mrs. what's name-you told me
Of, gomez"
"No. She's got new lodger-a man
good looking, rather. She brought
him in one day to tea, and we meet him
now and then on the road. But he
doesn't go out much"
"Oh, hiding on some account, is hep"
asked Jem rather snappishly of the
pretty dressmaker.
Nonsense, Jem, he isn't hiding. He
is drinking the waters, he says, and he
has very pretty sister,"
Sister? Then they both lodge next
door,"
"No. She comes to see him. She is
lady's maid staying at Stonelay. The
husband of the lady she Is with is drink
ing the waters"
ugh! lady's maid?" said Blayne
spitefully, thinking of his recent trials,
with which his fance was acquainted.
Really, Jem. believe your failing
to fix the stealing business on the poor
lady's maid has made you hate the lot.
And, talking of your jewel affair, find
while you lose"
"How do you mean?"
"Why, yesterday found such lovey
button on the path just outside here. 1t
was sparkling in the sun. and picked
it up and brought it in. / went in to
old Mrs. Brown to ask Mr.. Martin Cher
lodger) if he knew anything about it;
but he was away for two days, she told
me, coming back tonight. A'lntie
says I'll have to make it known, per-
haps advertise it if 70 ore claims it, for
this morning showed it to Mr.. Frazer,
the jeweler at Stonelay, and he said it
was very good button, and uncommon,
as the stones are beryls.
"Whatw
Dear me! beryls. Are they as ex
traordinary as all tha.?"
THAT depends. Show us the but
ton, Nellie?"
Here it is" she said, taking it from
the mantle shelf.
Twelve gold filigree buttons jeweled
with beryls," Blayne murmured to him
self. Il should like to see your neigh
Dor, Nellie, and his sister. the lady's
maid"
why, Jem. you don't think-oh, I
remember now, that description you
sent me of the lost jewels! But this
can't be. She is such q dear little
thipg, and so pretty"
"Yes; what sort?"
ooh. middle height. dark hair,
pretty eyes, nice figure"
"That'll do, Nellie. 1t would fit al
most any one. say, who's that COM
ingu the path to the house now?"
"Why, that's Mr.. Martin" said Nell
lie, as Blayne instinctively got behind
the muslin window curtain, from which
post of vantage he could easily see
without being seen. "He's cookbook
! ing, isn't he, Jem? Looks like gen
tleman, rather?"
"Ye-es, just that last. I think I've
got his measure"
And oh. there is his sister just be-
hind him-see? Now. that's not your
lady's maid, is it?"
"That!' exclaimed Blayne, with eyes
nearly starting through the lace Of the
curtains. els that your lady's maid
and that man's-sister?"
"Yes,' answered Nellie, as her
neighbor and his sister, nodding and
smiling to her, entered the next house.
Does she stay the night there?" in-
quired Blayne.
"Oh, no, nothing more than an
hour. Her lady couldn't spare her.
But what is the matter with you, jem,
laughing in jerks like that?"
"Oh, nothing. [ say, Nellie, is there
visitors list in the paper here?"
sYes; but Jem-now that wasn't your
lady's maid, was it?
"No, dear; now-the paper"
Blayne wandered steadily on through
the list of fashionable visitors" till he
came to "Victoria hotel. Sir Robert
| ane Lady Merton" Then he folded up
the paper, saying: well, Nellie, I'll
90 into Stonelay with you tomorrow
morning to have look at the fashions.
Here is Aunt Sarah coming to see at
ter u.s." as that respectable lady en-
tered the room.
And there goes Mr.. Martins visi-
| tor" SAID Nellie as "oMan A"o'A1y
closed the door of the next house and
hurried away.
"She must be late"
"Rather," said Blayne.
The next day the detective and his
intended walked into Stonelay and
after a few minutes private converse
ton with the manager of the Victoria
he astonished Nellie by insisting on
buying her different trash in all the
shops that commanded view OF the
hotel. At length, on his offering her a
pink glass mug decorated with the {,
an Afiectionste R Sn ,,.atest.
All right, dear, we'll take it to Aunt
Sarah, +" he said, with his eyes liked on
a gentleman who was mounting morse
that groom had been leading up ana
down in the front of the hotel.
As soon as the oject of his attention
had ridden out of sight Blayne SAID 10
Als ..;,d walking on home,