Hot Springs weekly star. (Hot Springs, S.D.) 1892-1917, 1892-09-02
DRIVEN TO RUIN.

ssIs it to he an engagement"
Eta Boyd looked up from the elab-
crate motto she was working with
bright-colored floss. The pink tinge
of her cheek had d%eepened.
What do you mean?:" she asked
hastily, almost haughtily.
81 mean Edwin Holbrook," said the
lady, significantly: at which an older
lady languidly raised her eyes from
the book she vas reading.
"Sistcr Jenny" was the indignant
ejaculation of the latter.
"Aunt Jenny. you are too bad" the
little beauty said. blushing rose-red
now.
She was a little beauty, this Eta
Boyd, a royal little creature in out
ward appearing. l do not know by
what particular style her loneliness
might be designated. She was win
some to look at; not s%uatuesQue, not
marble white. not ethereal, but simply
so arch-looking, and dimpled, and
changeful, and merry, that few could
Withstand her wiles.
She had always lived in an atmos-
phcrc of luXury-the pretty girl; she
had been INDUCED from her infancy
by over.fond parents, who imagined
their one pearl peerless. Her two
brothers, men grown, idolized her,
and as She grew older, loaded her
with gifts. So accustomed to adj
miratiom did she become. that she
began to feel at last that life was not
endurablc without it, and she began
at last to try her power on those out
side her immediate circle. One of
these was the young. gentleman of
whom her aunt spoke, and the mention
of whose name caused a general out
cry.
'I'm sure, sister, I'm astonished at
you," said Etta's mamma, a very weak
and foolish woman, who consumed
confectionery by the pound, and read
novels by the thousand.
81 don't know whyyou should be"
was the quiet reply.
ssEtta!-a mere child, just out of
school"
"Etta is seventeen" said her
sister. s'She is no longer a school,
girl, though very young I'll acknowl-
edge,-too young to begin Irritation. F"
"Aunt Jenny, you know nothing
about it," exclaimed Eta, flushed to
the temples.
81 know he comes here very often"
tile is an old friend of the family. -
said Mrs. Bovd.
81 know he is %, and in some
things a brilliant and promising char
acter," continued Aunt Jenny. 81
know he is alone in the world, and
has no sisters"
"And that's the reason he likes to
come here" said Eta.
"Blt my dear, you certainly ac-
company him toplaces of amusement,
and receive presents from him."
Just nothing at all" she said.
II don't know" continued matter
of-fact Aunt Jenny. Bouquets cost
money. l can't buv such ones as
that. for instance, under three or
four dollars" she added, pointing to
a beautiful vase, over which hung
fragrant lilies, hot-house tea-roses,
fuchsias, heliotrope, and other dainty
blossoms. And then, a diamond ring
isn't bought for nothing, even If the
diamond be no bigger than the head
of a pin. Then there are pictures,
%trifcs."
"Aunt Jenny" cried Eta. now pale
with passion. 81 don't think any one
has a right to say what Ishall and shall
not receive from / have known
all my life. l think it's-it's-"
"lmpertlnent, my dear; that's the
word you were thinking of; and per-
haps it would be in any one who had
your good less at heart. But, my
dear, I'm afraid you are doing harm,
indeed / am. / don't think poor Ed
looks upon himself as merely u
friend"
"Hc has no right to think other
wise" said Eta with trembling lips.
edwin Holbrook has neither father
nor mother, sister nor brother" con-
cinued Aunt Jenny. 81 loved his
mother she "a my dearest friend
when we were girls together: and her
life was Swallowed by the intemper.
ance Of her husband, who, but for his
one fault, would have been a model
of all the virtues. He was handsome,
brave. disinterestcd, and worshipped
his wife and child, but he would not
give up that terrible habit. On her
dying bed, the dear woman told me
that she had educated Edwin care
fully in reference to his tastes and
tndulgencies in that respect. but he
is so singularly sensitive she added,
so dependent upon his friendships,
30 devoted where oacc he gives his
heart, SO keenly alive to any fancied
slight or disgrace, that 1 tremble for
his future. i can NY pray for him,