The Fairfield herald. [volume] (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1849-1876, 1866-07-18
[ From The Southern Field and Preside.
st Il Faithful.
--:O.----
ny CLARA Y. DAR1AS.

That night Judith Dare sent Tor NE.
AS went up the dim stairway to the
title chamber where we used 10 sleal
away-oh, SO many happy years ago |!
io build castles. and snake ont" bliss.
iu! futures icy, a strange h,rrboding
Thrill III my h"arl. Mrs. Dare scltly open
cd the door and then crrpt away.
judith was sitting by tie table
There was a rnckaec o! old letters on it,
srvcra! "pcn--a iit,lc .,ck OF brown hair
nestled beside q bunch Of faded viriris !;
lu, saw hr&, bv The nckcrire lamp.
l;&ll my darlng's face, pale aud sad as
II was always now, vet once how spark.
ling and beautiful with youth, hope and
love She was resting her brow upon
hur hand, but as came in size raised
Gone her, Annie I lave been
looking At J'hn's piclnre ii is fading =
don, You tiink >r?"
50 quietly h, sal ii as / Incelel
down a. her side Dn Oh, kncS every
change Of that dear voice too wclI to be
deceived.
"Oh, Julilh!"
Ga%rd for moment upon ,he fare
portrayed IN the miniature "a hcn 50
strong, 50 unbl IN lis clear outlines
That seemed 'hc very type Of perfect
manhood. One lo~h At the proud yet
tender mouth, tho 3acp carnc;, eyes,
nad h'l my face on Judi,ll's shoulder
There was silence only through The
op n window camr The sad cry or lie
whip poor wiNI, aud inint brcp2:. BADEN
with the breath of jasmine, hlicd the
cu.iam. heard our hearts beating rs
! bent down closer in Tie agony Of
voiccl"ss grief Presently Jndih nov.
cd-~a passionate kiss she pressed with
her cold lips urrn rs iofvhcnd AMI
calmly raised my face to hers.
"hook at me Annie, vou arc no,
weaker diam | am. aud ! have sent for
you to tell me what is best. am
afraid have not been doing exactly
righ, to be reading these lc,tcrs"-pas!-
ing her hand wcnrIly across her brow,
"hnt only wanted to-'Q on, An
nir, you know y
Yes, knew. Were not her ,honrl,,s
as my thoughts? Had there no.; been
one mind AMI one heart between MS for
almost score o! years | knew size
had unbound those letters To drink orc
more draught lrom that sweet spring Of
love which had so long been her daily
sus!cnancc-thal sho had pressed lha,
soft curl once more TO her lips, of which
every s:,kcn strand was az dear as n
drop Of life blood-,l,at she had opened
that miniature to gaze for the last time
upon face she hadno longer any right
10 call hers. knew all this, aud Ju.
di'h saw it when | raised my eyes to
hers.
"God bless yon, Annie" slo mur.
INJURED: 'you have never deceived nc.
IIrt me tell You ali about it"
mo, no., ] whispered, mot tonight,
Judilh"-but she hnshcd me with a
strange, quiet smile and went on 81
might have known it; it has been com,
ing for months Annie. His letters wcr-
not so long as they used to be, and vet
they were so kind and full of tenderness.
In onc-it was the last: here it is = he
called me "l'rtite M,ynon.' She smile
cd again, but it was sndler than tears.
This was in January; never had an !.
other. Day after day used to sit here
and watch for little Tom as ho came
across the fields from the Office. When
he had letter he would wave at mo
as he reached the s,lle; but all these
three long months he came home slowly,
cracking his whip. anl whis.lng "rGc
Blue Bells Of Scotland" Yon know
That was Johns Mvorlc, Annie-and
last night ! drcnmt I heard him hum.
ming it. Yes, he wonll como slowly,
rs if he felt what new disappointment
ne was bringing; and just as lie reached
the gate he would say, "Sistcr, there
is no letter today but / hao,o thereiwill
be one tomorrow" and poor liltlo To NJ
would creep away to his rabbit pen
and cry. Annie-Annc am born to
make every body miserable ?" Shcput
her arms ronnd my neck, and leaned
her icy check to mine. dared not
speak.
III was 'liis evening. I sat here by
my window. rs usual. wailing for him,
yet knowing no letter wonld come -
As he crossed the s'ilo he waved Ills
hand, and my heart beat thick It twas
only n ncwspapcr--thc same one tha.
mother sent you; it contained his mar.
roge-John's marriage, Annie !"
| thought she would pause hero
but she only gazcd few minutes at the
miniature lying open beside her, and
went on with unaltered calmness: II
wonder if this Eleanor Randolph loved
? him as ] did. | wonder if she is good
and noblo---if she is beoutiful-John
admired beauty so much, and l had
llnpc, YOU know. 'Hn said once. wns