The Fairfield herald. [volume] (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1849-1876, 1870-01-26

aa Well, Ellyot,' he said, after one or
two topic of conversation had been
exhausted, sand how goes on your
wifc's new governcss 2
'As good as gold and as true as
steelP answered the gentleman ad-
dressed. She's worth score of city
bellies, with all the stars of Newport
and Saratoga thrown in, Austin; and
if you don't marry her, I'll cali you
out--pistols at ten PAGES, and no COM
promise = 5s. .atu
'You needn't, give yourself that
unnecessary trouble,' answered Aus
tin, q am going to marry her. &
And why tho deuce haven't you
done it sooner p demanded Ellyot,
peremptorily..
q wanted to try her--to prove the
solid worth and resources of her char
acter.'
sAnd are you satisfied now7'
Il am satisfied. She has been
weighed in the balance and not found
wanting. i mean to ask hor to marry
mo tomorrow .a.,a.a. sa.E
Il am glad of it from the bottom of
my heart. l know you, Charley Aus
tin, but the world docs not. Do you
know what Mrs. Gruudy has been
saying about you!'
sNo-what2 tcu.
"That you deserted Little Lily be.
cause her aunt's fortune was dissipat-
edI ia those South American mining
schemes.' a2 ai 81 Na
Austin colored little.
Let the world talk he said i'm
petuously, what care I for it's idle
buzz7 Up to this time l have been
unable to support wife as one like
Little Lily ought to be supported.
To-day received the appointment to
travel in India for the firm Of Mel
lington & Wellington. If she will 60
with me
Etlyot leaned forward to shake
hands with his friend.
'You have my best wishes, Charley
he said earnestly, Eand if you win her,
you will win jewel of the very
brightest water!
AS Charles Austin vailed home
fward Through the darkness of the
stormy February night, musipg on
the newer and brighter life in store
for him, the Fate which lies in wait
for us all when we least suspect it,
was biding its time, stern and inexo-
llrable. just es HE fancy was pictur-
ing a !fire-lit hearth, with Lite Lily's
dovelike eyes shining beside it, his
foot slipped on an ice-glazsd curb
stone and ho fell with his whole might
on one unluoky ankle bone. There
was one instant of sharp intolerable
pain--zone thrill as if nerve was tele-
graphing to- nerve through his whole
body--and then. he tainted on the
pavement. A'%@ 14-tS'A '."H
4 When he returned once more to
something like consciousness, he was
lying on tho sofa in his own, bachelor
parlor at tho St. Breadalbone Hotel,
his ankle bandaged, his brows wrap.
ped in iced cloths and sickly smell
of drugs permeating the whole room.
whats the matter.2'' he cried out.
Have ], been sick =
And the recollection returned to
Ihim.gS ps& Ei&NgalSA .rlH13iy 90
SIS there much damage done 3, he,
faltered. age sgp,.} w
'No,' they told him he had great
reason to be thankful that life was
spared to him. a''fHH ''-,#''ts"
cam Tn cripple p with q downward
glance to where his throbbing ankle
was supported among pillows, and the
surgeon ansWerad
'It' will be neutrality-suspicious. years
before you will entirely recover the
use igof your hurt limb. Nor can T
PROMISE 1t ever, Ms an absolute a eer-
tainty 7 s4aay LILA II ~ .tsygd
A low ,groap broke from between
CHARLES Austin's, parched lips. Tho
glittering castles in the air that his
fancy had so lately built up-Alike o
dream they melted away. And first
in oil the bright vanishing phantas-
magoria's shope the pure, peaceful
face Of Little Lilly! Z j
Twas all over tlow---he must teach
himself to forgotlsa The bitter lesson
Ito forgot! Isl
And then came the ,feyer.-and long
days, when life, hung as it. were, on q
mere cobweb Of chance, and Doath
watched gauht and grisly, close az his
side---and when Charles Austin walked
Gus efstEcsiistlsss5 foser.dfesn, ,hewas
as weak as any babe ! ,fa st
tIs it you, Ellyot2' he gasped fees
bly, when he hid Failed strength sdffi-
oient to speak! 81 q thought it was
woman'ss face + ~ pi basjis.ssgSsa ,a,,5
y! on M mustn't talk, old fellow i said
Herbert, approaching with some me-.
dicinal draught. sWoman's faoe7 of
course it WAS a!womsn's face. Retty
Briggs haa just been to wash uprthe
hearth aud sbiloloths.'sttsl , taEl u
Austin frowned feeblya8aiBetty.
.Briggsa indeed saAsatif those deep,
dreamy eyes, thatSelvettouch belong
z n - n =. q ~ - I. . fs.I A