The Fairfield herald. [volume] (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1849-1876, 1871-01-25
TIE SPELL OF A SONG.
by RUTH RANSOM.

the light railing, aud idly watching
the = lay Of the moonbcams uudcr the
the silycry waves beyond the beach.
"What arc the waves saying :"
quoted Miss Chester, with light
sigh. "Landis, don't you ever wish
you knew what they were saying? 70
81 do, very ofteu," replied Me-.
Gregor "for they say various things
to mo, according to the mood am in.
Tonight they arc saying that our
sweet summer is ended, aud we must
part Tomorrow"
"But after ;ho summer comes tic
golden harvest" said Margaret,
gently.
"Yos." But Lands sighed az he
spoke, and presently added. "This
has been such II bright, sweet sum-
mer | have u forebvdiug that we
shall not sec its like agaiu for many
year, if ever"
ooh, tic You are either super
stitions, or u victim Of the blucs,' said
Miss Chester. (Which is it 7"
"Thc blues | believe" laughed
McGrogor. "But you can charm
them away with Tho spirit of music.
Will you sing =
eyes," readily answered Margaret.
Lands drew her hand through his
arm, and returned to tho parlor.
And if he raised the slender fingers
to his lips and kissed them, as they
crossed the shadowy piazza, it was no
ones affair but his own, and he had a
right for Margaret Chester was his
betrothed bride,
"What shall it be 7" asked Marga-
ret, running her light fingers over the
ivory keys Of the brilliant toned
Chickering piano.
y "Somcthing lively to begin WITH"
said Landis.
Miss Chester ripplcd over lively
prelude and began to sing "Its better
to laugh than be sighing," while
Lands, leaning over the piano, watch.
cd every expression of the sweet, pure
face, which he loved better than most
mon are capable of loving-for there
were depths in the nature of this
cool, easy Laudis McGregor, not al
ways apparent on tho surface, or
Margaret sang three or four songs,
and then would have rison but Ian
dis, with gentle motion, stayed her.
"Not yet, dear, please Sing
'Contalina' once, won't you u
Margaret, ruck the soft prelude,
and then her voice driftcd into tho
low melody, and fingered drcamily
Ovpr tho fon1or rofrn;p
Dream on Dream on
Nor breathe single sigh
To watt the gentlo zcphyrs
Which fan tho starlit sky"
"I wish We might dream on,' said
lands, as she rose. "This happy sum
mor has been like a beautiful dream
to me, Margaret, and wish we might
never waken. I don't want to hear
any one sing that song, dearest, until
( hoar you again"
They strollcd out on the verandah
again and we will not interrupt tho
last moments which those who were
so dear to each other might spend to.
gcther.
For on the morrow, With sad but
brave hearts, they parted-Margaret
to return to hor Philadelphia home,
and Lands to seek distant CITY in
tho South, where he meant to contcs t
for the golden prize of Fortune, and
win the wealth which should Eli Mar.
garot's life with luxury.
"Blessed be the man that invented
Sleep" said the immortal Sancho
Panza. Lovers should say, stBlessed
be the man that invented letters :"
for what would be the drcary days
of absence aud separation to them
without tho consolation of saying,
through the magic Of tho pen, what
they have said SO often by word of
mouth of repeating, over and over
the old story, which is ever now the
story of faithful love.
Margaret and Lands kept these
little winged messengers flying busily y
ut first. But alas and alas love,
which is the essence of woman's life, ia
often but an episode in the existence
of men-a brief page to be read, and
then thrown carolossly aside for
new one.
Lands McGrcgor lovod Margaret
sincerely but the crowding cares of
business, for which he had an unusual
capacity, filled his mind, until he
grow cold land careless Her letter
were as warm and devoted as ever,
but he saw, with pain, that his answers
grew shorter and less fervont. She
felt it kcenly, but uttered no word of
complaint-and only tried the more
to mako him feel that one
heart always kept Loves fire warm
and glowing for him.
But one night Lands McGrogor's
heart was touched with talisman
which mscaled anew the fountains of
love in his hoart. He was passing,
with q rapil ster. throupb ono of Tho