The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1879-11-11
'TRI-WEEKLY EDITION.

he gaspcd.
"At this botcl," replied.
And are you sure you read the names
correctly, Mrs. and Miss?" laying cmpha-
sis on the last
''Ccrtainly," replied, ut n loss how my
friend could become so excited at SO simple
n thing
"Fhcn, Frank, aOiU livcl" Once more
his eye flashed as it had many Il time in
years gone by in one of our old foot ball
matches at Harvard. lie jumped out of
bed and, for a minute. set about dressing
himself-thc reaction came as suddenly
and he fell fainting in my arms. Having
restored him to consciousness l laid him
gently OH his couch and soothcd and calmcd
him as best could. For an hour he was
gloomy, unable or unwilling to speak,
mumblng to himself apparently uncon-
scious of my presence.
Dusk was creeping on when calling me
to his bedside he drew from around his
neck a gold lockct, which he ncrvousy
clutchcd, and opening il | saw woman's
lace OF remarkable beauty, large dark eyes
and black hair, finely chisclcd aristocratic
over me, 1t was the face Of the younger Of
eAN A'ASSieifiollU SllcU uICW nlC
close to him and said, 'I am going to tell
you, my friend, the history of that lockct.
have never spoken thereof for years, but
1t will make me feel easier. 1t is an old,
Old wound" and then the tears flowed fast
down lis emaciatcd cheeks.
"Whcn left Harvard, Frank, l went to
baltimore, and soon found myself launched
i'll business Society l was always fond of
and met at ball one night the young lady
whose picture is in this lockct. met ner
frequently and before was aware of the
fact was in lovc--1 proposed and was &C
ceptcd. Soon after l was forced to 90 to
Paris Oh business. While there you heard
OF my'succcss. [ was the hero of an hour,
drawing rooms were thrown open; was
glndly welcomed everywhere, business and
society took up both day and night; every
body, even myself, thought my fortune was
madc-but it fell as quickly as it vas built,
this beautiful castle of minc Sympathy
was freely expressed, l was recovering
from the shock prepared to 60 to work
again, when letter from Baltimore in
formed me that stories dcfamatory to my
character were being circulated. They had
reached her ears" pointing TO his lockct,
''who. in all my adversely had stood by me.
1t was not an hour before l determined to
return to her. My friends and relations
laughed and said, you will be tilted for
your trouble They begged me to stay in
Europe, one personal friend offered me a
partnership p-but I felt must 20.
II mot my enemies, they rctractcd, and
once more was restored to her. Our love
grew daily, hourly. loved her moro than
| did my life, and there for the first time
bccnme aware of tho strength Of my pas
sion. The panic Of '57 had struck the
country, business openings wcrc few and
hard to find; 50, seeing that on account of
my misfortune, my suit was displcasing to
tho family, and thinking the field for busi-
ness more bright in San Francisco, as also
that her family would become rcconcilcd
by my absence, l left Baltimore and went
to California l had been gone but three
weeks when one fine day she wrote me,
breaking our engagement, but, noble girl
that she was, promising to be true to me. +"
AT this point Of his narrative Calcb's voice
was chokcd and it was some time before he
could continue.
'sForgivo me, Frank, for my unmanli-
ness, but the wound is rs fresh to-day as
twenty long years ago. Wcll," rcsuming
'AAo S'"J - Viz oioCh dCdtlCIlC(l IllC IC IllC
world, all I cared for now was money, |
became hermit. worked day and nigb,o
l had twenty arms, twonty heads, and i.f
five years amasscd fortune, In this time
l saw nobody, wrote to nobody, save lot
ter now and then to her.
Gone day met friend from Baltimore.
l inquired after her and was told she had
married. That blow killed me, Frankl
retired from business and sailed for Japan,
trying to bury my grief, my dsappoint-
mcnt, but 1t has killed me. For fifteen
years have wandered the earth, visiting
every place of interest, avoiding friends,
avoiding to inquire after her This year
decided 10 visit tho scenes of my boyhood,
for was educated five years in old Switzer-
land, but gave out when reached here.
This lockct, Frank, has never quilted me,
and tho ring" pointing to plain gold
band, ''was wished on by hcr-God bless
her and now at tho last moment l sec her
again from my window"
Such sobs, such deep, heavy sighs I
never have heard rs escaped Calcbs lips on
finishing his history. Night had already
set In and my friend tossed fovcrishly on
his pillow.
"Frank," he at last murmurcd, task her
II she will come to mo2"
I left the apartment, met tho ladies and
stated my mission, taking care not to say
how far gono Caleb was. Such surprise,
such beaming happiness and love as came
from tho faces and eyes OF both ladies.
led thcm to his room. The meeting was
narrowing.
Caleb, during my absence, had got out of
bed and was sitting in his dressing gown
in tho chair. Two cries rent tho air,
q joyful ono from him, one Of such acute
pain and anguish from Miss McClermont as
she saw his position. My heart aches still
to recall that scene. "Kiss me, darling, as
of old" said Caleb. Miss McClermont
pressed kiss of love to his lips--but it
was too latc the faithful heart had ceased
to beat
Her grief was acute when related his
story. "They would have made mo marry
rich Now Yorker" she said, "but could
liot--oi, could not, and, at tho last mo-
ment, broke tho engagement and was true
to him.