The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1879-08-07

hear you own up to something. I'll be blcst
If shouldn't think, were you single man,
you were in love with her yourself"
My answer quite satisfied him: "If l
were single, and she the only woman in
the World, [ wouldn't marry her."
''Whew well, that's what call a triflc
decided" he said, and went off out of tem-
per.
Several weeks passed. Susie had noti-
fled my wife OF her engagement. She could
not but be aware of the cOnstraint in our
manner. Nellie and had frequent talks
together over the matter, in which we COM
mentcd upon the strange good that had
seemingly overtaken Miss Susie. The dis
appearance Of my $4,000, and her sudden
accession of costly dresses and jcwelry, did
look, to say the least, suspicious
One day, on my return home, my wife
informed NE that Susie was intending to
leave lis.
''She came to me this morning." con-
tinued Nellie, "and told me that Aunt Che
ney had written saying that she had a great
deal to do, she thought it better to have the
wedding outfit made there. ! said to her,
we thought you would be married from
here, Susie She looked strange for q mo-
mcnt, for she must have seen how little
heart there was in my words Then she
said Aunt Cheney expected the ceremony
to take place there had, in fact, been max
ing great preparations. Besides, she quite
wanted to see aanty's withered old face
and there she choked. She is going to-
morrow night, and is packing now :"
would have given the world to be able
to say was sorry, but the truth is, her pre-
sence had become hateful to me; wanted
her to be gone.
We were very polite to the last. l saw
Susie OIL in company with my wife Harry
went with her, the happicst man l ever
saw
1t was relief to behold her vacant chair
her place at the table, to miss her gliding
movements, and feel that we could talk and
DO as we pleased, with no spy or eavesdrop-
per in the way. Nellie missed her for a
time, and often talked and wondered about
her. She answered her first letter, and de-
clined to attend her wedding, but the second
letter remained unanswered.
Not great while after that, Harry took
a house in the city for his bride, and saw
him occasionally. Towards his wife I en-
tcrtained feeling of strong aversion. It
was she who had broken up the dear old in
timacy, for Harry aud I had been famous
friends, and now he never called at the Of
| fice
we often heard of Mrs. Lonsdale's rcccp-
tions, her dinners, her perfect taste, her fas-
cinating manners, but we never called
1t was late in the following season before
we prepared to take our annual fitting into
the country. | had sent most of the house
hold goods, which always accompanied us,
and gathered enough together for the final
load. Nellie came up to inspect them.
"Where in the world did you find that
old cap-box2" she asked, laughing, "and
why have you installed it on the top of all
the other packages2"
"Don't you know tho box, Nellie 2" re-
piled; lit was grandmother Carrigan's, the
very one in which she used to put her old
black cap. Why, can see her face in it
this moment, and-what upon earth |" 1
exclaimed, cutting short my speech.
My wife had pulled off the deep cover of
the box with some excrtion, and there, snug
ly packed together, staring us in the face.
were the missing bank notes.
Nellie and l stood dumb with dismay.
looking first ut the box and then at each
other.
ooh, John poor dear, innocent Snsie |"
was her first exclamation.
"What witchery is this |" responded;
"how under the sun did that money ever
get lhere2"
John, dear, how unjust we have becn!"
| Don't make me think any more n,eanly
of myself" said I. sI could sell John Car
rigan, money and all, for sixpence"
John, what could she have thought of us2
Suppose you 60 and ask her, dear 2"
81 will; III go right there, John; I
wouldn't have this weight on my conscience
an hour longer for more than twice that
miserable money"
Let us give the conclusion in Nellic's
words: -
| ~ went to the housc-you've no idea
what beautiful little palace of a place it
is, John, and asked the maid for Mrs. Ions
dale. The girl showed me into such per-
| feet drawing room l--blue furniture, dear;
I'll have blue the next year-and sat there
trembling like the culprit 1 felt myself.
! When l heard footsteps my strength quite
| deserted me, but clinchcd my hands and
sat up straight. Presently Susie came in"
"My dear cousin !" she exclaimed in her
soft musical voicc-''then you found the
money!"
Imagine my CONSERVATION Not word
could say, l was 80 shocked to think she
knew.
! Don't look so distressed, she said gent
~: don't feel troubled about it. 1t was
quite neutrality-suspicious.. Mistakes will hap
pen In the best-regulated families, she ad-
dcd, smiling"
"And you really knew about it2"
yes, L overheard you once, without
meaning to, but was too proud to notice it
in the least; l only began planning how l
should get away and try to keep the know
ledge from Harry"
"What you never told him2"
Never; why should n I only led
him to think you were not agreeable to me
forgive me, but how could I help It,
smarting under such an indignity. But YOU
have not said whether you found the money.
"Y we have, and cousin Susie, you are
an angel" said.
every far from it., said Susie, smiling.
4 have often tried to excuse you to myself,
for circumstances were certainly against mo,
particularly when spent 80 lavishly. I
could not explain the reason then can
now. My half brother forged papa's name