The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1879-09-11


the Spring evening.
81 shall travel, he said. 81 intend to
find my wife wherever she has hidden
from me. | sinned to win her, and If
cannot have her love I shall have her
lifc."
| could not bear to look upon his aron
lZcd countcnancc expressive Of misery akin
to madness, and as turned my eyes away,
a line OF cabs came rattling down the slope.
from the window Of one nearest, Il beautiful
young face shown for a moment like star
through the twilight. | saw the jannty
hat with its sweeping white feather, the
dazzling blue eyes, and then the cab rolled
on.
ga travelling operate troupe, "explaincd
my companion, observing, but not rightly
understanding my evident sudden interest.
''lt is billed for Il concert at the Academy
tonight.
"And | have lost my train and must
wait for the next answered rather ir-
ritahly. "Good night, Chichester. shall
take the weird old road around the ccme-
try to the station, 1t will be glorious
walk in this unexpected moonlight"
The full uncloudcd moon was rising rs
lotered on, now around a curve where
the stream widcncd like a sheet of silver,
and now under a dim arch Of budding trees
that shook their scented dcws upon me as |
passed.
AS reached the bridge, tall, slender
woman, wrapped in black cloak hurried
ont of the avenue AS she saw me, she
uttered a sharp, startled CRY, and shrank as
If in fright. At the same moment her hood
fell back, and IN the splendor of the moon
light SAW the white face of the stranger,
who had passed me an hour before She
was trembling ncrvously, and seemed so
helpless and bewildcrcd, that stopped in
stantly.
81 am sorry l startled you," apologizca
kindly; and then noting her doubtful, crit
ical glnnce, l supplemented: cor perhaps
you have lost your way2"
''Not at ALL" she disuvowcd quickly; al
am going to the station. When saw you
thought
hcnsivcly and shuddcrcd.
'Can help you in any way2" asked,
puzzled.
81 think not" She smiled as if my
voice had calmed her, 81 only wish to catch
the train, that may meet the New York
express at the next station"
care you not afraid of the long walk
along the rivcr?" inquired wontlerlngly..
eyes" she answered, frankly, 81 am.
But nevertheless ] must 90. was to sing
in the concert tonight" she went on hur-
ricdly; "but there are reasons, imperative
reasons, why must go to New York at
once. The manager was angry-quitc
furious, mdced-so, to avoid Il scene,
quietly ran away"
She said this with such charming naiuctc
that laughed, and that laugh made us
friends then and there. She seemed inno-
Gently pleased when informed her that I,
too, was on my way to New York, and
should be glad to care for her comfort on
the journey. But not until we were whirl-
ing away through the moonlight on the
altogether from her most bcautcous face.
But that wild rush through the delicious
air seemed to inspire her, and often she
would laugh like a happy child I parted
from her ut last at the house of an elderly
lady with whom she resided when not
travelling.
"You have been very good to me-" she
said, rs was leaving her.
"IIave | commended myself to your
friendship 2" qucricd.
Her answer was satisfactory, and for
weeks saw her every day. knew she
loved me, and knew, too, that I had loved
her from the first. But always when
spoke of marriage she seemed troubled and
undecided.
"We are just rs happy now as we can be,
Phillip she would say sweetly.
"No, we are not, Edith" I would pro-
test; | want you for my wife, and mean
to have YOU"
But at length she yielded, and we were
quietly married. was very proud of my
wife--proud of the admiration that followed
her everywherc-of tho honor and rcver-
ence she won from all who knew her. She
was heing made for love and for q husband
to adore No ignoblc human passion or
emotion ever disturbed her sweet soul
anger and hate and all petty feelings were
things her nature could not know.
After three months of content and happ- |
ness, took Edith to my home, in the town
where first met her. 1t was early in May.
The scent Of wild violcts was IN the air, the
trees were budding and the grassy hills
were golden with dandelions. My grim old
house, set among its pines and weeping
willows pleased her.
III shall have that picture taken down"
said to her one day. 81 cannot bear 10
have even the portrait of poor Chichester's
wicked wife in the same house with you,
Edith"
chichester she repeated, her blue
eyes fixed on my face with a look l could