The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1879-11-29
A Woman's Story.

hal just entered my seventh year when
my father, M. Vcic, gave nc a new mother
In the person Of the handsome and impcri-
GUS widow of one Colonel Lalor, and a
brother in Mrs. Lalor's only child, boy Of
twelve:
Albert Lalor, with his handsome face,
strong will and pleasant ways, soon be-
came my master, ruling my lmpctuous
spirit with Il success that no one else could.
Madame Viclc looked on with proud,
sclf-satisticd smile, and more than once |
heard her murmur in her sweet, impcrious
tones:
'Thcy must marry, Philippe. Your vi
must be my Albcrt's wife.
And my father would laugh and nod his
head approvlngly, evidently well pleased
with the idea.
But these happy days slipped by all too
rapidly.
My father died Albert was finishing
his collegiate course. l, in accordance
with my fathers will, was scnt to Paris to
he finished under the care Of his old and
valued friend, Madame Dupontc. -Four
years la,cr | reformed to my stcp-mothcr.
1t was near the close of bleak winter
day that reached Gray Fell. But bleak
as II was, my handsome, stately step
mother met me on the steps of tho great
pillarcd portico.
'Ah I she exclaimed, half under her
breath, as she held me off a moment and
kccnly scrutinized me with her great, lus-
trous black eyes. Then a warm smile
parted her lips, and kissing nc tenderly,
she added:
You arc beautiful, my child--far more
beautiful than | imagined. Albert will be
charmed. All, blush, dearcst2 You
have not forgotten my old hope, then But
come, come, dear; the air is bitterly keen. ,
And gathering up the shining length of
her black satin she swept qucen-like before
me, pausing only long enough in the hall
to allow kindly word or two to the assem-
blcd servants.
Then, with rare condcsccnsion, she led
me up stairs to my chamber
AS we entered the dressing room she
glanced at the timepicce and turned to my
maid:
Take madcmoiscle's wraps, Manton,'
she said quickly and imperiouslv, 'and then
lay out some of her handsomcst dresses >
adding smilingly, rs her eyes returned 10
me- Il shall superintcnd your toilet this
evening, my dear. Dinner will be served
in less than an hour, and want you to ap-
pear at your best when you descend to the
drawing room. Albert shall be dazzlcd at
first sight
When We entered the brilliantly lighted
drawing-rocm 1t was tcnanted by two per-
sons-a handsome, kingly-looking man,
whom recognized at once as my step
brother, and tall, slender girl with
heavenly blue eyes, pcarly skin and a shim-
mering crown of pale, golden hair
A faint damask tinted the girls check as
we entered, and noticed that the gentle
man rose with suspicious haste from tho
chair very close to her own. | fancicd,
too, that he had even more hastily dropped
ono of the dainty white hands toying with
bunch of blue ucforgct-mc-notst that matched
tiny cluster half hidden in the flossy gold
of her lovely hair.
had heard of this fair girl, and that her
home would hcnccforth be at Gray Fell.
But for the first time it occurred to me that
sho might be destined to step between me
and the man had slowly learned to think
of only too tcnderly.
With sharp, jealous pang | extended
my hand to Abort Lalor, who had fastened
to me, his fine eyes glowing with admira-
tioa and pleasure.
His greeting was cordial, and evidently
plc0SCCt Ills llOIlcT.
:. But why don't you kiss her, my son, as
in the old days2' she smiled gayly.
And with an answering smile, Albert
bent his grand head and pressed his bearded
lips lightly to minc.f
sAh what charming blush j laughed
my stcpmother, touching my glowing check
caressingly with her soft, white fingers.
l smiled, but my heart throbbcd pain
fully under the rupy velvet bodice that be-
came me SO we'll Beneath the pressure Of
those bearded lips my hayward woman's
heart had leapcd from tenderness to tuIl,
fierce, passionate love.
lifted my eyes, lustrous with the new
born feeling, to tho handsome, smiling face
OF my brother, and again my heart swelled
with Jealous pain at sight of It's unruftled
calm.
But the next moment Madame Vtelo
claimed my attention.
wi, dearest, my great-nlcce, Peri liol-
brook She smiled.
turned my eyes from Alberts face to
meet the eager half-aifrighted gaze OF the
aolden-haircd girl could not but admire.
I bowed, and somewhat coldly accepted
the proffered hand, and answered the few
musical words of gentle welcome. Then !
inyoluntarily flashed swift glance ut
Albert,
Ah, how the blood lcaped through my
yeinsl And how hatod the charming
Neseaturs atanding before me- re regaiiy