The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1879-09-13

"Wherc is Lizzie 2" Alice asked.
"Sewing Mt Mrs. Gorham's, dcaric She
| will be coming home soon. alters make
| that part of the bargain that she's to be
let home aforc dark, and it gots dark now
by six-fall days are shorter than summer
ones. So she'll be home soon. It's clear
ing up"
1t was clearing up, and it was also grow
ing dark, 80 promising to send home the
borrowed dress in the morning, Alice started
for home.
She smiled at herself as she stood before
the cottage mirror, for she had not worn a
gay color since her fathers death five years
before.
Lizzie's blue dress, scarlet shawl and gay
Sunday hat were sadly out of place upon
the slender figure and setting off the pale,
refined face of Alice Hill.
Dear me, y said the old woman. hope
you'll soon chirk up bit, Miss Alice, and
take off your black. The old gentleman
has been dead year, now Them roses
do suit you beautiful"
Alice glanced Mt the staring red flowers
reflected in the mirror and smiled, as she
said:
81 will take great care of Lizzics hat,
| Mrs. Mason. Good-by, and thank you.
1t was nearly dusk, and there was a
quarter Of mile to walk before home was
reached, SO Alice hurried through the grove
where the trees had already shut out tho
lingering daylight.
She had tied small veil of gay tissue
over the gaudy hat, as she left the cottage,
and she hoped, If she met any acquaint-
ances, she would escape recognition.
When she was half through the grove
she heard quick footsteps coming from tho
village, and moment later a voice said
"You are punctual," and she was caught
for moment in Godfrey Hills arms.
She knew his voice, and struggled to free
herself, before realizing that he had mis-
taken her for the village beauty.
"Pooh!" he said, releasing her. "Don't
put ON airs, Liz Were you going to the
house ?"
Ycs," she answered, family, indignant
and yet curious, her woman's wits quickly
soeing his error.
&c must go, too, before long, though l
had lar rather stay here in the woods with
you, sweetheart"
" Your sweetheart is at the house," Alice
said, trying to assume the jealous tone of
an uneducatcd girl.
black 2 Not bit of it. Didn't l love
mine2"
And curse followed, coupled with her
own name. that thrilled Alice Hill with
horror.
"But they say you will marry her, sho
persisted, calming her voice as well as she
could.
"They say right will marry her, and
have my own Then, when she is dead,
you shall have your old beau again, Lizzie,
and come TO the great house, MY wife. 1t
Is only waiting year or two"
d" But she may not die!" gaspcd the hor-
ror-strickcn girl.
"She will die! I'll have no fine ady
taking what is mine--mine, tell you.
But what ails you2 You arc shaking as if
you had an ague fit. I've talked it oil over
often enough before, and you never went
off into such shakes! 1t is nothing new
Pm telling you."
"But-you would -. not-murder
hcr9" the poor girl gasped, drawing her
veil closer
"Come now, none of that" was the
rough answer; "you're not going back on
me now, after ali you've heard of my
plans. You've sworn to keep my secrets,
or I'd never have told you them. But
what is the matter2"
1Atu llClc NllCc lOttlu ucISCll SIldkcu
with no gentle hand, to her great indigna-
ton. But her fears overmaslered her
anger Godfrey was heir-at law to her
newly acquired fortune and if he suspected
her identity, in those dark woods, SHE did
not doubt, after what he had already said,
that he would take her life.
81 am not WE'LL" she said, freeing her
self from the rough grasp on her arm,
land l must hurry on. Wait for me here
until | do my errand at the house and come
back"
"Be quick, then," was the gruff reply.
And If she was IN haste, the scoundrel
might we'll be satisfied at the rapidity with
which his companion left him.
She scai cely knew how she reached her
home, tore off her borrowed fincry and
wrote to Godfrey Hill, declining the honor
he had proposed to her, but giving no
other reason for her refusal than the state
ment that she did not love him sufficiently.
Mamma" she said, coming into tho
drawing room, "I have written to Godfrey,
refusing his offer, and sent the letter to him
by James. have remembered who and
what he is."
MIR. Godfrey Hills amazement was un-
bounded when returning to his home, in the
village hotel, to dress for his promised call
upon Alice Hill, he found her note awaiting
him.
But he did not renounce his hope of
shaking her resolution until the next day,
when ho met the true Lizzie Mason In tho
shaded grove, and in the course of their
lover-like conversation, that damsel told
him who had worn her gay hat and red
shawl on the previous evening.
can she sent fivo dollar bill with the
! dress, because 1t got wet" said the girl.
can that call real handsome of her.
Why, what ais youa you're white as
chalkl"
"Nothing-nothing. You were not. In
the grove at all, then, yesterday7"
emo; couldn't get or till long after
dark and SO | stayed all night. knowed
you'd be mad waiting for me, but I couldn't
help 1t this time. Why"
| For her lover had started for the village
without oven the ceremony OF goodbye.
He lost no time, on his way, until he
| q ~