The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1879-11-15


he said, with a jealous pang that he laughed
at himself the next moment for feeling.
Whoever it was, she jumped into the car
riage, and the captain after her. The
guard whistlcd off the train, and Ernest
turned away thinking that he had beer
rather fool for his pans.
Then he saw another young widow gaz.
ing eagerly about her and running here amo
there, evidently looking for some one she
couldn't find. At last, apparently over
come with emotion or fatigue, she flung
herself upon bench and hastily threw uI
her veil, revealing the pretty, ugitatcd face
of Constance Brown.
Ernest sprang toward her.
Constance" he whispered, ''you here,
and III this disguise. what does it mean r.
Constance burst into tears, and sobbcd
out that she didn't know
81 know" he said severely; "you have
an agreement with that Infamous Potter. y
"lnfamous, indeed" said Constance
"and. he has gone off with somebody
else.." ~
At this moment man in livery ap-
preached and touched his hat to Ernest.
1t was his own coachman, an old and faith
tul servant who had been coachman to Er-
nests father.
"Bcg your pardon, Mr.. Ernest, for COM
ing up here without leave, but have you
seen the mistress, sir2"
"No. What do you mcan2'
swell, sir, She drove to the station after
you left, sir, and she seemed SO wild like
and unaccountablc that made bold to fol-
low her, for fear she might como to harm :;
and followed her here, sir, where she
changed her dress for widows weeds, and
got into the Brighton train, sir, with Cap
tain Potter"
Ernest turned pale and tainted
lie recovered himself with great effort.
81 lnow," he cried. 'I sent her to
brighton, ana have just seen her off. How
dare you follow your mistress, sir?"
The man turned away in blank dismay.
"Ernest," said Constance, eve have both
been deceived"
"Stuff!" said Ernest; cit was a trick we
played you, that's all. We found out the
plot, and contemplated to save you."
But still there was terrible doubt at his
heart What could it all mean?
"Comc into the waiting room, Con-
stance" he cried, "and let us talk. All,
what misery!" he muttcrcd to himself.
Ihey turned into waiting room, and
ernest threw himself upon scat, leaned
his arm upon the table, and groaned.
D. ''What do you intend to do, Ernest2"
said Constance, clutching him by the arm
'lt is all very we'll to tell your servant such
stories. 1 admire you for it, Ernest; but
| know better. 1t is deliberately planned
We are both deceived"
'It Is impossible" said Ernest
"How blind you are," said Constance
81 always mistrusted Theresa; she was my
early friend, you remember, and 1 believe
that Potter used to come TO our house on
purpose to sec her, using me as blind
Oh, Ernest, what shall we do2"
81 shall call a special train and follow
them, }" said Ernest.
'Then I will go with you," cried Con-
stance.
Ernest rose and staggered to the platform
once more.
'Ernest 10 said decisive feminine voice
at his elbow.
He turned and behcld his wife and Cap
tain Potter.
"Hullol" cried Potter, ''Ernest, my boy,
how are you2 Cad, I've got into pretty
rAcss with all this ambuscadng; wrong
party after all, jolly row, pull the string,
stop the traln-Clapham Junction, guard
in al awful rage. Give us in into custody,
ch2 Fla, ha Here we are again, back
first train. l say, old fellow, I'll just
change widows with you."
''Come into the waiting -room," cried
Black, ''and tell me what 1t all means
Potter, consider you an unprincipled fell
low to invclgle this young lady into such q
trap. You know you only want to waste
her fortune as you've wasted your own"
Gently, old fellow" said Potter, call a
mistake. My uncle died last week and left
me 50, 600 year."
''Then why do You make off in this clan
destine wayf"
cts all right, Black, assure you. I've
got special license in my pocket, parson
waiting at Brighton. We're both of age,
you know" .. ,...
''Then why all this disguise9"
ooh, that was my doing" sobbcd Con-
stance. 81 was so dreadfully afraid of
papa"
':And how did you get tho widows
things, Constance2"
'F-from-your-Aunt Blake 1t was
not very wicked, was it2"
81 Think" said Theresa, who had recov-
cred her cquanimity and her usual aspect
OF proud serenity, 81 think, Constance, you
had better come back to Shrublands with
me, ana be married in respectable, order
ly way"
And they settled that so it should be-
They all went back to Shrublands, and
Constance was married that next week. not
in the widows weeds, but in full bridal
costume, with several bridesmaids
Ernest" said Theresa, affectionately,
when it was all over, 'I'll never be Jealous
again, but for all that, I'm glad that artful
mink is safely disposed of. She shall never
enter my doors again, never"
Potter always speaks of his friend Black
with affectionate' commiseration, and says
that the worst five minutes he ever spent in
his life were passed in the Brighton express
IN company with Nine. Theresa.