The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1879-12-13
A Brave Girl.
'What a beautiful face I"

Spoke inyoluntarily, and lovely old
lady sitting near me, OIL the broad piazza
OF the Clarendon, knitting some white wool,
smiled as if well pleased at my outspoken
ADAPTATION. ..,.n = w.I -.
''She Is indeed beautiful, and as true as
she is lovely"
Then we silently watched the pair on
horseback until they disappeared but the
pure, pale, high-brcd face, with the dark
eyes filled with love.light as they gazed
upon the proud, manly figure of her escort,
remained fixed in NY memory. insiinc-
lively felt that | had seen n woman who
would do and dare, and | longcd to know
more of that life which | was sure had
been no common one. .
do you know the young lady? 2" asked
of the tiny, silvcr-haircd lady by my side.
had arrived in Saratoga but the night
before, and had risen early this lovely June
morning, and had been rewarded iy the
sight Of that perfect face
every well. Her mother was my dear
est friend" And while the pair Of whom
| have spoken pursued their way to the
lake, l sat and listened to as sweet and
tender little love story as it has ever been
my lot to hear. o
"Ycs, Elaine is very beautiful; very
like her mother when she married luwye
Foster. lie was a stern husband, and
moulncd little when his wife died, leaving
the little Elaine to his care I do not think
he ever loved the child, but he was proud
of her beauty. Three months of every
year he allowed her to spend with me, in
accordance with my dying mothers wish
In my large, breezy house in the coun-
try, the little gr! spent the summer months
in perfect Abandonment of delight at her
escape from the sombrc restraints of her
fathers house in the city. Having no
children of our own my husband and 1
loved her as if she had been Our very own.
"Thrce years ago, shortly after Elainc's
nervous fever. My darling hung over my
bed with all the loving anxiety Of daugh-
ter. DIR. Ray, a young physician, who had
been settled in our village for about two
years, came every day to see me. | might
have known that there, could be but one
result to unrestraincd daily intercourse be-
tween two young people SO fitted TO each
other In all respects save that of wealth
but my illness, suppose, made me care
less of anything except my own suffering.
'Onc evening" in the latter part of
August, when / was sufficiently recovered
to sit in my easy chair, had been watching
the sunset. and must have fallen into lit
tie dozc, when heard my darling come
quickly into the room, felt her throw her
arms about my waist and drop her head
In my lap, murmnr.ng: so happy! so
happy!'
"'What is it, dear heart2' said, smooth
ing her golden hair.
'"rhcn the answer came, which I, in my
illness and blindness, had never suspected.
"'Auntie, Philip lovesmc, andI am tho
happiest girl in the worldl'
81 sat q moment, unable to speak. Then,
at last, faltcredi
"'Oh, Elainel Your fathcrl
Tho girl shrank back, frightened for the
moment from her happy dreaming Then
the divine hopefulness Of youth and love
asserted itself, and she replied:
"Dr. Ray will go to New York and
speak to father, shortly after l go back ;
and when ho sees Philip and knows how
we love each other. lie can not refuse to
make us happy
"The following week my little girl went
hack (sho mover called It going home, ;
twas simply going back She came
home In June, she used to say, and q
few days after DR.. Ray also left for New
York. r%a
"Thcn camea heart broken letter from
my darling Her father had laughed at
Philips love for hGr; cridiculeds his poverty,
and tSad him to make fortune before ho
aspircd to Elaincs hand. at tho close Of
the interview, tho judge had said
"Young man. don't Let mo llear from you
again on this subject for two years, and
see that you fold no communication with
E.ainc during that time. Then, If You
two still think you love each other, and
you have madcenough to support a wife
respectfully, Twill liear What you have to
say
"Witll this they were obliged to be con-
tent. H
"rhcn Philip Ray came to me. His
eyes glistened, and his hand was feverish.
IIc was altogether unlike his old self. He
was going away. He couldn't money
fast enough there, and money he must
have, or he could never SEQ his darling
again. He must 60 Syest.s gs3 IS 81 Nv
4s'lhe next two summers were lonely
spss ts me. Judge Foster would not lot