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

"You are the best judge Of your own
heart, but DO not think your future prom
ises much happiness as the wife of Godfrey
Hill. Remember who and what lie is"
These were the words over which Alice
ilill pondercd as she walked slowly through
the grove at Bellows Falls. 1t was her
favoritc walk, when she wished for solitude,
though it lay at some distance from her
home, the stately house that crowned all
incline stretch Of ground overlooking the
village.
Remember who and what he ia!
Mrs. Hill had said these words very
slowly, and with due emphasis, only a few
hours before, when Alice had read to her
letter in which Godfrey Hill had asked her
to be his wife.
Who was he, then! He was the second
cousin Of Alice, man of about twenty
seven, who had been brought up by his
grandfather in the house upon Bellows
Heights, and had supposed his inheritance
of house and fortune assured.
Alice and her widowed mother had never
entered the stately house while old Mr..
Hill lived, but had supported themselves
by keeping a school for young children,
after Godfrey's cousin, Alice's father, had
died.
1t had never crossed their widest imagin-
alton that the old gentleman at Bellows
Falls would remember them by even a
triiling legacy, and they were inclined to
think themselves the victims Of practical
joke, when they received tho lawyers letter
informing them that Alice was tho heircss
of the entire estate of John Hill, Of Bel
lows Falls.
1t was like dream, to come to tho
splendid home, to know there were to bc
no more weary struggles for daily bread, to
wander through magnificent rooms and ex-
tensive grounds with the deliciously novel
sensation of ownership.
And 1t must be confessed that Alice at
first thought but little of the disposscssed
heir
But he introduced himself soon as a
cousin, and visited the house as welcome
guest.
For, In answer to the second clause of
Mrs Hill's question, what was hoa Alice
could have answered truly that he was tho
most fascinating man she had ever seen.
And Alice Hill, though a bread winner
ciety, having aristocratic family connections
both on her fathers and mothers side.
She was no novice to be won by mere
ly courtly manner, but she had never met q
man whose intellect was SO broad, whose
courtesy was 80 winning whose face was 80
handsome as were those of Godfrey Hill
And yet there was q letter In her writing
desk written by the dead man whose heiress
she was, warning her that, "because he is
unworthy, because he has betrayed the
trust put In him, have disinheritcd God
frey HILL" Il,
There was no specific charge, no direct
accusation, but the young hciress was
warned against her cousin.
Yet, in the many long conversations the
two had held together, Godfrey Hill had
cndeavored to convince his fair cousin that
his grandfather had been influenced by
false friends to believe statements to his
discredit utterly untrue. #,,
He had almost convinced her, that he
was an innocent victim to unfortunate cir
cumstanccs, victim to mistaken sense of
honor.
She was young, naturally trustful, and
her heart was free 80 it Is not wonderful
that Alice Hill was inclined to restore the
disnherited man to his estate by accepting
the offer of his heart and hand. Absorbed
In her reflections Alice did not notice that
clouds were gathering, till a sudden sum-
mer shOwer broke with violence above thu,
tree tops. ;5aaE
The rain came through the branches sud-
denly, drenching through her thin black
dress, and she ran quickly to the nearest
house for shelter.
The nearest refuge proved to be the cot.
tage where Mrs. Mason, who did the wash.
ing for the great house, lived with hel
daughter Lizzie, one of the village beauties
There was great busting about wlcr
Alice presented herself at tho door.
{" Mercy sakes You're half drowned :
tho old woman cried, hurrying her unex