The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1879-11-25
One Summers Harvest.

farmhouse gate, bathed in that SUMS diving
glory; the deep blue eyes, fringcd by their
jetty lahhes, eager and cxpcctant, tic red
lips curving in glad happy smile, as her
cur catches the far off ECHO Of we'll known
atopi and one reads again the old, old story
which seems 80 new to ovcrY heart that
learns its pages,
Yet Ethel Maync was not one to wear
her heart upon her sleeve; but neither had
Ernest Melwood lived his thirty years in
vain. A month before, fortified by a let
ter of introduction to tho squire, one of his
fathers college friends, who, since the
death of his young wife, had buried himself
In this country life, he had come among
thom to regain strength, to recover from a
severe fever, whose victim he had we'll
nigh become
He had been received by Mr.. Maync
with courteous hospitality, but when his
daughter waa formally presented, when
Arst his eyes dwelt upon the wonderful
beauty, which had sprung into such pcrfec-
tion far from the city's din, all thoughts of
en,,ui and country dullness fled.
So the days went on, scarce noted by the
man Of the world, watching thls new yet
old development Of girls heart: to her,
passing with the swiftness Of thought, IN
listening to tho melody of one voice, and
drinking in the dangerous sweetness Of his
smiles,
All the old story indeed!
Why should he not pluck this littlo vio-
let, which. had shed its rich perfume at
his feet, as well as tho priceless exotic
which, when the leaves had turned to
brown, he was to Gull for his own2
So subtle sweetness crept into his tone
his dark eyes grew strangely soft, as draw
ing near, he clasped the tiny hand laid 80
confldingy in his own, and looked into the
azlre-tinted eyes upraised to his.
"Wcre you waiting for me Ethcl2"
:tAh, Amcet, the days arc long without
"What will you do when have gono9'
sGone!" And the color died out of
cheek and lips, leaving M ashv paleness as
she said, with faint smile, ''You are play
ing with me Ernest. You would not
leave mc2"
Cuisines compels it darling; but shall
carry your sweet beauty with me, where
eyor I'may go.' 81
'But you are coming back2 You arc
not going for long7" ,'r},. ~,
~ trust NOT
And for a moment the girls peerless
beauty made the man wavor in lis allie,
glance to the naughty summons received
that day from his bpLrothed. .s
Had he known this girl beside him was
tho owner of as many thousands as the
heiress whose hand he considered essential
to the furthering Of his othor schemes, the
summer harvest would have born different
fruit.
In no measured words had he asked
Ethel Mayne to DO his wife; but in her
young trusting innocence, when from her
lips he had snatched their first sweetness,
while her cars caught his VOWS of love, in
the singular fascination Of his presence and
tho keen subtlety of his words, she had no
other thought and hhe now BOXED in his
faoo with wondering hesitanpy, while a
hand OF iron seemed olutohing at her
heart.
"You trust not! What do you mean,
Ernestr" and there was a naughty ring in
the tone new to the mans ear--new to her.
self, but born of her suffering "Aro you
DING back to forget me9 If 80 can bear
it,
Forget you, darling! Forget the little
MY ailmihSr all IFS elidrmf No, no! Trust
Let me see the color In your check again.
~ uoG lllahC my t5oiiito hoAuStj W emS ofANi
fqce on our last evening. You will write
to MOI"
f'sYes; your letters are all I have to 1--we
upon.--all the promise / shall know Of the
future. Ernest, I fear that gay world to
which you return; but why sllould fear,
and you 80 bravo, so true2"
"Fear nothing darling, and, bolievo mo,
whatever comes, thcro is naught on earth
! have ever loved go well.
And, for once In his false life the man
spoke the truth1 II 81 ts e.
Three months sped by 2 months which tc
Ethel Mayne. had seemed years. Tho
promised letters had been strangely cold,
breathing nothing of that promise to return
till expectancy died away and whom Will
Il a strange precedence Of future i'll, sho ii
her w6lhar's pride isont no reply, tilers
\ came one more tender, more pressing, sht
detected tho, false ring in Its pages, and wa
B silent. IS
But ler country life seemed dull ant
ainlesa, and the squire noting her pale
Y