The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1879-05-08

tible little schoolgirl Nell both tagging after
him all the time believe they actually
imagine he cares for Them"
That evening Diamonds being left alone
in the parlor with Miss Bell, drew close to
her, and bending over her, said tcndcry,
and almost sadly:
"lf you had not said something | heard
you say once, would have the boldncss to
ask great favor Of you."
"WhY, what did | say" asked she CO.
quctlishly.
"lou said you would never live out of
New York."
Gwen, what of that2"
| "Why, n,y home is in San Frapcisco, "
he said, Significantly.
Just then, TO Miss Bells great vcyation
some one entered and interrupted him; bu
the next day she did great deal of shop
! ping, and began making her h.0nsseuu I'M
mcdiatcly.
The afternoons of Diamonds were dcvo-
, ted to business visits downtown, SO he
| said, and as he liked walk for ii consttu-
! tional, he generally managed tc pass Ncll's
school just rs il was being dismissed, and
had the pleasure of escorting her home.
During these walks he so ingratatcd HIM
SELF in her favor, and dazzlcd her by de-
| scriptions of his wealth and his home in
California and of the magniticcncc he in
tended to lavish Oh his wife, that she finally
consented to clope with him, partly because
it was romantic.
'Dcar mamma will be sure to forgive
ne, y she thought. And she pictured her
self coming with her husband, in her own
elegant carriage, to ask her mothers for
givcncss and receive her blessing, and of
then Carrying her off with her to her home
In California, which her lover had 50 glow
ngly described
The evening assigned for the elopemcnt
arrived. The day following was to be the
much-talkcd-of birthday of Diamonds, on
which he was to make known to the house
hold his bctrothal to Mrs. Lee, and on
which also hc had, in tender, significant
tone, requested Miss Bell to grant him a
private interview
The household were all assembled in the
parlor as usual, engaged in merry chat
Diamonds, Miss Bell, Nell, and Mrs. Lee
formed the livciest group; and the hearts
OF the ladies were beating high with their
varied emotions. Little the three imagined
what was passing in each others minds.
Poor little Nell trembled like frightened
bird at the dreadful thing she was about to
do, and began to repent her rasl,ncss
'ln another hour, she thought, growing
dizzy AS she looked at the clock, eve must
START
She dared not look at her lover; she half
thought she hated him, and fervently
wished she had some girl friend who could
go with her in her flight. She was growing
more and more nervous. and had Just
thought:
ooh, how wish something would hap
pen to prevent it 10 when there was a sound
of strange voices in tho hall, and after
slight commotion, a man walked cooly into
the parlor, with the exclamation:
"Ah, here he is /"
And walking up to Diamonds. he slapped
him familiarly on the he. BACK with 9M i" lh"Rphhe tie
other. ......a... ..... q. -.,.
Diamonds turned pale, but made no at
tempt to escape. ,...'.
"Was going to bolt tonight, wasn't you9"
said the officer, for such he was. 'I've
been up to your room, and saw all your
duds packed"
The excitement was dreadful.
''What is the mattcr2 What does 1t all
mean2'' cried everybody, in a breath.
cit means this, said the detective.
shooting man in Colorado, and abscond-
lib Will hlo iiichSJ3 bCoiNSo iS"fAhS5 "hO
and two pretty children into the bargain.
"Thc 0,oftN aOretch :" exclaimed Mrs.
Lee and Miss Bell simultaneously, clasping
their hands in horror.
"Oh!" cried Nellie, family, dropping
into seat.
Diamonds turned on them with & ficndish
grin. Kissing his hand and bowling to
them in turn, he delivered himself .as fol-
lows:
t'NIy sweet Nellie, our olopcmcnt will
have to be postponed for wllile-sorry to
dsappoint you. In half an hour wc would
have been off. .'.. ,....
"Dear Clara, we will have that little talk
ONE other time.
"Nfy own Helen, goodbye" bowing
very low to the widow. 81 am sorry our
marriage cannot take place quite as soon as
we intended.
''rhe man must he crazy" cried the lady.
"What OH earth does he mcan2"
Nellie buried her face in her mothers
lap and sobbcd Historically, but was finally
comfortcd by Fred Hall, q young gentle
man who had long been. attached to her,
but az he had no diamonds, it is to bc sup
posed that lie had been slow to find favor
in her eyes.
The door closed on Diamonds for tho last
time, and he left three wiser, if not better,
women behind him. .,......a
r..-. zU.zarsAzsz.nAsz1ansnzzD
D.. How to Break OFF Bad Habits.
Understand the reason, and all tho reas-